[stalin]

Wasn't it the former Bush administration that sent them there without armor ?

That doesn't leave Clinton off the hook because he should have send armor too.

[El Sordo]

Bush the Elder sent the military in to provide humanitarian aid. That went quite well.

Klintoon took that successful operation and turned it into something entirely different. He decided to get into the 'nation building' game and that's when it all went to Hell.

However it should not be overlooked that Colin Powell bears a large part of the responsibility as well.

[Catie]

Wrong -- they were slaughtered under Clinton's watch.

[doug from upland]

Actually, as you should know, Bush sent troops on a humanitarian mission. The situation, however, continued to escalate and Sinkmaster had to make some decisions.

FROM THE CLINTON CHRONICLES BOOK:

When the Clinton Administration was planning for the raid, the need for armored vehicle support was pointed out. Secretary of State Warren Christopher said "no" to the use of armored vehicles. His rationale? "We don't want to escalate the situation."

Bill Clinton concurred, and there in the air-conditioned safety of the White House, the doom of those Rangers in the stifling, stinking, bloody heat of Mogadishu, was sealed.

--end--

I hope that answers your question. The quatgmire widened under Clinton. He had an opportunity to do military what needed to be done but refused. I will put up another installment of this series perhaps today. An AC-130 support aircraft had been previously withdrawn because civilian policy makers called it "being too warlike." Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs had recommended armored vehicles support; the Marine general in overall command had requested armored vehicle support; the Army general in local command had requested armored vehilce support.

[elbucko]

That doesn't leave Clinton off the hook..

Hey Stalin! RU from DU? You are. I thought so.

[demlosers]

Wasn't it the former Bush administration that sent them there without armor ?

That doesn't leave Clinton off the hook because he should have send armor too.

It was the Secretary of Defense Les Aspin was the guy who denied the armored unit request for Somalia, and he worked for Billy Butt-Boy CLINTON.

[solo gringo]

Bush did not send the troups there to fight a war he sent them to feed the starving people.It was klinton idea to set up the goverment for what ever reason his own imho and the thugs bowed thier neck and one thing led to another and got out of hand and the klinton did not send the fire power to handle the problem that he had caused.