Posted on 08/11/2002 8:22:39 PM PDT by kattracks
Disabled Vietnam vet retired Cat. James Smith, whose son James was killed during the disastrous raid in Somalia memorialized in the movie "Black Hawk Down," took exception Sunday to ex-President Clinton's recent attempt to blame President Bush's father for the 1993 debacle during a recent interview with Washington, D.C. TV station WJLA.
"He seems to forget that when Bush number one sent troops into Somalia he sent them in by the tens of thousands. And they had complete armor, mechanized infantry, artillery, air cover support," Smith told WABC Radio's Steve Malzberg.
While Bush the elder was president, the Somali warlords "decided to keep a low profile because they knew if they stuck their head up they were going to get it shot off," he insisted, adding, "So Bush number one did it correctly."
But things changed when President Clinton took over, the former soldier told WABC.
When his son's Ranger unit was sent to Mogadishu to capture notorious Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Adid, they didn't have the artillery, helicopter gunship or tactical air support they needed, he told Malzberg.
Smith's comments were prompted by Clinton's recent attempt to dodge responsibility for the episode, where he told WJLA, "Now, you know, I didn't blame (President Bush's) father for Somalia, when we had that awful day memorialized in 'Black Hawk Down.' I didn't do that."
Although then-Defense Secretary Les Aspin was forced to resign over the deadly blunder, Smith said he had no doubt that the decision to under-equip his son's unit came directly from the White House.
When he testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the episode, the former soldier said reporters privately agreed, telling him, "Les Aspin had nothing to do with this. This was a White House decision."
"They knew how the White House works. They knew there was no way Les Aspin made that decision on his own."
Smith recounted his trip to the White House to meet Clinton, an invitation he suspects was prompted by advanced word on his damaging Senate testimony.
Instead of taking responsibility, the Vietnam vet said the president "blamed Les Aspin, he blamed the Defense Department, he blamed the Joint Chiefs.... he blamed everybody except himself."
At one point, Smith recalled, Clinton even attempted to blame the Rangers "for being too aggressive."
"There were three fathers there," he told Malzberg. "The three of us just leaned over instantaneously and he backed off of that one."
After the exchange, Smith refused to shake the Commander in Chief's hand, handing him instead a 3rd Ranger Battalion patch.
"Don't forget them," he remembered telling Clinton.
"I honestly believed that the Rangers had died in vain; that the failure to provide proper combat support would have made the difference," he lamented.
Capt. Smith also revealed that he has another soldier son now in Special Operations who recently served in Afghanistan.
During a recent conversation with his son's Special Ops commander, he asked, "Sgt. Major, are we doing this one right or is this just a knee-jerk reaction?"
After a moment's hesitation, Smith said the commander responded, "Sir, we've got a real Commander-in-Chief this time. This time we're doing it right."
Listen to Steve Malzberg on WABC, weekdays 6 to 8 p.m. ET with Richard Bey on "The Buzz," and 9 a.m. to 12 noon ET Sunday.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Three ways, all of which relieve us of a burden to exact retribution and simultaneously exalt Christ.
The first is the absorb one's self in the knowledge that we are all going to stand before God and give account for every single thing we did in this life, and a just and holy God is going to judge us. Those who are in Christ Jesus will escape the penalty of their sins, but they are still going to have to stand accountable before the Judge of all flesh in order to be granted mercy in His presence and inherit eternal life. We born-again believers have signed the deed of salvation but have yet to take possession of the physical property of it, which will take place when all accounts are settled before His throne. (Romans 4:12; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 4:4,5; and then there's this gem: "But I [Jesus] say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36)
The second is to saturate one's self in the knowledge that Christ died for such gross wickedness, and if an evil doer asks for forgiveness through Christ, it is granted to him, even clinton if he asks for this, which drives us to glory in the cross of Christ, for we, too, have injured others who have a claim on our hides.
The third is to know that those who do not repent of their wickedness in this life are going to be sent by a just God into hell forever, away from His wonderful presence, as penalty for their hardnes of heart and pride. In other words, they are going to get what is coming to them, and our portion is to wait on His justice and mercy to be revealed.
And here's a heart-grabber to think on. If clinton should truly repent, he will be our brother in Christ, here and in heaven. Now that's something that calls for a deeper understanding of grace -- how we are to abide with the person of bill clinton in heaven for eternity if he truly repents. It speaks wonders of the miracles of grace God bestows on repentants. Consider Paul, who persecuted believers and consented to their imprisonments and deaths. The people whose lives he destroyed will dwell with him in heaven, forever, by the grace of God through the Cross of Christ. And His Word says that no evil will dwell there, because we will all become like Him. Evil shall not pass into heaven from earth.
That's how I cope with bill clinton's crimes that seem to escape punishment for the time being.
1 Timothy 5:24 "Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."
I have considered this quite often actually, Gretchen, and in understanding that my sins are as filthy as his, and that my heart is as wicked by nature as his, except through the blood of Christ, I accept that should he repent he will be completely forgiven.
My problem is, obviously, that he has not, and that he is compounding the sins of his administration with lies that implicate the two very honorable men whose administrations surround his.
As I said before, I am not a patient person, and I want justice right now. And in spite of the fact that I have walked with the Lord for over 45 years, I have a very hard time actually praying for him. He is an enemy of the American people, and an enemy particularly of the Christians in this country, and yet we are called to love him, and to pray for him.
Hard to do, Gretchen. Hard to do.
Just venting. Sorry.
Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness. ;^)
Seriously, I agree. Wholeheartedly!
May Klinton's latrine overflow and his "grass" choke him.
The line starts here! I predict the grass will be mysteriously greener over that septic tank!
Just go with it. Acknowledge your sin and move on. I'd be willing to be that God would forgive you. Afterall, only Jesus was perfect.
When I first heard or read the story a number of years ago, the Sergeant's father (a retired Army Colonel) not only refused to shake x42's hand, he said something to the effect that Clinton was not worthy of holding the office. I have no reference for it, though. Possibly that Brit who did a lot of investigative reporting. Prichard-Evans, or something like that??
The Hasidic community in New Square, NY.
Arlington is Hallowed Ground. The Unknown Soldier is there as is Mike "Johnny" Spann. Burying Clintoon there would be upsetting some sort of balance.
Arlington is Hallowed Ground. The Unknown Soldier is there as is Mike "Johnny" Spann. Burying Clintoon there would be upsetting some sort of balance.
A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man dies but one. That's the promise of a God Clinton never knew, nor had any intention of getting to know.
The real Presidential Library is being prepared by Lucifer, as we speak. Be ready Mr. Clinton.
I wish you a long life, a life free of strife, a life as full as you can make it. But I think we both know where your soul is going.
The main thing is I think we helped make sure the reprobate did not come back again to soil those hallowed grounds.
Thank you for your service, Navy Vet.
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