The Battle of Mogadishu provides an example of a grand strategy that lost its focus along with the critical component of a winning strategy, “control”. Additionally, it serves as an anecdote for depicting the difficulty associated with urban warfare and the need for improvements in order to be more effective.
Background
Nine years after gaining independence in 1960, Somalia was overtaken in a coup, led by Mohamed Siad Barre. Despite his oppressive dictatorial rule, Barre maintained power until 1991 when he was ousted by one of many clans that had broken out in a civil war. The human rights condition during this internal conflict fell even further into turmoil. International communities became more aware of the overwhelming state of famine and many sent food and other aid to Somalia. Much of the food was stolen by the clans, however and did nothing to help the starvation. Intervention was unavoidable. A ceasefire was negotiated in July of 1992 and the U.N. sent military advisors to monitor food distribution. Soon after, then President George H. W. Bush …show more content…
response to the Battle of Mogadishu also shows us the impact that the popular opinion of its citizens has on foreign policy. In terms of the tactical objective, the raid was a success! Unfortunately, this was not the story that made news headlines. In the words of a former Army Commander “We kicked their butt, but that was at a tactical level. At the strategic and political level, when you have some casualties, it looks like there was a problem.” The images of dead American soldiers in the streets of Mogadishu brought about a very emotional reaction that resulted in a public outcry intense enough to cause the president to take immediate action. Whether the adversary was actually strong enough to defeat the US becomes irrelevant at that point. Unfortunately, this projection of power by the militants, followed by the U.S. retreat, sends a clear message of control, loud and clear, to other non-state
Background
Nine years after gaining independence in 1960, Somalia was overtaken in a coup, led by Mohamed Siad Barre. Despite his oppressive dictatorial rule, Barre maintained power until 1991 when he was ousted by one of many clans that had broken out in a civil war. The human rights condition during this internal conflict fell even further into turmoil. International communities became more aware of the overwhelming state of famine and many sent food and other aid to Somalia. Much of the food was stolen by the clans, however and did nothing to help the starvation. Intervention was unavoidable. A ceasefire was negotiated in July of 1992 and the U.N. sent military advisors to monitor food distribution. Soon after, then President George H. W. Bush …show more content…
response to the Battle of Mogadishu also shows us the impact that the popular opinion of its citizens has on foreign policy. In terms of the tactical objective, the raid was a success! Unfortunately, this was not the story that made news headlines. In the words of a former Army Commander “We kicked their butt, but that was at a tactical level. At the strategic and political level, when you have some casualties, it looks like there was a problem.” The images of dead American soldiers in the streets of Mogadishu brought about a very emotional reaction that resulted in a public outcry intense enough to cause the president to take immediate action. Whether the adversary was actually strong enough to defeat the US becomes irrelevant at that point. Unfortunately, this projection of power by the militants, followed by the U.S. retreat, sends a clear message of control, loud and clear, to other non-state