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193
Opinion
Friday, October 15,1993
The Battalion
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JO-WIN
PRO
CON
Is Clinton properly handling
the situation in Somalia ?
/miNHO 'BOUT
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expecrioj'
JENNY
MAGEE
Columnist
A lot of peo
ple agree
that at this
Soint the Oilers
lould be doing
Everybody a favor
yjust forgetting
lis whole football
ling. There are
Iso a lot of people
^ho think that
resident Clinton
hould simply pull
imeriean troops
! d of Somalia in-
|t\ | tead of sending
Ipjl he5,300 addition
al forces to the east
[frican country.
However, given the fact that Ameri-
in troops have already committed
lemselves to the Somalian cause, Presi-
us/The BAmuttlgflt Clinton is handling the situation in
I sophomoiffa respectable manner,
lock the ball ^ \s important to remember that it
the season. wason ly December 1992, less than a
aearago when on the wings of the
Jesert Storm success. President Bush
sentU.S. troops into Somalia with a mis-
|on called "Operation Restore Hope."
I Once again, Mama America was out
|i comfort the afflicted anarchy-troubled
lation and feed the starving. But the
loops entered Somalia with a defensive
objective. We were going to protect,
[rovide for and feed this troubled na-
pn.
j So, when the tides turned and sud-
lenly American soldiers were being
■ragged through the streets, forces were
lot prepared for the possibility of offen-
|ve action. For this reason it was neces-
Iryfor Clinton to send the additional
loops to substantiate the U.S. forces.
I Obviously, the Somalian situation has
lirpassed the fundamental question of
Ihy America finds it necessary to be the
world's baby sitter in the first place. But
Ithe good Samaritan front of America's
llief efforts in Somalia blind all suspi-
lons of an ulterior motives, we all need
ptake a crash course in reality.
. America has long since steered her
peign escapades from the motivation
|f a basic priority — cheap gas.
Take a look at a map. How strangely
tonvenient it seems to note that Somalia
Its straight in the direction of the Mid-
le East.
JASON
SWEENEY
Columnist
teers
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ten the tides turned and
suddenly American soldiers
Were being dragged
through the streets, forces
Were not prepared for offen
sive action. For this reason it
Was necessary for Clinton to
send the additional troops.
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean on
pee sides, Somalia would make an in~
pesting site to build a base. What a
erfect way to keep a hawk's eye watch
tithe oil kings in the Sahara, not to
fention oT Saddam Hussein.
I am not trying to bash American for-
gn policy, but it is naive to think that
I'enthe best little boys and girls don't
[tare their cookies with the secret hope
[getting a second.
Now, Clinton sits in the White House
|ith critics from both parties waiting for
|e "domestic president" to screw up
foreign affairs. So, what does he do?
le sends additional troops to finish out
lob to which that U.S. troops are al-
lady committed.
I But most importantly, he set a March
deadline to have the troops out of So
malia for good.
And as long as he does not compro
mise that March 31 deadline, Clinton is
Icing the right thing by not walking out
On a previous commitment.
P resident Clin
ton has failed
miserably
with his policy on
Somalia. United
States troops were
first committed in
December 1992 as
part of a United Na
tions peacekeeping
force. This force
was dedicated to
getting food and
medical attention to
Somalis at a time
when rival warring
clans were prevent
ing the aid.
By this summer, the United Nations suc
cessfully met its goals with the restoration
to health of the Somali people.
Clinton then should have swiftly with
drawn from the region. However, Clinton
and the United Nations opted instead to re
main in Somalia to rebuild its political and
governmental structure. Reacting to this
new objective, the clan led by Gen. Mo
hammed Farah Aidid became violently de
fiant toward such foreign meddling.
On Oct. 4 CNN broadcast
vial images of the naked
body of an American casu
alty being dragged about
through the streets of Mo
gadishu. Somehow, inex
plicably, President Clinton
did nothing in response.
On June 5, Aidid's forces ambushed a
UN patrol leaving 24 Pakistani troops
dead. Later on Aug. 8, an enemy mine
would rip apart a U.S. troop transport,
killing four Americans.
Twelve days ago, in fierce fighting last
ing 17 hours, 12 GIs perished and 78 were
wounded. The next day, on Oct. 4, CNN
broadcast vial images of the naked body of
an American casualty being dragged about
through the streets of Mogadishu, the So
mali capitol. Somali citizens could be seen
reveling at their prize.
