European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday december 12, 1992 commentary the stars and stripes Page 13bush can explain Aid to Somalia a and should when he decided to Send an american Force to Somalia under auspices president Bush made no great Public announcement. The news emerged in almost a whisper. But the decision in fact reflected a profound change in the assumptions a the ground rules a for military intervention abroad. A the classic reasons for . Military action Are to protect National Security or the lives of particular americans. Thus the official rationale for the Landing on Grenada was to Rescue american medical students. The invasion of Panama designed to overthrow and capture Manuel Noriega was covered by a Story of threats to american citizens. Somalia demands something very different peacemaking. The . Peacekeepers already there have been powerless to operate against warring gangs equipped with heavy weapons. The american Force and others that join it will be there to silence and preferably to seize those guns so Relief workers can do their jobs. The reason for forceful intervention now is an urgent need to save lives. Hundreds of thousands of somalis have already died from the starvation that has followed political chaos and gang warfare. As Many As one million More might be doomed if the present situation were allowed to continue. In Short the . Anil the United states Are intervening in Somalia to prevent an internal Slughter. And that represents a great change in the premises of International conduct. This is in fact the second time in recent years that military Force has been used to prevent mass killing inside a country. The first was in Northern Iraq after the persian Gulf War when the United states stopped Saddam Hussein Skilling of the kurd and effectively set up a protected kurdish zone. The action in Northern Iraq like that in Somalia was a response by Bush to a humanitarian outcry. Pictures of kurdish Anthony Lewis refugees huddled in the snowy mountains and of emaciated somali children produced much critical comment in the press about what was seen As Bush a indifference. What Bush has not done so far is to explain his actions a to offer the Public a thoughtful basis for understanding this new kind of intervention. And that is necessary. The need for explanation was indicated by the negative reaction of rep. John p. Murtha d-penn., chairman of the defense appropriations subcommittee. He said the dispatch of troops to Somalia was not a in our National military leaders he said a Don t know what the Mission defining the Mission will indeed be Tricky. Bush has said it will be Brief but military leaders seem doubtful about that. And what do the planners envisage happening after foreign forces leave considerations of that kind will attend any such operation. They show that it is not possible or w ise to Lay Down a general tide for intervention. The lines must rather be drawn in Case alter Case based on the particular needs and risks. But it is Clear now As Northern Iraq and Somalia show that a new element has entered the calculation. In a world without menace from another superpower the . Military must be ready to act against mass murder a which Breeds hate and revenge menaces stability and thus does engage what rep. Murtha called a your National Bush can make that Case liven those critical of him know that in the persian Gulf crisis he brilliantly marshalled american opinion Congress and foreign governments for intervention against Saddam Hussein. His arguments then were both strategic and moral a As they would be now. He has already started talking with members of Congress and foreign leaders. Of course the Case that civics out Foi. Application of the new doct inc of intervention is Bosnia. Tuhcic the serbs arc carrying out a a Nocida poll by. To let that policy succeed As it is succeeding is to threaten european stability and menace humane values cd cry where. I still find it hard to believe that Bush is going to end his term of office with the Burden of bosnian Slaughter on his conscience a and on his historical record. But if he does it will be up to Bill Clinton quickly to Lay out the new basis for intervention. It would be none too soon for him to do it in his inaugural address c Tho now Yolk Timos the opinions a prs Ted in lha columns and cartoons on this pass Thoss of the authors and ars in no Way to a Consold sred As the Laws of the stars and str Lisa or the United states Messy Somalia Blunder will get Messier everything about the somalian intervention is wrong. The president has let his heart run away with his head. Congressional leaders have failed to question the executive decisions. Apparently no one in High office has thought this thing through. Its a mess and its going to get Messier. Human experience offers abundant parallels. At one time or another most of us have made an impulsive Purchase or an unwise investment. Suddenly we re in trouble and we re stuck. That is exactly where the United states finds itself As the marines pour into Mogadishu. There a no backing Down now. This is the commitment we will Send As Many As 28,000 troops to Somalia. This is the question Why is this a guilt trip Are we offering atonement for the slave Trade Long ago is this to demonstrate that americans Are a caring people Are lives to be risked and servicemen shot in the holy name of Public relations president Bush an unfailingly decent Man made the Best Case last week that he could make. Thousands of innocent human beings Are dying of starvation. The United states is the Only superpower Able to come to Somalia said. Once Supply lines have been opened the task of keeping them open will be turned Over to others and the troops will come Home. It won t do. This operation in Somalia cannot be compared to our intervention two years ago in the persian Gulf. There we had a specific purpose. We would liberate Kuwait. In the process we would inhibit from building nuclear weapons. We would prevent Middle 1 a Tei u Oil loan 1.tiling Undi iraqi omit of once those National interests were secured the troops would withdraw. On that Clear understanding Congress authorized the president to go ahead he whole affair had a respectable Legal cover we were acting under auspices of the United nations. We were diplomatically Correct. From a military standpoint the operation was feasible. W e would wage open warfare against a Well organized foe. No such conditions apply in Somalia. It is not As if the somalian government had appealed for help. T Here is no somalian government. There is no Well organized enemy. This week we see a beginning. Who realistically can see an end one immediate objective we Are told is to open the Road from Mogadishu to Bai doa. T he new York times identifies Bairoa As a one Street town 150 Miles West of the capital. The town is now under the control of one Abdi Osman a Rah and his gunmen. It will be up to the marines to take the town and to make the Countryside secure. Then supplies of food will How. The marines can do it. It is conceivable though unlikely that the thugs will slip away without bring a shot. Now we have Bairoa Hooray 1 risks move out. To Crews move in. Tears fall. Dan rather interviews jubilant Murines give Gilt to children. Hey James j. Kilpatrick folks its Christmas i hate to say Bah Humbug but someone has to Chat Lenge this Well intentioned Folly. What happens in Bairoa next week next month next summer Are the marines to stay there forever How Long o lord How Long and when an american presence vanishes As it will and the thugs return As they will what will have been accomplished in the matter of the persian Gulf the american people had five months to think about a Wise and prudent policy. President Bush asked for specific congressional approval and he got it. He sought positive commitments from a dozen nations and he got them. This time around no such ordered debate has occurred. Bush has not sought congressional approval and leaders of the House and Senate have not volunteered to win it for him. We have no significant allies. In the place of carefully considered action we have spontaneous compassion. If any thought has been Given to consistency and precedent it is nowhere evident. In Somalia its a matter of principle the Strong must Succour the weak. But principles Are such troublesome afflictions innocent human beings Are dying of civil turmoil in Bosnia in Liberia in the Sudan. If the somalian intervention is morally right a right in principle a Why not Send marines to Sarajevo Congress ought to be asking these questions. But except for sen. Hank Brown of Colorado and rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania no prominent members Are objecting. By passive acquiescence the country is proving the adage that its Caw to get into Tumble. What is hard is gelling out
