By Occupy 2.5 Staff Writer

In October 1993, U.S. forces faced a devastating urban battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. Eighteen American soldiers died, and 73 were wounded. The event became known worldwide as “Black Hawk Down.” This mission exposed flaws in military planning and political leadership. Yet, no one in government faced real consequences for the decisions that led to this disaster.

A Growing Accountability Gap

We, the people of the United States, have watched our leaders dodge responsibility since at least August 9, 1974, when President Richard Nixon became the only commander in chief to resign under pressure of impeachment1. Since then, we have slid into a nation driven by personality and popularity rather than rule of law. Even when leaders break the law, they walk away free.

Take former President Donald Trump as an example. On May 30, 2024, a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels2. His sentencing, first set for September 18, 2024, was delayed until November 26, 20243. Then on January 10, 2025, a judge gave him an unconditional discharge—no jail time, no fines, no probation4.

Despite being a convicted felon, Trump was allowed to run for president. He won the election on November 4, 2024, and was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025. What the fuck is wrong with the United States?

From Aid to Armed Conflict

President Bill Clinton inherited a mission in Somalia that began in December 1992. The United Nations and the United States led a multinational force called Operation Restore Hope to end a deadly famine and restore order in a war-torn country5. The original goal was simple: protect food and medical aid deliveries.

But by mid-1993, the mission changed. The Clinton administration authorized efforts to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. In June 1993, Aidid’s forces had killed 24 Pakistani peacekeepers. U.S. special operations units were sent into Mogadishu.

Denied Firepower, Denied Success

Commanders on the ground asked for tanks, armored vehicles, and AC-130 Spectre gunships—aircraft designed to provide overhead fire support in dense urban environments. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin, appointed by Clinton, denied the requests. He was worried the optics would be bad—that it would look like an occupation6.

On October 3, 1993, two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. The mission collapsed into a brutal 15-hour battle. Eighteen Americans were killed, 73 wounded. Over 100 Somali fighters also died7.

The soldiers had no air support. No tanks. No backup. And no accountability from the White House.

No Consequences for the Few in Charge

After the battle, Aspin admitted his mistake. Yet President Clinton defended him publicly and refused to take any responsibility for the AC-130 decision. Congress held hearings, but no one was fired. No one was held accountable. Aspin stepped down in December 1993—not because of Mogadishu, but under the vague excuse of “personal reasons.”

It was one more brick in a wall of elite impunity.

Compare that to what happened after September 11, 2001. Nearly 3,000 people died in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. The CIA had tracked two of the hijackers for months. The FBI had reports about flight school students who didn’t want to learn to land. The NSA had picked up warnings.

Still, the agencies failed to connect the dots. They didn’t share intel. And once again—no senior official was fired or demoted. In fact, many were promoted or transferred upward.

The only people who lost their jobs? The airport screeners—the underpaid, undertrained private security staff who followed airline rules and federal guidelines. And even they were often rehired by the newly created TSA.

From Clinton’s refusal to own the Black Hawk Down disaster to the intelligence community’s failure before 9/11, the message is the same: if you’re powerful, you’re safe.

If you’re not—you’re expendable.

A Nation of Laws or a Nation of Likes?

This pattern repeats again and again. In 1993, we let leadership off the hook for sending soldiers into a slaughter without proper support. In 2001, we let the intelligence agencies off the hook for failing to stop an attack. In 2025, we let a convicted president back into the White House without blinking.

Our system no longer holds leaders accountable. We reward charisma over competence. We let parties cover for their own. The few at the top operate without fear of the law, while the rest of us are asked to believe in a justice system that doesn’t even pretend to be blind anymore.

We deserve better. We deserve truth. We deserve accountability.

Until then, we remain what we are now: a nation of personality, not principle.

This is wrong. It has to stop.

#Triangulation 🚁🔥 #Accountability

Footnotes

  1. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Richard Nixon’s resignation speech. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon%27s_resignation_speech ↩
  2. Wikipedia. (2025, April). Criminal trial of Donald Trump in New York. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_trial_of_Donald_Trump_in_New_York ↩
  3. Reuters. (2024, September 6). Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing until Nov. 26. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/judge-rule-donald-trumps-bid-delay-hush-money-sentencing-2024-09-06/ ↩
  4. CNN Politics. (2025, January 10). Trump receives unconditional discharge. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-hush-money-sentencing-01-10-25/index.html ↩
  5. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Unified Task Force (UNITAF). Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Task_Force ↩
  6. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Les Aspin. Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Aspin ↩
  7. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Battle of Mogadishu (1993). Retrieved April 23, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(1993) ↩