Conference tecrus::mormonism

416.0. "Present-day Gadiantons?" by ECADSR::SHERMAN (Steve ECADSR::Sherman DTN 223-3326 MLO5-2/26a) Mon Dec 07 1992 10:03

From: [email protected] (UPI)
Subject: Text of President Bush address on Somalia
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 92 10:57:20 PST

	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The following is the text of President Bush's
address Friday to the nation regarding relief efforts in Somalia:
	Every American has seen the shocking images from Somalia. The scope
of suffering there is hard to imagine. Already, over a quarter million
people, as many people who live in Buffalo, N.Y., have died in the
Somali famine. In the months ahead, five times that number, one and a
half million people, could starve to death.
	For many months now, the Untied States has been active in a massive
international relief effort to ease Somalia's suffering. All told,
America has sent Somalia 200,000 tons of food, more than half the
world's total.
	This summer, the distribution system broke down. Truck convoys from
Somalia's ports were blocked. Sufficient food failed to reach the
starving in the interior of Somalia. So in August we took additional
action. In concert with the United Nations, we sent in the U.S. Air
Force to help fly food to the towns. To date, American pilots have flown
over 1,400 flights delivering over 17,000 tons of food aid. And when the
U.N. authorized 3,500 U.N. guards to protect the relief operation, we
flew in the first of them, 500 soldiers from Pakistan.
	But in the months since then, the security situation has grown worse.
The U.N. has been prevented from deploying its initial commitment of
troops. In many cases, food from relief flights is being looted upon
landing. Food convoys have been hijacked; aid workers assaulted. Ships
with food have been subject to artillery attacks that prevented them
from docking. There is no government in Somalia. Law and order have
broen down. Anarchy prevails.
	One image tells the story. Imagine 7,000 tons of food aid literally
bursting out of a warehouse on a dock in Mogadishu, while Somalis starve
less than a kilometer away because relief workers cannot run the
gauntlet of armed gangs roving the city.
	Confronted with these conditions, relief groups called for outside
troops to provide security so they can feed people. It is now clear that
military support is necessary to ensure the safe delivery of the food
that Somalis need to survive. It was this situation that lead us to tell
the United Nations that the United States would be willing to provide
more help to allow relief to be delivered.
	Last night, the United Nations Security Council by unanimous vote and
after the tireless effort of Secretary General Boutros Ghali welcomed
the United States' offer to lead a coalition to get the food through.
	After consulting with my advisers, both world leaders and the
congressional leadership, I have today told Secretary General Boutros
Ghali that America will answer the call. I have given the order to
Secretary (Dick) Cheney to move a substantial American force into
Somalia. As I speak, a Marine amphibious group, which we maintain at
sea, is offshore at Mogadishu. These troops will be joined by elements
of the 1st Marine Expeditionary force out of Camp Pendelton, Calif., and
by the Army's 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y.
	These and other American forces will assist in Operation Restore
Hope. They are America's finest. They will perform this mission with
courage and compassion and they will succeed.
	The people of Somalia, especially the children of Somalia, need our
help. We're able to ease their suffering; we must help them live; we
must give them hope. America must act.
	In taking this action, I want to emphasize that I understand the
United States alone cannot right the world's wrongs. But we also know
that some crises in the world cannot be resolved without American
involvement. That American action is often necessary as a catalyst for
broader involvement of the community of nations. Only the United States
has the global reach to place a large security force on the ground in
such a distant place, quickly and efficiently, and thus save thousands
of innocents from death.
	We will not, however, be acting alone. I expect forces from about a
dozen countries to join us in this mission. When we see Somalia's
children starving, all of America hurts. We've tried to help in many
ways. And make no mistake about it. Now, we and our allies will ensure
that aid will get through.
	And here's what we and our coalition partners will do. First, we will
create a secure environment in the hardest hit parts of Somalia so that
food can move from ships overland to the people in the countryside now
devastated by starvation. And second, once we have created that secure
environment, we will withdraw our troops, handing the security mission
back to a regular U.N. peacekeeping force.
	Our mission has a limited objective -- to open the supply route, get
the food moving, and prepare the way for a U.N. peacekeeping force to
keep it moving.
	This operation is not open-ended. We will not stay one day longer
than is absolutely necessary. And let me be very clear. Our mission is
humanitarian. But we will not tolerate armed gangs ripping off their own
people, condemning them to death by starvation.
	(Marine) Gen. (Joseph P.) Hoar and his troops have the authority to
take whatever military action is necessary, to safeguard the lives of
our troops and the lives of Somalia's people.
	The outlaw elements in Somalia must understand, this is serious
business. We will accomplish our mission. We have no intent to remain in
Somalia with fighting forces. But we are determined to do it right, to
secure an environment that will allow food to get to the starving people
of Somalia.
	To the people of Somalia, I promise this: We do not plan to dictate
political outcomes. We respect your sovereignty and independence. Based
on my conversations with other coalition leaders, I can state with
confidence that we come to your country for one reason only, to enable
the starving to be fed.
	And let me say to the men and women of our armed forces: We're asking
you to do a dangerous and difficult job. As commander in chief, I assure
you you will have our full support to get the job done, and we will
bring you home as soon as possible.
	And finally, let me close with a message to the families of the men
and women who take part in this misison. I understand it is difficult to
see your loved ones go, to send them off, knowing they will not be home
for the holidays. But the humanitarian mission they undertake is in the
finest traditions of service. And so to every sailor, soldier, airman
and Marine who is involved in this mission, let me say, you're doing
God's work. We will not fail.
	Thank you, and may God bless the United States of America.``
 end text

