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dealing with dictators and other genocidal maniacs. Such ineffectiveness should not even be in play within violent hotspots of the world.

With no clear objective going in nor any clear plan for exiting the conflict, the Clinton inherited, at best, a problem. However, because no one in the Clinton administration took ownership of the policy, it began to rapidly deteriorate, culminating in a humiliating action for the world to see. The US owned a stronger, smarter, better trained and equipped military program, and due to the lack of leadership and preparation within the administration, suffered a defeat to a group of loyalists with AK-47's.

Barring the option of staying out of the conflict completely, the next best option would have been to develop a system of self rule in which the clans, under the rule of local warlords, would receive aid based on their behavior. This keeps the traditional customs in place, yet rewards those in power for good behavior.

Finally, if the military option was to be the chosen course of action, there is an important aspect of battle that the designers must understand . . . do not underestimate the resolve of your opponent. Clinton did not truly understand what he was approving and those in charge underestimated the will of the Somali people.

Bibliography
Hyland, William G. Clinton's World: Remaking American Foreign Policy. Westport: Praeger,
1999.

Brzezinski, Zbigniew. Second Chance: Three Presidents and the Crisis of American Superpower.
New York: Basic, 2007.

Clinton, Bill. My Life. New York: Vintage, 2005.

Halberstam, David. War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton, and the Generals. New York:
Touchstone, 2001.

Morris, Dick, and Eileen McGann. Because He Could. New York: Reganbooks, 2004.

Learn more about this author, Darrin Dykes.
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