'Black Hawk Down' Dad Bristles at Attempt to Blame Bush

NewsMax.com ^ | 8/11/02 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[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:

Al-Qaeda
Clinton Scandals

[Howlin]

"The three of us just leaned over instantaneously and he backed off of that one."

I would have paid good money to see that sissy man backed into a corner by good, brave men.

[mondonico]

Bump for mainstream media's attention. Bill O'Reilly, this is your kind of story, where are you?

[Afronaut]

Or wish he was having Pancakes at Windows on the World on 9/11

[Howlin]

I'll be looking for it.

[kayak]

I, too, have been shocked at the depth and range of emotions x42, his consort, and their adoring followers have brought out in me. I have tried to figure out why and the best answer I've come up with yet is because of my love for my country and my respect for the office of the Presidency. Those people degraded the office to an unthinkable level and went a long way towards destroying all that is good and honorable and decent about our country. They sold military secrets for their own power ..... and that endangers us all well into the future. There are so many bells that were rung that cannot be unrung .....

I have always thought it ironic that x42 supposedly was so inspired by JFK ...... and yet he took that President's most famous quote and reversed it ...... the x42 version is "Ask not what you can do for your country but what your country can do for you."

Part of me knows that "vengeance is mine, says the Lord" but a big part of me wants desperately to see them come to justice here and now .....

If the media would get them off the front pages and off my tv set, it would help a great deal. But if they are going to be making headlines, I just wish it were for the right reasons .... trials and convictions!

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Did they? Did they really vote him in twice? Given the vote fraud in 2000, I have alot of questions about his second term and Hitlery's Senate seat.

There is the story. Hillary only won by vote fraud.

Bill only won by using Ross Perot and additional vote fraud. In the 96 election - he only won because he:

Orchestrated and planned and/or had his terrorist friends take care of resurrecting his "image" - through the OKC bombing. That building was brought down by charges placed INSIDE THE BUILDING - and Tim McVeigh did not do that.

There were no ATF members killed in that blast - because none of them were there that day, nor were their children in the daycare center.

But it was OKC that turned things around. We forget - but Clinton was totally repudiated in the 94 Congressional elections. He would have been OUT in 96 without OKC, without Perot doing his duty again, and without the necessary organized crime/union/NAACP led vote fraud throughout the country.

Oh - and TWA800 happened that year - which explains why we have not yet gotten the truth about how that happened.

Americans should be very very afraid re: the continuing escape from justice of the Criminal Clinton Gang.

Like all organized crime gang members, like the communists, if you let them escape, they will never stop til they ruin or kill you.

There is only one solution - exposure of truth.

Which is why I have been saying for years and years and years - get the truth out - and the country will spew these Rat-Commies OUT of this country. And we will!

[Darlin']

May the Good Lord bless this courageous man for his service to our country and for the strength of his convictions in defending the honor of his son and of President George H.W. Bush. He looked evil in the eye and he was unbowed. Thank you Capt Smith.

[Paradox]

I finally got to see BHD, and I was floored, totally wasted, by the end. And yet, there was some triumph at the end, as they managed to get the rest of the guys out alive.

All during the action, in the back of my head, I was picturing a Spectre overhead, raining hell on the "skinnies".. didn't happen, but you couldn't help but wonder...

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

"They knew how the White House works. They knew there was no way Les Aspin made that decision on his own."

Well that's probably true...Why didn't Aspin resign in protest over a wrong-headed policy?

[archy]

I'm not sure where I have been, but I have never seen this picture. I think I'm going to be sick.

Long ago, it was explained to me by a long-serving Marine what the duty of his Corps was, stripped of all the pretty words and happy thoughts of tradition and glory and such. It's true of all services, but his keeps it in mind more than some others. It's quite simple, really.

The duty of a Marine, and the purpose of their Corps, is to take a bullet that might otherwise go to an American civilian. That's all.

In that photo, you see an Army aviator who than now-deceased Marine would have immediately recognized as one of those of whom he was referring.

Next time you get the chance to thank one of those with that responsibility, you might take the time to do so. Most tend not to make a big deal of it, though at times, it can be a very big deal, indeed.

[upchuck]

THE SCUMBAG and The Hildebeaste built a very tall, very thick wall of lies, deceptions and irresponsibility.

But, now that their spin machine is somewhat muted, little bit by little bit the wall is being chipped away. Someday, soon I pray, it will collapse under it's own weight because the foundation is nothing but smoke and mirrors.

Eventually the truth, ALL the truth, will come out. What a crying shame that in the meantime these grifting sleasebags can continue to damage our precious country.

I am VERY much looking forward to taking my place in the pissing line :)

[PJ-Comix]

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."

The buck stops....THERE!

[hattend]

I may be kicked out of Arlington for doing so, but I swear I will piss on Clinton's grave.

1) He won't be buried at Arlington
2) You'll be waiting in line a long time, hope you can hold it.

Kennedy has an eternal flame, Clinton will have an eternal latrine. They'll have to put razor wire and armed guards around his grave in order to give the grass a chance to grow.

[agrace]

I heard this interview live on ABC Radio here in NYC Sunday morning. This guy is a disabled Vietnam vet, lost a son in Somalia, has another who just returned from Afghanistan, and a third who is also in the military. What a family. He said that shortly after meeting with the president about what happened to the rangers, he read a bunch of books on Clinton, and the main thing he came away with was that Clinton has never been "a stand-up guy" (his words) and will never take responsibility for anything. He had nothing but scorn for the Clintons and says he returned the condolence card they sent him after his son was killed.

I have yet to see Black Hawk Down. How accurately is it portrayed?

[hattend]

I have yet to see Black Hawk Down. How accurately is it portrayed?

I wasn't there so no way for me to tell you about accuracy. But interviews done with people who were there indicate the movie is pretty right on, historically speaking.

I only saw the movie on DVD about 3 months ago and it started my "hate Somalia, hate Clinton" feelings all over again.

I now have my own DVD copy and I have "We Were Soldiers" on pre-order.

[doberville]

Hear, hear. I'm with you. I CANNOT believe that sewer scum like Hillary won without voter fraud.

This is why she's such a threat if she runs for president. Dem's never play fair. With them, it's simply a matter of how/how much to cheat.

To quote Henry the II: Can no one rid me . . .

[amigatec]

Clinton will have an eternal latrine.

I hope there is someplace to sit down when I get there. I may have to do more than just pee!! (If you know what I mean)

[cake_crumb]

"At one point, Smith recalled, Clinton even attempted to blame the Rangers 'for being too aggressive.' "

That statement sums up Clintoon's utter contempt for the military. It sums up the reason that Somalia turned into a total disaster.

It proves that Somalia WAS CLINTON'S FAULT.

[Argus]

I may be kicked out of Arlington for doing so, but I swear I will piss on Clinton's grave.

I second your sentiment, but can you imagine the uproar if they try to bury that bastard at Arlington? I doubt his worthless carcass will end up there.

[dmz]

get real, they both love themselves way too much to do themselves in.