    This article reminded me so much of the operations of the Gadianton
    robbers and what it usually took to get rid of them.  We have a
    modern-day example of what happens to a country that gets overridden by
    these folks.  It makes the call from the BoM to repentance of our
    people all the more relevant.  A weak nation could not stand against
    the robbers of Somalia.  It requires, according to the article, a
    nation as strong and powerful as the US to step in even though the
    world is in agreement that these robbers are thugs that have overrun
    the country.  Very strong parallels and perhaps a modern-day warning
    that we need to be mindful.  Some would say that we are already heading
    in the direction of Somalia because of the tolerance we have for
    corruption in our government and apathy we have towards the immmorality 
    among our people.
    
    Steve

	If you would like to move it closer to home, just look at the
	"gang" structures here in the US.  They had an excellent article
	in "Newsweek", I think, that would be a very, very close parallel
	with all the secret signs, etc. that gamg members are required to
	go through.  And the only real way to really leave a gang is to
	die.  The gang will actually try to kill people if they attempt 
	to leave any other way.  I don't know how long it will be before 
	we see the gangs taking over a town, or city section, but I do 
	indeed expect it to happen.

	Charles

    and here i figured Congress was were they were hiding out.

Look at the way our government works.

Secret deals between pres, and congress. Secret deals in congress.  Corruption
goes unpunished. Laws passed by citizens to prevent career politicians from
remaining in office are declared unconstitutional (Foley sues Wash. St.
regarding constitutional term limits and wins).

Secret deals about Clipper, & Capstone which render our privacy over to the
government.

Bills pass the House and Senate when "7 out of ten constituents are against it"
- "Patrick Moynihan" re - Clinton tax bill.

In the name of controlling "violent, deranged" and "eminently threatening"
elements; 80+ people are killed in an attempt to disarm them, without any legal
process (of course until after the fact).

I'm convinced that although we are still protected, that the promised
protections for our country are near if not gone. We are no longer a righteous
nation, and IMHO we are no longer a free country. How long will the cup of wrath
be withheld????


mdw

    Funny, you should mention these things.  I, too, am so distressed by
    the situation in America.  The violence is everywhere.  And worst of
    all is that our children are not safe.  Recent TV shows (20/20, Prime
    Time Live, etc.) have portrayed teenage/young adult murderers as having
    absolutely no remorse/guilt or even understanding of good and evil. 
    One 20 year old college kid was shot dead because he only had 8cents
    and a bus token.
    
    Remember the scripture (Paraphrased:  As it was in the days of Noah, so
    shall it be in the last days).  Ironically I am teaching an Old
    Testament Lesson this Sunday that talks about Noah's Days.  Two things
    were going on:  A Calling Out of the Righteous via Enoch  from among
    the wicked and then the final call to repentence when "violence filled
    the earth" by Noah for 120 years.  The Church has been calling the
    righteous out of the world for 160 years and setting up a Zion people.
    Has this last 160 years been our Enoch period?  If so, where is our
    Noah? And how much more is there to come?  Christ said that the
    calamities in nature (earthquakes, etc.) were only THE BEGINNING of the
    tribulation.

    There are those spirits that are currently coming to this earth that
    were progressing before and there are those that have not progressed
    far at all.  And as the time draws closer the difference becomes
    greater as those that were held back have to have their chance to come
    here.

    But the time is short and soon we will have action.  But time is
    relative and we don't know what has to be done there first before
    things can be done here.  When the time is right all things will happen
    that we have been warned about.  There is nothing we can do to prepare
    for it other than do what is right all the time.  There are few
    righteous people compared to those that are not and we can't change
    that or them.  We can only encourage change or encourage good people to
    stay that way.  And there are very few people to do that here.  And few 
    there.

    But take heart Paul, there is work going on right now that will be to
    our benefit as long as we remain here.  No matter how bad it looks.
    
    rich