Another feat..In line of duty......
Again in line of duty...with the US forces..on peace
Shortly after the United Nations took over the relief operations in Somalia, security in the capital of Mogadishu began to deteriorate, although UNOSOM II operations in the countryside were relatively successful. Forces led by Somali Gen. Mohamed Farah Aideed were largely responsible for the unrest in Mogadishu and increased hostility toward UNOSOM II forces. At the behest of the United Nations, UNOSOM II was given an expanded mission that outstripped its available resources. This was exactly the kind of "mission creep" which Gen. Hoar had avoided by insuring that UNITAF had a clear and unambiguous mission statement. On June 5, 1993, Pakistani forces engaged in confiscating weapons in accordance with their expanded mission were ambushed by Somali militiamen loyal to Gen. Aideed and 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed. The quick reaction force responded to UNOSOM II’s request for assistance and was able to rescue a beleaguered Pakistani unit.
As a result of this attack, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 837 authorizing UNOSOM II to "take all necessary measures against all those responsible for the armed attack of 5 June 1993." Some of these measures included quick reaction force and AC-130 gunship operations against weapons storage facilities and command and control facilities, as well as efforts to capture Gen. Aideed and other leaders of his Somali National Alliance. During these UNOSOM II operations, U.S. forces suffered a number of casualties, including four military police killed by a command-detonated mine on August 8. On August 22, Secretary of Defense Les Aspin directed the deployment of Task Force Ranger to Somalia to enforce the United Nations resolution.
Violence erupted again on September 5, when Somali militia attacked Nigerian forces. Task Force Ranger conducted several operations against the militia in September and succeeded in capturing a few key leaders. On September 25, however, three American crewmembers were killed when their helicopter was shot down by Somali militia, and additional casualties were suffered during the ensuing rescue. The most significant combat action took place on October 3, when Task Force Ranger captured six of Aideed’s lieutenants and several militiamen in a daylight raid. During withdrawal operations, the Somalis shot down two UH-60 helicopters and U.S. forces remaining on the ground came under heavy fire as they attempted to carry out rescue operations and consolidate their positions. During the intense firefight that followed, approximately 300 Somalis were killed and hundreds more were wounded. A total of 16 Rangers were killed and 83 wounded before a relief column of quick reaction force soldiers, Pakistanis, and Malaysians was able to withdraw the forces to safety early on October 4.
US Special Forces arrive in SomaliaUS Army Task Force Ranger flies into Mogadishu -- 440 elite troops from Delta Force and the U.S. Rangers. Led by Major General William F. Garrison, their mission is to capture Aidid. They begin pursuing Aidid and his top lieutenants, with sporadic success.
Carter negotiating with AididIn the midst of the manhunt, the Clinton administration opens a secret initiative to negotiate with Aidid. Former president Jimmy Carter, who had a previous relationship with Aidid, volunteers to act as intermediary. The US military commanders in Mogadishu are not informed about this new initiative.
Request for armored reinforcements deniedIn a decision that is later highly criticized, US Defense Secretary Les Aspin denies requests from General Montgomery for armored reinforcements, despite support for Montgomery's request from General Colin Powell. Aspin says that he did not want to create the appearance that the US was increasing forces in Somalia at a time when they were trying to reduce military presence. He later concedes,"Had I known at the time what I knew after the events of Sunday, [October 3]. I would have made a very different decision." In December, he is forced to resign.
In March, the UN authorizes UNOSOM II, a UN operation with expanded enforcement power, whose mandate stressed "the crucial importance of disarmament" of the Somali people. This UN-led mission was to take over from the US-led UNITAF. The expanded operation's new mission goes beyond simply providing humanitarian relief, calling for the UN to facilitate "nation building," to get Somalia back on its feet by restoring law and order, shoring up the infrastructure, and helping to set up processes for establishing a representative government. By the end of March, 28 different nations send contingents to Somalia in support of the new militarized operation. The US officially hands over the command to the UN on May 4.
While Clinton supported this expansion of the UN's mandate, he simultaneously ordered the number of US troops in Somalia to be reduced and replaced by UN troops. By June, only 1,200 US combat soldiers remained in Somalia, with 3,000 support troops.
This withdrawl of Mr. Clinton from Somalia in my opinion laid the ground work for OBL, he made up his mind that US does not have a resolve to avenge their innoncent deaths.. |
