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Clinton's Black Hawk History - On Somalia, the ex-president is as mendacious as ever ~ WSJ.
The Wall Street Journal. | August 6, 2002 | The Wall Street Journal. Editorial Board

Posted on 08/06/2002 2:40:34 AM PDT by Elle Bee

Clinton's Black Hawk History

We wish Bill Clinton a quiet retirement, if only he'd return the favor. But when the former President distorts history for the sake of political advantage, someone has to clean up afterward.

Responding to Bush Administration suggestions that some of today's corporate scandals first got out of hand under his watch, Mr. Clinton recently shot back: "These people ran on responsibility, but as soon as you scratch them they go straight to blame. Now, you know, I didn't blame his [President Bush's] father for Somalia when we had that awful day memorialized in 'Black Hawk Down.' I didn't do that."

We can understand Mr. Clinton wanting to defend himself, but as usual he can't get his own facts straight. His introduction of Somalia here is one of those breathtakingly brazen attempts to dodge responsibility for which Mr. Clinton is justly famous. Here's the real history:

President Bush the Elder sent U.S. forces into Somalia in December 1992 to aid the United Nations in relieving a massive famine. In May of 1993, four months into his term, President Clinton declared that mission accomplished and pulled out most of the U.S. forces. In a speech on the South Lawn to associate himself with the effort, he extolled the decision to intervene: "If all of you who served had not gone, it is absolutely certain that tens of thousands would have died by now." It was a "successful mission," he said, and "proved yet again that American leadership can help to mobilize international action ..."

But back in Somalia, with no U.S. deterrent, Somalia's warlords began fighting again. After a series of bloody attacks on U.N. peacekeepers, Mr. Clinton launched a new mission: In August 1993, he sent in a force of Rangers and Special Forces units to capture the brutal warlord Mohammad Farrah Aidid and restore order.

That force asked for heavy armor -- in the form of Abrams tanks and Bradley armored vehicles -- as well as the AC-130 gunship, but the Clinton Administration denied those requests. On October 3 on a mission to pick up Aidid, two Black Hawks were unexpectedly shot down; in the ensuing urban gun battle, 18 American soldiers were killed and another 73 injured.

Many military experts believe that if the U.S. forces had had armor, fewer would have died. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned two months after Somalia, having acknowledged that his decision on the armor had been an error. A 1994 Senate Armed Services Committee investigation reached the same conclusion. But perhaps the most poignant statement came from retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Joyce, father of Sergeant Casey Joyce, a Ranger killed in Mogadishu: "Had there been armor ... I contend that my son would probably be alive today ..."

Mr. Clinton's responsibility in Somalia doesn't stop there. Despite the mistakes that October day, Aidid had been struck a blow. The U.S. military, with 18 dead, wanted nothing more than to finish what it had started. Mr. Clinton instead aborted the mission. The U.S. released the criminals it had captured that same day at such great cost, and the U.N., lacking U.S. support, was powerless to keep order. Somalia remains a lawless, impoverished nation. Worse, the terrorists of al Qaeda interpreted the U.S. retreat from Somalia as a sign of American weakness that may have convinced them we could be induced to retreat from the Middle East if they took their attacks to the U.S. homeland.

Those are the facts. The reason Mr. Clinton can't blame the events of "Black Hawk Down" on President Bush's father is because those events had nothing to do with him. They were Mr. Clinton's responsibility, and his alone.

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: billclinton; blackhawkdown; history; somalia
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Mendacious Bubba Bump

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1 posted on 08/06/2002 2:40:34 AM PDT by Elle Bee
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To: Elle Bee
Already posted....here.

Please do a ARTICLE SEARCH so you don't post repeats. Thank you.

2 posted on 08/06/2002 2:44:20 AM PDT by Pistolshot
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To: Pistolshot
I will give Bush the same advice I give politicians here in Israel - HAUL HIS ASS INTO COURT AND SUE HIM!

These things we tend to laugh at, but if are not taken care of, come back years later to haunt us.

It seems as though Yossi Beilen and Shimon Peres have been giving Clinton lessons on how to exploit the masses.

In the name of Israel, I apologize!

3 posted on 08/06/2002 3:01:34 AM PDT by Challenge
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To: Elle Bee
Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned two months after Somalia, having acknowledged that his decision on the armor had been an error.

Aspin was a lousy Secretary of Defense but at least he took responsibility by resigning. Janet Reno said she took full responsibility for the Waco debacle but she didn't take the step for showing responsibility by resigning. Most recently, Bob Torricelli said he took responsibility for taking (and lying about) illegal gifts. He made it sound that by merely saying that he was taking responsibilty (but taking no actions) was a meritorious thing. And of course, Clinton, won't even take responsibility for anything. He just shuffles it off on others...such as Bush1.

