Bakhara marketplace Essay Example for Free

Bakhara marketplace EssaySiad Barres rule was oppressive and divisive. Once an intelligence policeman of the Italian fascists, he pitted clans against each other as a diversion from his decreasing popularity. collect to the strategic location of Somaliana at the entrance to the Red Sea, it became of interest to both the United States and the Soviet trades union during the Cold War. By 1966 Soviet Union became a supporter of Somalia and this would go on for 10 years. It supplied the field millions worth of arms and phalanx equipment. But a territorial conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 everywhere the annexation of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia which is believed to be part of Greater Somalia saw a shift of support by the Soviet Union to Ethiopia which strained the relationship of the two countries. Siad Barre renounced their Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, expelled completely Soviet advisers, and ejected all Soviet personnel from Somalia. Barre and so switc hed alliance with the United States. It supplied him with a total of $154 million worth of weapons and military equipment from 1981-1991.In this decade, Somalia descended into chaos with the continued warring clans. An insurgent group formed by the Hawieyah clan, the United Somali Congress, ousted Siad Barre from power in January 1991. Internal disputes led to a power vacuum and Somalia plunged into civil war. Two distinct faction leaders within the United Somali Congress announced their claims to power Ali Mahdi Mohammed and Mohammed Farah Aidid. It was this war, coupled with inquisitive harvests, which led to the horrifying scenes of starvation that were televised around the world in 1992.By the end of 1992 about 350,000 Somalis had died. some other 1. 5 million, close to one-fourth of the remaining population, were thought to be in danger of starvation without bulky food aid. Somalias plight attracted international food aid. The United Nations launched Operation Provide Reli ef (UNOSOM I) in August 1992 for Somalia. But the mission failed in their objective because food and supplies were often stolen and utilized as leverage for securing loyalty from clan leaders while almost three hundred thousand Somalis died of starvation.In declination 1992, responding to the United Nations call for assistance, President George Bush obtained an approval from the U. N. that the United States combat troops lead an preventive force to Somalia. This was the famous Operation Restore Hope whose initial objective was to secure trade routes in Somalia so food could get to the people. The deployed troops would be sent home in time for then President Bill Clintons inauguration. Shortly upon his assumption of office, President Clinton intended to trim down U. S. troops in Somalia to be substituted by the United Nations peacekeeping troops.UNOSOM II was launched in March 1993 to restore order, change infrastructure, and to help set up a representative government as part of its nation construct mission in Somalia. During the inspection of Somali weapons storage site on June 5, 1993, 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed and it was believed that Aidid was responsible. The draw for Aidid followed. Several military operations were done from June 12 to 16 in relation to Aidids obtain including bombing a house in the capital, capital of Somalia, where clan leaders were gathering.Four Western journalists investigated the scene simply were beaten to their deaths by Somalis. By August 1993, four U. S. military police were killed and six soldiers were wounded. Then trade union movement Force Ranger consisted of 440 elite troops from Delta Force led by General William Garrison flew into Mogadishu with the mission to stick Aidid. On that fateful October 3, 1993 the group raided the Olympia Hotel in Mogadishu. What followed was a seventeen-hour urban appointment where eighteen U. S. soldiers were killed and eighty-four were wounded. Unfortunately, the Olympia Ho tel was located east of the crowded Bakhara marketplace.Hundreds of Somalis were part of the casualties. However, the mission led to the capture of three important Aidid senior officers and about twenty Aidid supporters hiding within. News stories flashed and printed by the international media showed demoralise pictures of dead and captured Americans, television footage on CNN showed a frightened, wounded Blackhawk helicopter pilotunder interrogation by his Somali captors, Somalis watching as the body of an unidentified American was dragged through the streets at the end of a rope.