Bye, bye Secretary of Defense *** Question of the Week ***

Background

PART ONE
In September 1993, General Powell asked Secretary of Defense Les Aspin to approve the request of the U.S. commander in Somalia for tanks, armored vehicles and AC-130 Spectre gunships for his forces. Aspin turned down the request. Shortly thereafter Aidid's forces in Mogadishu killed 18 U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 75 in attacks that also resulted in the shooting down of two U.S. helicopters and the capture of one pilot (see the Battle of Mogadishu).

On 15 December 1993 President Clinton announced Aspin's resignation, for personal reasons. Given the problems that Aspin encountered during his short term, most obviously the losses in Mogadishu, observers assumed that the president had asked him to step down.

Aspin's decision on tanks was political ; Senate Report on Somalia says Aspin gave in to U.N.

PART TWO    
According to sources on the ground during the attack, the special operator on the roof of the CIA annex had visual contact and a laser pointing at the Libyan mortar team that was targeting the CIA annex. The operators were calling in coordinates of where the Libyan forces were firing from [for requested Spectre gunship support].

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (lawyer) told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday that there was not a clear enough picture of what was occurring on the ground in Benghazi to send help.


QUESTION of the WEEK

Obviously, Secretary of Defense Panetta (a lawyer) will not be around very much after the next election,regardless of who becomes president.  How long will Panetta last in his current role as Defense Secretary based upon an almost identical failure and outcome of Secretary Les Aspin in 1993?

ANSWER (predicted):
If Romney is elected, Panetta will be replaced by January 20th. If Obama is re-elected, Panetta will be replaced (leave for personal reasons) before March 31st.

Submarines are always silent and strange.