4 posted on 08/06/2002 3:12:17 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix
I believe it was also Mister Joyce who told Clinton to his face in a visit to the White House that he was a disgrace to this country.
5 posted on 08/06/2002 4:04:24 AM PDT by ballplayer
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To: Pistolshot
Some of us didn't it to see it "THERE", so I was glad Elle Bee reposted it. Thanks BEE!
6 posted on 08/06/2002 4:08:28 AM PDT by Falcon4.0
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To: ballplayer
I believe it was Corporal Jamie Smith's dad who told Clinton that...to which the rapist replied: *I didn't kill your kid*.
7 posted on 08/06/2002 4:13:49 AM PDT by mystery-ak
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To: Elle Bee
I wish I had a dime for each time Clinton and his administration referred to the last twelve years during his first years in office.
8 posted on 08/06/2002 4:15:04 AM PDT by monocle
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To: Elle Bee
Thanks for the "re" post. This should be mandatory reading for all Americans. Xlinton should have been court martialed for his failure to provide proper support for the troops that he (the first Draft Dodger in history to be CINC) left twisting in the wind.
9 posted on 08/06/2002 4:16:45 AM PDT by ImpBill
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To: Elle Bee
Another Mendacious Bubba Bump
10 posted on 08/06/2002 4:26:38 AM PDT by not-alone
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To: ballplayer
I believe it was also Mister Joyce who told Clinton to his face in a visit to the White House that he was a disgrace to this country.

No! No! Don't you LISTEN to Clinton? He actually told that to Bush.

11 posted on 08/06/2002 4:37:42 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
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To: Elle Bee
Responding to Bush Administration suggestions that some of today's corporate scandals first got out of hand under his watch, Mr. Clinton recently shot back: "These people ran on responsibility, but as soon as you scratch them they go straight to blame. Now, you know, I didn't blame his [President Bush's] father for Somalia when we had that awful day memorialized in 'Black Hawk Down.' I didn't do that."

After reading this a couple of weeks ago I was outraged so I decided to watch 'Black Hawk Down' to see what kind of blame was bestowed on the 'toon and his admin.

Out of the entire movie, some 2 hrs., there was ONE line that said, Washington in their wisdom does not see fit to send the requested equipment." Clintoon's name was not mentioned once.

Just keeping on flapping your gums you scum sucking bastard, you only expose yourself for the lying reprobate that you are with every utterance.

12 posted on 08/06/2002 4:44:19 AM PDT by BigWaveBetty
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To: Elle Bee
[Clinton Administration] Secretary of Defense Les Aspin resigned two months after Somalia, having acknowledged that his decision on the armor had been an error. A 1994 Senate Armed Services Committee investigation reached the same conclusion.

". . . I didn't blame his [President Bush's] father for Somalia when we had that awful day memorialized in 'Black Hawk Down.' I didn't do that."

No, obviously you couldn't--then. But you seem to think you can insinuate that now.

Here's a good question for the next Democratic presidential candidate:
Who was the last good Democratic Secretary of Defense?
Cohen was a Republican, they can't say him . . .
Aspen resigned in disgrace, can't say him . . .

Who can remember Jimmy Carter's SecDef???
Would they dare name McNamara???


13 posted on 08/06/2002 7:10:54 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion
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To: monocle
wish I had a dime for each time Clinton and his administration referred to the last twelve years during his first years in office.
You greedy @%#@@!

14 posted on 08/06/2002 7:14:43 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion
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To: mystery-ak
I believe it was Corporal Jamie Smith's dad who told Clinton that...to which the rapist replied: *I didn't kill your kid*.

MOGADISHU

Like hell, he didn't! He might as well have pulled the trigger himself except that he's too much of a coward to have even done that.

15 posted on 08/06/2002 7:22:41 AM PDT by TADSLOS
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To: BigWaveBetty
Out of the entire movie, some 2 hrs., there was ONE line that said, Washington in their wisdom does not see fit to send the requested equipment." Clintoon's name was not mentioned once.

But we all know anyway who was responsible and its clear that ze Klinton did'nt do anything to stop terrorism during his term in office.

16 posted on 08/06/2002 7:23:54 AM PDT by KC_Conspirator
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To: KC_Conspirator; Miss Marple; Poohbah; SamAdams76; nicko
I must admit that I was surprised by the man's gall - especially when he made those comments four months AFTER Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon's GPS unit was found in one of the caves that those al-Qaida punks were hiding in.

17 posted on 08/06/2002 7:25:46 AM PDT by hchutch
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To: Elle Bee
BTTT for the truth. If only the talking heads set the record straight. I saw Clintoon's clip on Meet the Distressed and didn't see Timmy Boy set the record straight. Shame on you Tim.
18 posted on 08/06/2002 7:28:13 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: hchutch
Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon's GPS unit was found in one of the caves that those al-Qaida punks were hiding in.

I hadn't read that. Do you have a source I can see?

19 posted on 08/06/2002 7:33:31 AM PDT by Ditto
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To: Elle Bee
Wow. Wow. Wow.

In other words, SHUT THE HELL UP, Bubba!

20 posted on 08/06/2002 7:38:36 AM PDT by rintense
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