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Hmmm...Comment
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Clinton's Black Hawk History
On Somalia, the ex-president is as mendacious as ever
The Wall Street Journal
August 6, 2002
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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Great! Elvira posts an 02' op-ed from the WSJ without ever actually challenging his "facts."
Clinton didn't send US military personnel into Somalia, Bush did, and the op-ed criticizes Clinton for pulling them out. So Elvis, do you think that we shouldn't have 'cut and run' from Somalia? Are we the world's policeman that is responsible for "nation-building" now? Because it seems that you voted against all of that...
And here is the typical bullshit rightist red-herring on all of this:
Right! Only, if you actually read about the battle and facts, Clinton never "denied" any armor nor AC-130 gunships and the main problem was not lack of US firepower, but was the lack of "OPSEC," or US forces using the same exact plan to capture Adid and effectively allowing Somali gunman of the Warlord to create an ambush plan based on their predictable actions...Originally posted by bullshit articleLast edited by Nickdfresh; 04-11-2009, 01:40 AM.Comment
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Andy, if you keep posting such low quality, unfunny shit for the sake of troll-fighting, I promise that you'll no longer be able to post in this forum...or maybe we'll make a big thread especially for you in this forum.
Consider this a "warning," which I almost never give here.Comment
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That's his schtick.
He covers up the fact his points, if he ever actually has them, are weak and his gibberish is a deflection.
look at me, see how funny and off-the-wall I am? Don't you just wish I was writing my mojo for Rolling Stone? Aren't my "fakks" and non-sequitors hilarious? Can you just imagine how cool I am at the local watering -hole with my esoteric trains of thought?
I dont even bother reading his shit anymore. Gives me a migraine.Originally posted by KristyOriginally posted by cadaverdogComment
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That's his schtick.
He covers up the fact his points, if he ever actually has them, are weak and his gibberish is a deflection.
look at me, see how funny and off-the-wall I am? Don't you just wish I was writing my mojo for Rolling Stone? Aren't my "fakks" and non-sequitors hilarious? Can you just imagine how cool I am at the local watering -hole with my esoteric trains of thought?
I dont even bother reading his shit anymore. Gives me a migraine.
Don't worry, your included in the next round.
Wouldn't want you gett'n your panties -all- in'a bunch.
Stop trying so hard to be one of the boys at your local watering hole Lounge..I realize this confession of yours is quite revealing and I appreciate your honesty about your issues at your pub of choice...I would suggest you, also buy a round once in awhile, perhaps people will include you again.... if you stop being such a booze mooch.look at me, see how funny and off-the-wall I am? Don't you just wish I was writing my mojo for Rolling Stone? Aren't my "fakks" and non-sequitors hilarious? Can you just imagine how cool I am at the local watering -hole with my esoteric trains of thought?Comment
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el ceepo talks! "Pro"found
Wut he saiid? !
He sead he so dated that he be a who dat say they gonna beat dem saints who dat.....
Chick a la chick a dochick a dodo dada....
Peaches made the pie."I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. - Some come from ahead and some come from behind. - But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. - Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" ~ Dr. SeusssigpicComment
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Perhaps you could give me your opinion of how we can deal with these cock sukkers.....
Or are you homos just gonna talk about the poor captain....
YouTube - Spanish Terrorist
Perhaps we could have some motorcycles waiting for them, tharRRR Pirates.. on shore...hmmmm?Comment
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US ship reaches Kenya minus kidnapped captain
MOMBASA, Kenya – Nineteen American sailors who escaped a pirate hijacking off the Horn of Africa reached safe harbor on Saturday, exhilarated by freedom but mourning the absence of the captain they hailed for sacrificing his freedom to save them.
With a throng of reporters shouting questions from shore, the crew of the Maersk Alabama described an ordeal that began with Somali pirates hauling themselves onto the deck from a small boat bobbing on the surface of the Indian Ocean far below.
"They came from the stern of the ship and came on with hooks and ropes and were firing in the air when they got on board," said ATM Reza, a crew member who said he was the first to see the pirates board Wednesday.
As the pirates shot in the air, Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vermont, told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men, crew members said. Phillips was still held hostage in an enclosed lifeboat Saturday by four pirates being closely watched by U.S. warships in an increasingly tense standoff. A Pentagon spokesman said negotiations were ongoing.
"He saved our lives!" second mate Ken Quinn, of Bradenton, Florida, declared from the ship as it docked in the resort and port city of Mombasa. "He's a hero."
LinkOriginally posted by vandeleurComment
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I hope this Capitan makes it through this OK. First he tries to escape and now come to find out he gave himself up for his crew. Fucking Old School hero right there."He saved our lives!" second mate Ken Quinn, of Bradenton, Florida, declared from the ship as it docked in the resort and port city of Mombasa. "He's a hero."Originally posted by vandeleurComment
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If I really wanted too, I'd of done it already...Originally posted by Andy Taylor
It ain't about me, it's about the forum, Rio boy...
Nice links you've provided, Squealer...
Next you'll ask what constitutes a pwn pic. Suffice it to say that you have posted quite a few in just recent times, Ari.
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