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Date:         Sun, 13 Dec 1992 22:32:00 CST
From:         RICHARD JENSEN <CAMPBELLD@APSU.BITNET>
Subject:      more interesting discussion of Somalia intervention

From:   IN%"WORLD-L@UBVM.BITNET"  "World-L - Forum on non-Eurocentric world hist
   ory" 13-DEC-1992 22:10:11.15
To:     Multiple recipients of list WORLD-L <WORLD-L@UBVM.BITNET>
CC:
Subj:   RE: critique of David Potter' Somalia assesment

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Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 04:08:18 EST
From: Joseph D Terwilliger <jdt3@CUNIXF.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU>
Subject: RE: critique of David Potter' Somalia assesment
In-reply-to: Your message of Sun, 13 Dec 1992 00:11:00 CST
To: Multiple recipients of list WORLD-L <WORLD-L@UBVM.BITNET>
Reply-to: World-L - Forum on non-Eurocentric world history <WORLD-L@UBVM.BITNET>
Message-id: <BBC485AE006047CA@APSU.BITNET>
Comments: To: World-L - Forum on non-Eurocentric world history
 <WORLD-L@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>

Dear Kevin Landdeck;

     I specifically said "some pro-Western government" without
specifying that it had to be a democracy (in Somalia).  My point was
basically that we need to be sure that our troops are not risking their
lives for a temporary alleviation of hunger which would immediately
return upon our departure.  The UN has made Somalia a UN protectorate
as a condition of sending in our troops.  As such, the UN has taken
responsibility for setting up conditions in Somalia such that food
supplies will continue to get through.  I do not see how an
anti-Western government would be willing to cooperate with the US
enough to allow the US to feed its people, and take care of them, while
simultaneously hating the US...  It seems horribly inconsistent.
Hence, I would insist that a pro-Western government be set up, with the
aid of US forces, such that the Somali people can be saved from future
problems of this sort, without the need for further US intervention,
and such that the debt owed us for our assistance can be repaid,
perhaps with a military base within the country, since it was pointed
out that it DOES have valuable strategic location...  Why not get
something in return.  Are we to give of our selves all the time, and
expect nothing in return?  Why?  Clearly they cannot survive without
our assistance, so we should unconditionaally aid them, but is it
really wrong to ask for a stable pro-US government in return for saving
their lives?  I think not.  Besides, what anti_US government is there
in the world in which the people prosper and enjoy a high standard of
living?  I submit that there are NONE!  What the world needs to save it
from itself is a little good old Western Imperialism.  That will
sureely do nothing but good for the world's people!

--Joseph Terwilliger--
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