humanitarian effort to assist Somalia during a civil war. In opposition to dictator Mohammed Siad Barre’s favoritism of his own clan, opposing clans banned together to successfully oust Barre from power, throwing Somalia into a civil war. War factions cut off the Somali’s from food resources and demolished the lands and its people. In response, the U.S. sent aide in the form of food, which was also blocked by the warring factions. Operation Restore Hope was launched in 1992, and food aide was sent and protected by U.S. troops, authorized to use force if necessary. The opposing factions managed to shoot down two U.S. helicopters, killing “18 U.S. soldiers and hundreds of Somalis. The deaths turned the tide of public opinion in the United States. President Bill Clinton pulled U.S. troops out of combat four days later, and all U.S. troops left the country in March 1994” ("Milestones: 1993-2003 - Office of the Historian," n.d.). The need for humanitarian support was an appropriate reason to intervene in Somalia and aide did continue after all troops were pulled out. The larger consequence was felt on future humanitarian crisis, such as Rwanda. The events and loss of life in Somalia affect the response to Rwanda, hence there was no U.S. humanitarian intervention and there was mass genocide in Rwanda that went
humanitarian effort to assist Somalia during a civil war. In opposition to dictator Mohammed Siad Barre’s favoritism of his own clan, opposing clans banned together to successfully oust Barre from power, throwing Somalia into a civil war. War factions cut off the Somali’s from food resources and demolished the lands and its people. In response, the U.S. sent aide in the form of food, which was also blocked by the warring factions. Operation Restore Hope was launched in 1992, and food aide was sent and protected by U.S. troops, authorized to use force if necessary. The opposing factions managed to shoot down two U.S. helicopters, killing “18 U.S. soldiers and hundreds of Somalis. The deaths turned the tide of public opinion in the United States. President Bill Clinton pulled U.S. troops out of combat four days later, and all U.S. troops left the country in March 1994” ("Milestones: 1993-2003 - Office of the Historian," n.d.). The need for humanitarian support was an appropriate reason to intervene in Somalia and aide did continue after all troops were pulled out. The larger consequence was felt on future humanitarian crisis, such as Rwanda. The events and loss of life in Somalia affect the response to Rwanda, hence there was no U.S. humanitarian intervention and there was mass genocide in Rwanda that went