Battle of Mogadishu United States (US) forces lacked communication, ignored intelligence, and underestimated the enemy during the Battle of Mogadishu. The conflict is one of the worst military tragedies in recent US history. The US forces did not use the intelligence provided properly. Good intelligence practice was not enforced. The lack of discipline cost many American and Somali their lives.
History of the Battle of Mogadishu
President Clinton sent American special operation forces to Somalia to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid. (Editors, 2016) They called it Operation Gothic Serpent. The operation started out as a relief effort at first. The United Nations (UN) and US wanted to provide food relief for the decaying city of Mogadishu. Years …show more content…
(Editors, 2016) The US decided to end Aidid's tirade. Washington assembled Task Force Ranger from US Army Delta Force, Ranger Teams, Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Navy SEAL operators, and Air Force Para rescue / Air Force Combat Controllers. This was the dream team of 400 well-trained military personnel. (Staff Writer, 2015) The task force completed many successful missions. The team captured some of Aidid’s top lieutenants. The US conducted Operation Gothic Serpent on October 3rd 1993 (The Battle of Mogadishu). A meeting of Aidid and his top lieutenants was going to happen and the US was going to take them down. At 1532, the Task Force took off into action. (Editors, 2016) The mission was going as planned until the fourth wave of helicopters came in. A Somali with a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shot down Super-61 Black Hawk. Immediately the US forces started investigating the crash while fighting of the Somalia forces. The Quick Response Force (QRF) arrived on scene. A RPG struck the QRF Blackhawk. The pilot held the air craft in a hover long enough to get the team out. Luckily the QRF crew made it to the safe zone for its crash landing. The previous chalks of Rangers headed to …show more content…
The US forces could have captured Aidid and his lieutenants. The US HUMINT sources put Aidid at the target location at 15:37 of 3 October, 1993. A cyber network operator (CNO) could have accurately located Aidid sooner. Triangulating or Geolocation Aidid's phone would be simple task for CNO. The time of day and location of Operation Gothic Serpent was not ideal for the US forces. (Editors, 2016) Somalis forces were at their peak the time the operation took off. The fact is that Operation Gothic Serpent would have been a success if Aidid’s location was more accurately tracked and a more strategic location picked. A CNO could have hacked Aidid's computer or email. Either one of these sources would have provided a calendar. A better location and timeline for the operation. Regardless of the intelligence gathered, the US forces were dramatically outnumbered. (Editors, 2016) Intelligence can only be a factor when used. The history showed the US forces ignoring good intelligence. Even with the CNOs help, if the task force ignores or does not receive the intelligence the mission would play out as it
History of the Battle of Mogadishu
President Clinton sent American special operation forces to Somalia to capture Mohamed Farrah Aidid. (Editors, 2016) They called it Operation Gothic Serpent. The operation started out as a relief effort at first. The United Nations (UN) and US wanted to provide food relief for the decaying city of Mogadishu. Years …show more content…
(Editors, 2016) The US decided to end Aidid's tirade. Washington assembled Task Force Ranger from US Army Delta Force, Ranger Teams, Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Navy SEAL operators, and Air Force Para rescue / Air Force Combat Controllers. This was the dream team of 400 well-trained military personnel. (Staff Writer, 2015) The task force completed many successful missions. The team captured some of Aidid’s top lieutenants. The US conducted Operation Gothic Serpent on October 3rd 1993 (The Battle of Mogadishu). A meeting of Aidid and his top lieutenants was going to happen and the US was going to take them down. At 1532, the Task Force took off into action. (Editors, 2016) The mission was going as planned until the fourth wave of helicopters came in. A Somali with a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shot down Super-61 Black Hawk. Immediately the US forces started investigating the crash while fighting of the Somalia forces. The Quick Response Force (QRF) arrived on scene. A RPG struck the QRF Blackhawk. The pilot held the air craft in a hover long enough to get the team out. Luckily the QRF crew made it to the safe zone for its crash landing. The previous chalks of Rangers headed to …show more content…
The US forces could have captured Aidid and his lieutenants. The US HUMINT sources put Aidid at the target location at 15:37 of 3 October, 1993. A cyber network operator (CNO) could have accurately located Aidid sooner. Triangulating or Geolocation Aidid's phone would be simple task for CNO. The time of day and location of Operation Gothic Serpent was not ideal for the US forces. (Editors, 2016) Somalis forces were at their peak the time the operation took off. The fact is that Operation Gothic Serpent would have been a success if Aidid’s location was more accurately tracked and a more strategic location picked. A CNO could have hacked Aidid's computer or email. Either one of these sources would have provided a calendar. A better location and timeline for the operation. Regardless of the intelligence gathered, the US forces were dramatically outnumbered. (Editors, 2016) Intelligence can only be a factor when used. The history showed the US forces ignoring good intelligence. Even with the CNOs help, if the task force ignores or does not receive the intelligence the mission would play out as it