Somehow, inexplicably. President Clin
ton did nothing in response. Instead, he
would wait two full days before ordering
the first of 6,000 reinforcements to be sent,
as he put it, only to provide safety for
those already deployed.
There cannot be a more grossly inade
quate response than this. The enraging
sight of an American serviceman's body
being desecrated by an irreverent mob
should have ended in nothing short of a
massive retaliatory response.
Instead, President Clinton meekly
chose only to deploy more troops solely
for defensive purposes. Additionally, he
came out this week saying that the United
States has actually reversed its stance,
now wanting to end this matter diplomat
ically and abandon the search for Aidid.
Sensing likely vindication following
Clinton's statements, Aidid on Sunday
publicly called for a "total cease-fire."
Knowing he will go unpunished, the
shrewd general is now willing to come
out of hiding dressed as a peacemaker.
Never would I have envisioned an
American president conceding to an enemy
as Clinton now has to Aidid. The President
has said that we cannot immediately pull
out of Somalia because "... all around the
world, aggressors, thugs, and terrorists will
conclude that the best way to get us to
change our policies is to kill our people ..."
This assertion is not untrue. Presi
dent Clinton has failed to recognize that
in actuality, he has abdicated to one of
these very thugs. Aidid should have
been severely punished for his deeds,
yet he is poised to walk. American and
UN peacekeepers have been murdered,
and our President is prepared to ignore
these crimes.
MAIL CALL
Charity begins here
In the past few weeks, we have argued
over the question of the United States'
role in maintaining peace in foreign
lands. While I cannot suggest how our
government can solve the political injus
tices suffered in countries in Somalia and
Haiti, I do know one place that deserves
our services. That place is right here in
the Brazos Valley.
While it is easy to feel isolated from
world problems in a college town, a
quick trip into Bryan reveals that poverty
exists in our own community.
This week at Texas A&M has been
designated as World Feed Week. It is a
time to take a close look at the problems
of hunger and malnutrition. Several
programs, which is sponsored by MSC
Great Issues, focus on this topic such as
a nation-wide teleconference on Friday,
World Food Day.
Throughout the week, there is a cam-
pus-wide food drive with drop-offs in
the Common Market and Sbisa. Alpha
Phi Omega will also be collecting food
from the Corps of Cadets on Friday and
collecting food from the community on
Sunday.
I challenge each Aggie to do some
thing to get involved, whether it be
dropping off a can of tuna or coming to
a program. I also urge all Ags to find a
area of community service in which you
can make a difference.
What a better way to gain job expe
rience than to volunteer at a free clinic
or counsel new mothers! You may
find that community service can mean
a whole lot more than a way to work
off a ticket. And who knows, you
might just like that great feeling that
comes from helping others.
Amy C. Bluntzer
Class of '94
Tolerance good bull,
give it a shot for once
I am so sick and tired of the intoler
ance of differing opinions on this cam
pus. The morning of Oct. 12, I was
walking back to the main campus from
Fish Lot when I passed two guys
dressed in Wranglers and boots. One
greeted me with a "Howdy." The other
called me a freak.
I was dressed in combat boots, jeans,
a tank top and a holey shirt. Just because
I wasn't dressed in western style, he as
sumed that I didn't belong at A&M.
The funny thing is, I'm probably
more country than he! I was raised on a
cattle ranch, showed heifers and bulls in
livestock shows for nine years and still
work the herd when I visit home.
If he had seen me the day before —
when I was dressed in Rockies, Justins,
a Stetson straw and a Brushpopper shirt
— he probably would have greeted me
with a "Howdy."
I am not a freak, and neither is any
other liberally dressed person on this
campus or in this world. A real cowboy
(synonymous with "gentleman") would
know that.
Maybe he should listen to Chris Le
Doux (a real cowboy) who says, "There's
always been groups of people who never
could see eye to eye. And I always
thought if they ever had a chance to sit
down and talk face to face, they might re
alize they have a lot in common."
Tolerance of others' ideals and choic
es is good bull. Try it sometime.
Mindy Bryant
Class of '96
Stay off MSC grass ...
On Tuesday, Oct. 12,1 was walking to
the MSC to check my mail, when I saw a
young woman walking on the grass
around the Memorial. The sidewalk was
flooded out with water because it had
rained that morning, so she just walked
onto the grass.
