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:
I think the latter parts depends on exactly what the Clintons sold their souls for.
VOTESCAM: THE STEALING OF AMERICA
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James & Kenneth Collier: Votescam: Contents
VOTESCAM. THE STEALING OF AMERICA. JAMES M. COLLIER KENNETH E COLLIER. To
order the printed edition and the videos, see the official Votescam site. ...
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CLINTON WAS A LOSER. I WROTE MY UNBORN SON THE DAY AFTER HE WAS ELECTED AND KEPT THAT DAY'S NEWSPAPER. I TOLD MY SON A THIRD CANDIDATE SPOILER (SHAMEFUL PEROT - BLOOD ON HIS HANDS TOO!) LET THIS CREEP GET ELECTED AND THAT IT WOULD CAUSE THE USA MUCH SHAME. DID I CALL IT OR WHAT?
Boo hoo on them, then. When I saw the film of what happened to the Americans in Mogadishu, my reaction was to suggest that Somalia be wiped off of the face of the earth as punishment, to hold a few severed heads high and say, "Thus is the fate of those who dare such a thing."
Brute force is the sole language that barbarians understand.
Regards, Ivan
Hey there!
Yes I do believe it. I hope I live to see it for the thug criminal Clinton Mafia Leaders!
Ever.
...... and of course, Hillary will go on HTV (Hades TV) and complain about the 'Vast Fallen Archangel Conspiracy'......
That reminds me of an old joke. Al Gore, Joe Lieberman and Hillary are travelling on a plane. A sudden thunderstorm rises and the plane is knocked out of the sky, killing all the passengers. Gore, Lieberman and Hillary find themselves in God's receiving chamber, and before the Maker of the Universe sitting on His throne .
"STOP!" God says, "Identify yourselves before Me!"
Gore speaks first. "My name is Al Gore, former candidate for President and Vice President, Sir."
"Well my son, you did many bad things in life,", God says, "but at least you were sincere in thinking you were protecting the environment. Take a place on the right side of My throne." Gore goes, God pointing courteously pointing out to him which is right and which is left.
Lieberman speaks next. "Lord, I am Joseph Lieberman, former candidate for Vice President and Senator from Connecticut."
God replies, "Welcome, My son. While you also did some bad things, at least you did introduce My name back into politics. Take your place at the left side of My throne." Lieberman does.
God then turns to Hillary and says, "Identify yourself."
"My name is Hillary Rodham Clinton and YOU'RE IN MY CHAIR!"
Regards, Ivan
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