Military Actions

Military Actions

The United States military has taken part in many operations around the world since the gulf war. One of the missions in which the military participated was a humanitarian operation in Somalia in 1992. The United States military intervened to save Somali people who were stricken by famine and drought.

One of the positive results that the United States achieved through this intervention was saving millions from starvation by helping with the distribution of relief supplies (Casper and Falcon, 2001). The military had gained experience during the gulf war, which enabled it to penetrate Somalia with limited logistical problems. The relief intervention, which was code named Operation Restore Hope was successful. The American troops were able to negotiate a truce between the fighting clans to allow the distribution of supplies.

However, the peace that was established for the sake of relief supplies’ distribution was short-lived. Inter-clan wars started and divided the Somali people along clan lines. The mandate of the American troops was purely to distribute relief supplies. When the clan wars broke out, the American troops were caught in the crossfire while ill prepared for engagement.

The negative results of American troops’ intervention in the Somalia included suffering heavy casualties. The troops did not expect the Somali people to turn against them after all the help they had offered them. Since the initial mission was to provide food supplies, the escalation of the conflict did not provide American troops with enough time to prepare for engagement. By the time the troops withdrew from Somalia, forty two Americans had lost their lives. The second negative result was the lack of stability in Somalia, despite the intervention. Since the American intervention was mandated by the United Nations, there was hope that peace would be achieved.

Reference

Casper, L., & Falcon, B. (2001). Combat and Command in Somalia and Haiti. London: Lynne Rienner.

 

 

 

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