At this time, I politely asked her to
"Please stay off the grass." She looked at
me and snarled in a cocky tone of voice,
"I know. I've gone to school here for four
years!" I then asked her, "Then why
would you walk on the grass?" She
replied with, "Because I didn't feel like
walking around!"
I was outraged! Just because she
didn't "feel like walking around." Well, I
bet the families of the men who gave
their lives in defense of this country
didn't "feel like" losing their fathers and
husbands either.
To begin with, life is sacred. Second of
all, the MSC is a memorial all of the time,
not when it is convenient. And finally,
how long would it have taken her to go
fifteen feet out of her precious way to go
around? I think as Aggies, we should all
respect the MSC more, because remem
ber Ags, these people gave their lives for
our freedom.
Chris Helms
Class of '96
... and remove hats
Ladies, ladies, ladies! For shame!
Every day we hear women screaming for
equality, and yet at both the Missouri and
Houston games, I was standing next to
women that would not uncover for yells.
Let me tell you something Ags ... this
makes me mad! I'm not going to Beat
around the bush here. Iffyou are ^oing to
call yourself an Aggie, you had best have
respect for Aggie traditions. Just because
you are female, that does not make you
exempt. Next thing you know, women
will be using their gender as an excuse
for walking on the grass outside the
MSC. I don't think that "my hair will get
messed up" is an acceptable excuse for
ignoring tradition.
Ladies, if you are not willing to uncov
er, either don't go to games or the MSC,
or don't wear a hat at all. I am shocked
and embarrassed by your behavior. So,
the next time you are wearing a hat and
you hear someone yell "uncover," either
do it or stop calling yourself an Aggie.
Jennifer Powell
Class of'95
Updated hat policy
The MSC hat policy was set up during
the 1951 dedication of the student center.
In the rededication ceremony after the ex
pansion of the MSC in 1976, the MSC was
rededicated to "all Aggies who have died
in any war, past or future."
Last semester, students expressed
some concerns regarding the hat policy.
These concerns were brought to the at
tention of the MSC council and then re
ferred to the MSC Building Operations
Committee. The committee found the
signs were never updated to reflect the
changes made in the 1976 rededication.
MSC Building Operations then made
the MSC Council aware of the 1976
rededication and the failure to update the
signs to: "The MSC is dedicated to all Ag
gies who have died in any war, past or
future. In token of respect for their sacri
fice, all individuals are requested to re
move their hats while in the building."
MSC Council then sought the Univer
sity Center staff's assistance in updating
the signs. A lack of funds delayed the up
dating, but the signs will soon be up.
We would like it to be known that this
policy requests all individuals to remove
their hats. This is not a demand. Howev
er, we encourage people to show their re
spect and comply with the request.
Ken Jarrell
Class of ‘95
Vice president for operations
and procedures, MSC Council
Spirit of Aggieland
is more than 'howdy'
I admit it. I, too, am a freshman who
came back from Fish Camp saying
"Howdy" to everyone and always ex
pecting one in return. I didn't always re
ceive one, and this made me mad be
cause friendliness and tradition are two
reasons I came to this great university.
Later, it angered me that during Silver
Taps, another great tradition of A&M,
many lights were left on near the site
(even in the Academic Building). I began
to fear the Spirit of Aggieland was dead.
Let me tell you right now that I was
very, very wrong. A good example
happened a few days ago. I was "lucky"
enough to have to visit the A. P. Beutel
Health Center because of a sore throat.
After an "enjoyable" three-and-a
half-hour wait, I was told there was
only one person ahead of me in line.
The problem was, I had only 10 minutes
until a history exam. I would have to
give up my place and come back the
next day, I was told.
The person ahead of me, Wendy
Jones, offered to give up her place so I
could go before her. For all she knew, I
could have been there another hour, but
she gave up her place anyway so I could
make it to my test (barely).
I would like to thank her,and all oth
er Ags helping to keep the spirit alive. I
realized the other-day that "Howdy"
and the lights don't have everything to
do with the Spirit of Aggieland.
Ryan Deer
Class of'97
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;——
n hi i. .ni
?nny Magee is a sophomore journalism major Jason Sweeney is a senior political science major
Because I said so, and when I say jump...
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