Does anyone know why we went into Somalia? Was it oil? Diamonds? Or rice?

Question

Well, do you know?

Answer 1

It was purely a humanitarian mission. Somalia has nothing of value. Their primary exports are livestock (goats), and scrap metal. President Bush (41) was VP during the Ethiopian famine that was caused by a civil war. He wanted to head off the crisis, and in a less altruistic way he did not want his administration to take any blame for not doing anything if Somalia ended up in a famine as well. In order to get the food to the people, we had to send troops to protect and distribute it. In Ethiopia the food rotted on the docks because the government wouldn't distribute it.

President Clinton just sort of inherited the whole mess, and made the mistake of providing rules of engagement that were too restrictive, and not providing enough firepower to prevent "Blackhawk Down."

Answer 2

In 1993 we sent Rangers in support of UNISOM, or United Nations, looking for Mohamed Farah Aidid, a Somali warlord, who was responsible for attacks on U.N. troops, including 25 Pakistanis. It's also considered a 'breeding ground' for terroist camps--Al Qaeda--and other radical islamic groups.

Ethiopia & Kenya, have helped the US in our fight against terrorism. Recently, Ethiopia captured 41 terror suspects for questioning.

"Late last year, American special forces helped Somali troops and their Ethiopian backers push out the Islamist fighters, who had taken over the capital and surrounding. The United States says the Islamists were harboring al-Qaida members.

The United States also is a major financial supporter of the weak transitional Somali government and a small force of African Union peacekeepers, having pledged more than $120 million."

So, I think it was terrorists that the US was after.

Answer 3

It was Kofi Annan, Al Sharpton, and Jessie Jackson's constant whining and moaning that we went into Yugoslavia to help them cause they were white but we wouldn't do anything to help the blacks that were being starved by the warlords in Somalia...so to shut the jungle bunnies up, we went in....

Answer 4

Jesse Jackson,he figured if we did it in white Bosnia.We should do it in black Somalia.

Answer 5

Lewinsky.

Answer 6

Some liberal ideology that we ought to save the world

Answer 7

To bail out the UN again.

Answer 8

what it is for you non-military types is strategic land to stage from in the horn of Africa..................