"Imagine the insensitivity of United States government and military officials in naming the operation to kill or capture Osama bin Laden "Geronimo." According to Jeff Houser, the Fort Sill Apache tribal chairman, Geronimo is a heroic Native American icon. Now his reputation will be forever linked to a sworn enemy of the USA, due mainly to the thoughtless naming of the operation.

I don't know toward whom I should direct my anger: government officials for such a mistake, or Jeff Houser for making such an outrageous claim. So as an American history teacher I decided to check my facts before spouting off about one side or the other. What I found after consulting several American history text books and reference books from our school library, as well as reputable websites, including that of Jeff Houser's Fort Sill Apache Tribe, was quite revealing.

Geronimo was a great warrior for his cause, but he was motivated mainly by revenge. For 28 years he exacted his revenge by raiding Mexican and American towns, stealing cattle and horses, and killing innocent people. He was elusive, hiding in the mountains and always just one step ahead of his U.S. military pursuers. The U.S. military captured Geronimo on more than one occasion, only to have him escape to continue his terrorist acts."

Get the Story:
Andrew Hano: Geronimo motivated mainly by revenge (The Winston-Salem Journal 5/10)

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