[IronMan04]

It Was George H.W. Bush who first ordered US troops to Somalia in late 1992.

[bmwcyle]

It was Bill Clinton that turned and ran.

[Mia T]

That is true. But it was bill clinton who created the fiasco that bin Laden, himself, said emboldened him.

[hsalaw]

Bush41 sent them in on a humanitarian mission.

[coconutt2000]

The way I remember it, Clinton was responsible for expanding the mission in Somalia, and it was his White House that insisted on under manning, under equipping, and under armoring the expanded mission.

[MNlurker]

If I reacall correctly they were there only to assure that food made its way to the starving population (humanitarian). It was Clinton that turned it into a military operation.

[partyrepub]

And it was bill clinton who changed the rules of engagement and ordered our Rangers into a dangerous situation with out any support. Clinton lied and 3020 americans died.

[cwb]

Yeah...and that was mostly a UN/US humanitarian aid effort controlled by the US. After Clinton took office he (and the UN) immediately changed the objective from humanitarian to nation-building...with most control handed over to the UN on May 4th, 1993. Butros Gali even began using the US military as a tool to wage a more aggressive campaign against Aidid, whom he never liked.

Ironically, these more aggressive tactics were coming at a time when Clinton was drawing-down American presence and power in the region to not give an impression that we were occupying the nation. As a result, when the US campaign to capture Aidid was finally launched (supposedly without UN knowledge), the soldiers were left defenseless as all the heavy armor and machinery was denied for PR reasons.

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"It Was George H.W. Bush who first ordered US troops to Somalia in late 1992."

HWB sent our troops in on a humanitarian mission to feed the starving Somali children. That mission was somewhat successful until bill clinton came to power. He changed the mission and his statist flunkies set the new rules under which 18 Delta and Ranger troopers died.

If we are lucky, Abel Danger will shine a light on what clinton was and what his wife is.

Michael Frazier

[Mad Mammoth]

Billy Jeff!! Is zat you son?

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

GHWB sent troops to Somalia after the incessant whining of the media and Randal Robinson that we had to help ensure food distribution to the starving Somalis. That along with the nightly news showing the same starving child night after night forced Bush to mount a mission at the end of his term. I believe that aid workers on the ground had not requested military assistance as they had worked out deals with the warlords. Subsequently the US withdrew and the vaunted UN took over "guarding" the food distribution. X42 sent the Rangers back in when Adid mixed it up with the Pakis and the Pakis got their asses handed to them. The Rangers went in with orders to get Adid. The SecDef, a Former McNamara whiz kid from the JFK/LBJ era, wouldn't give the on the scene commander the tools he requested. Unfortunately, he didn't put his stars on the table but instead attempted to carryout his orders as best he could. The rest is history.

[newcthem]

And it was BJBilly who turned the mission into a meals-on-wheels operation and got our boys killed.

[Trailerpark Badass]

It Was George H.W. Bush who first ordered US troops to Somalia in late 1992.

The Marines Bush sent finished their mission and left. Task Force Ranger was entirely Clinton's doing.