The U.S. campaign in Somalia-what went wrong?

Answer 1

What went wrong. Well, that is a very long and complicated answer, but it really boils down to one thing in the end.

The Geneva Convention of 1949.

What does this have to do with Somalia? Everything, as it does with every war since 1949 that the US has fought in.

Starting in 1950 with North Korea, no nation or group that the United States has been at war with has fought according to the Geneva Convention. Period. North Korea, China, Viet Nam, Somalia, Iraq, Haiti, etc, etc. The United States simply abides by the Geneva Convention about what can be attacked, what cannot be attacked, what weapons can be used, what weapons cannot be used, etc, and simply takes the high ground.

Many things that are used in what is called "Total War" are war crimes according to Convention treaties. That one side has not adopted those treaties, such as the war against terrorists or against warlord states in Somalia, is not a factor. Things that can affect a populous and change their mind against sending their sons into battle, that is a war crime. For example, when US planes fire bombed Dresden in World War Two. Do that today, that's a war crime, and most likely not something the US would tend to do. Take using two nuclear weapons on Japan, that's a war crime now. But, it ended a war. Doesn't matter. War crime. For the most part, the US really tends to stay away from war crimes. No really, when you look at what the US can do, and what it exactly does, war crimes are not something the US seeks out when executing war planning.

That is the downfall. The enemy WILL use buildings that are excluded from attack according to the Geneva Convention. The enemy WILL attack civilian targets. The enemy WILL commit war crimes according to standards set by the Geneva Convention of 1949, and have no moral quams about doing such things.

It all comes down to one thing. History is written by the winners. The people we are fighting, and have fought since 1949, are NOT worried about fighting according to a set of rules set in place to make war more humane. They are too worried about winning at any costs.

Answer 2

Well, guys who were trained for war were sent as peacemakers. They had no idea what to do, had no real objective.

Contrast this with the first Iraq war, with a clear objective set out, and you notice a marked difference.

I think Bush senior did it (as a lame duck) on purpose to mess with Clinton.

Answer 3

Remember who was president? Billy (I like young interns) Clinton. Nuff said.

Answer 4

nothing it went off like clockwork.