I read a story in The Northern Star about the Pentagon ordering more troops into Somalia (“U.S. deaths rise in Somalia…” on Tuesday, Oct. 5, page 9). This is a bad idea. The original purpose of the U.S. was to help feed the hungry in Somalia. Now, the U.S. wants to restore order in Somalia. Wasn’t this tactic of restoring order done in Vietnam?

Now, because of some U.S. casualties in Somalia, the Pentagon is trying “to bolster U.S. forces in Somalia.” Wasn’t this also done in Vietnam?

Perhaps all the U.S. (and U.N.) troops should leave Somalia, and come back home. This may sound undignified, but it could be the right thing to do. Somalia will probably have a civil war before that country has order.

Michael Goetz

Senior

Operations Management