Oct 03, 1993

[Major Lambda]

Garrison Garrison didn't underestimate the enemy. He had requested AC-130 and light armor support, but was turned down. That decision was made by Secretary of Defense Aspin, who was concerned about how it would look to the public to have Spectre raining Hell down on a populated area where the mission was ostensibly to provide humanitarian relief.

Garrison knew he was going into a $#@! storm. He just had to bank on getting in and out in 30 minutes, before the militias could mobilize. It didn't work out that way because some Somali got a lucky shot off with an RPG.

I did not say specifically that Garrison did underestimate the enemy, Pentagon planners and the White House did.



M-L

[Peter1469]

Politics got good men killed.

But, you can't court martial a politician. Derelection of duty when a politician does it, is a foreign policy decision. Derelection of duty , committed by a GI ; is a court martial offense.

Ultimately, the White House is responsible. It was a Pentagon and SecDef goof, but the White House is responsible for those deaths. Needless deaths. Chain of Command failure, failure to support ground personnel. The Ground Commander , General Garrison ; should have got all he asked for to save lives, prevent tragedy , and senseless loss of American serviceman lives.

Hell no. Politics has a say so.




Major Lambda

agreed

[Major Lambda]

agreed

The Troops come first. Always first, is the troops.



M-L

[Cletus]

I did not say specifically that Garrison did underestimate the enemy, Pentagon planners and the White House did.

Agreed.