The killings in Uganda, following the World Cup were not aberrant event, but in reality a result of our lack of resolve, in the Battle of Mogadishu.

In 1992 in the waning days of the H.W. Bush Presidency, the US, as the leading partner in a UNESCO force ‘invaded’ Somalia to provide humanitarian relief. It was desperately needed and the decision was the right one. The warlords revolted, fearing that a strong central government would end their influence.

While the forces were there, the incoming Clinton administration decided to hit back at the warlords and ordered a strike on a house suspecting of housing one of the warlords and his staff. During the combat one US helicopter was shot down and every effort made to save the crew. Unfortunately we had not the force on the ground to respond as shown in the movie, ‘Black Hawk Down.’ We then tucked our tail between our legs and retreated.

This is not a singular event. We retreated after the Kobar towers, the attack on a Marine base in Lebanon and the USS Cole. We were attacked and we did nothing in response. This is not an indictment of President Clinton, while the Cole and Mogadishu occurred on his watch, Kobar towers and the destruction of the Marine barracks in Lebanon happened on Reagan’s watch.

What it means is that when we do not meet force with overwhelming force we lose. The pirates on the African horn would not be there if we had stuck to our guns and eliminated the power of the warlords. The slaughter of the indigenous, especially Christians people, by the Islamic extremist was unchecked.

Following events including the first attack on the World Trade Center and the strike on the USS Cole convinced Islamic terrorists/extremists that the US lacked the spine to accept blood. They were, we were not. The result culminated in 9/11, but there were still battles going on around the world and especially in Somalia. In Somalia today we have unchecked terrorism, piracy, against Christians, training, and attacks on neighboring Uganda.

Uganda is a US supporter in Africa, but if we let this pass without reaction, we will prove Osama Ben Laden’s words that we are not to be feared, once again.

Before the twin towers attack UBL went on record saying that when there is a strong horse and a weak horse – people will follow the strong horse. He pointed to the retreat of the US from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Mogadishu, etc to show that while we had tremendous military capability, we lacked the resolve to use it whenever American lives might be on the line. He contrasted this with the resolve of the Islamic fighters who regularly risked their lives.

Retreat at Mogadishu led directly to the destruction of non-Muslim villages, killing of Christian leaders, and taking over from the legitimate government, etc. It has also led to the Somali pirates who work in cooperation with these terrorists and to the attacks in Uganda.

Today the Taliban is attacking the US Army, the strongest in the world, with impunity because of our ‘rules of engagement’. Until we are ready to step up with full force and steel ourselves to taking some casualties, we will continue to lose this war.

demonstrate daily their preference to back away and water down.
Perfect example: the immigration laws; no enforcement of immigrants willfully entering the country illegally PLUS treating and paying the illegals here better than like situation (poverty and need) Americans.

If an illegal is caught and sentenced by the courts to be returned to their home country, they have nothing to fear because this is another law they do not enforce.

One justification after another and many years and a waste of American youth's lives in wars allowed to go on for years without allowing the military to do what ever it takes to win.

Timid as a descriptor does not address the issue for me. The issue for me is "apathy". We Americans have become SELF oriented to a fault. Yes, we are a generous society and yes we do contribute to many, many needs of people. However on the subject of risking American lives, risking the continued loss of core values, the continuing allowance of moral decay accompanied by rampant disrespect for the laws of the land...we the people have the worst disease of all NIMBY....not in my back yard. As long as the multitudes are not personally affected, they go about their business and their life style. Remember in this so called dire economy there are still 90% who are still gainfully employed. Also what percent of the total population has a mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter in uniform in harms way...how about one tenth of one percent?

There is no personal investment any more for the masses. Without personal investment there is no risk. No risk or effect or responsibility breeds apathy.

There is absolutely no mystery to how and why we behave as a country anymore. There is no mystery that our enemy and adversaries know they too have little risk for no matter what they do to America, it's citizens or it's assets.

The mightiest nation in the world, with the mightiest army in the world, with the best technology that money can buy being shot, killed and maimed by a bunch of rag tag desert rats.

Apathy! It is very sad. It is going to take a major incident of magnitude that threats our very existence and way of life to ignite the proper motivation.....and then it may be too late.

Very frustrating to one who has lived during a time, in the past, when such actions could not happen!!!
btk