[MadIvan]

I think America has a stomach for a war. Somalia was a "feed the world" type mission that was led by Weird Bill. Totally different scenario. Well I'm game, let's shoot the little bastards who dragged those poor American soliders through Mogadishu.

I think Blair is game too, in fact.

Regards, Ivan

But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

Today is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be a call and a spur to the faithful servants of Truth and Justice: "Arm yourselves, and be ye men of valour, and be in readiness for the conflict; for it is better for us to perish in battle than to look upon the outrage of our nation and our altar. As the Will of God is in Heaven, even so let it be." - Winston Churchill, 1940

This then, my lords and gentlemen, is the message which we send forth today to all states and nations, bound or free, to all the men in all the lands who care for freedom's cause. To our Allies and well-wishers in Europe, to our American friends and helpers drawing ever closer in their might across the ocean, this is the message-lift up your hearts, all will come right. Out of depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind. - Winston Churchill, 1941

"What kind of a people do they think we are? Is it possible that they do not realize that we shall never cease to persevere against them until they have been taught a lesson which they and the world will never forget?" - Winston Churchill, 1941

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[LibKill]

Somalia could use a bit of civillising.

But, House Saddam is probably next on the B52 strike list.

[Hillary 666]

Well I'm game, let's shoot the little bastards who dragged those poor American soliders through Mogadishu...which happened because Klinton isn't qualified to suck the farts out of taxi cab seats, much less be Commander-in-Chief.

[backhoe]

Somalia was a "feed the world" type mission that was led by Weird Bill

Agreed, Ivan. More of Little Big Fraud®'s "legacy....."

[blam]

Locals tell of Arab recruits training in the camps and imposing a terrifying, Taliban-style sharia law. "These people have a kind of poison in them," said Muhammed, a cattle trader who fled the area this year. "They did terrible things to people they suspected of being opposed to them and their teachings. They would rip out their eyes and chop off their hands."

No mercy for these bastards. Track them all over the world and kill them. Period!

[Alas Babylon!]

There are also doubts over whether America has the stomach for a war in Somalia. In late 1992 Mr Bush's father sent troops there on a peacekeeping operation. It was a disaster, with at least 17 Americans killed in a single incident, and they soon pulled out.

Actually, this is wrong! GWH Bush sent in forces on a HUMANITARIAN mission. Upon taking over in January, 1993, Clinton advisors Anthony Lake, Madeline Albright, and Les Aspin (with Clinton's approval) turned it into a "nation-building" exercise focusing on getting the war lord Muhammad Aidid. Colin Powell, still Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was opposed to this sea-change in the mission.

The 19, NOT 17, who died, did so on October 3rd, 1993, due to lack of armor, AC-130 gunships, and other assets that left the 75th Ranger Regiment without an escape plan after two black hawks were shot down. The armour WAS requested by Gen Montgomery in September, many weeks before the ill-fated raid. Les Aspin resigned as Sec of Defense two weeks after the debacle.

[AuntB]

Always good running into you, MadIvan. I've never had the words to express the horror I've felt over Somalia. That should have been the end of Bill Clinton. The article sort of gave the idea the Rangers incident happened under Bush, didn't it?

[klee]

Good ole Winston Churchill!

Lets hope the US goes for a clean sweep of the lot.

[Centurion2000]

The Somalis are probably going to laugh at this, until they hear the first B52 bomber overhead running an ArcLight.

We're aren't delivering pizzas this time.

[Barnacle]

There are also doubts over whether America has the stomach for a war in Somalia.

There were also doubts over whether America has the stomach for a war in Afghanistan. We're coming back to Somalia! And, it's not Kliñtóñ's military any more.

[GVnana]

There are also doubts over whether America has the stomach for a war in Somalia.

Me thinks this writer hasn't visited the States lately.

In late 1992 Mr Bush's father sent troops there on a peacekeeping operation. It was a disaster, with at least 17 Americans killed in a single incident, and they soon pulled out.

To this day the Special Forces say this mission was a success, but Americans were appalled by the brutality of the Somalis. In both Somalia and Desert Storm the US was aligned with the United Nations. We aren't making that mistake now.

[lodwick]

Great job, Ivan - so good to see you. JL bttt

[Iscool]

I'd like to be sitting on the beach with a camera when the dozen or so Seals pull up in a rubber raft, holding a sign that says, "WE'RE BACK"...

Will the Somolian slugs realize that "Hell on Earth" is just over the horizen???

[AndrewSshi]

Speaking of payback in the Somali department, Muhammed Atef, now a nasty smear on some Afghan rubble, was one of the masterminds behind the attack on our troops in somalia back in '93 (Aidid being simply a stooge). Payback's already underway.

[rs79bm]

First we have to get rid of Osama. That will speak volumes. We should be hoping that's accomplished in a few weeks.

[Guenevere]

Hear!!..Hear!!...What you said!!

I do believe we have that.. stomach for war....now, bigtime!

[4CJ]

"Well I'm game, let's shoot the little bastards who dragged those poor American soliders through Mogadishu."

We should have then, but what's a few years? Let them know that America never forgets.

Thankfully, neither does MadIvan.

[GOPJ]

OK, OK, we'll just eradicate Somalia...(I'm kidding, but it would be sweet)

"Yet it remains unclear how the Americans could eradicate the terrorism threat in Somalia."

[Sabertooth]

Hassan al-Turabi, the leading opposition figure, was bin Laden's closest associate in Sudan, where he lived between 1992 and 1996. There is speculation that followers of Turabi, who is married to bin Laden's niece, could be pursued by the Americans.

Anyone know which of bin Laden's siblings has a daughter who married bin Laden's closest associate in Somalia? Was this sibling ever in the United States? I thought the bin Ladens had all disowned Osama.

Interesting how this works... bin Laden's son marries one of Mohammed Atef's daughters, bin Laden's niece marries a Somali warlord, and bin Laden himself marries one of Mullah Omar's daughters.

Polygamy is very utilitarian in the enterprise of terror, no?

[rockfish59]

a dozen 'daisy cutters' oughta clean up mogadishu quite nicely i would think, ey guv?