Renmin Ribao Overseas Edition (in Chinese), pg. 6

(Article “The Mission of the U.S. Armed Forces in Somalia Again Arouses Controversy” by Zhi Wen)

On 25 September, a U.S. military helicopter was downed by local gunmen in Somalia. Three American crew members were killed, and two others were wounded. This marked another major loss incurred by the U.S. armed forces in Somalia. The incident shocked the U.S. Government and public. President Clinton sternly denounced the Somali gunmen, and the U.S. Department of State warned American citizens not to go to Somalia in order to prevent them from being kidnapped. The U.S. Embassy in Somalia also urged all American civilians to leave that country.

In a commentary, The Washington Post pointed out: Aideed’s action of opposing the UN peacekeeping activities has not only hindered the U.S. plan for stabilizing the Somali situation, but also disrupted the longterm strategy for cultivating democracy in Africa. Therefore, after U.S. Defense Secretary Aspin announced the new action plan of the U.S. forces in Somalia in late August, the United States dispatched 400 elite Rangers, who had received special training, to Somalia in an attempt to seize Aideed, leader of the largest armed faction in the country.

However, the Ranger detachment’s first action on 30 August did not succeed. They raided the wrong target, and this action made them a laughing stock. On 31 August, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole wrote a letter to Clinton, saying that the government should rearrange the precedence of diplomatic affairs, and demanding that the U.S. troops be withdrawn immediately so that the United States could play a greater deterrent role in Bosnia. Some congressmen also echoed the call.

In the last 20 days or so, the U.S. forces in Somalia have continued to take a number of actions to track down Aideed, but still have failed to capture him. On 21 September, they caught a number of Aideed’s aides. After that, the U.S. troops encountered retaliatory attacks from the armed forces headed by Aideed. In recent days, many people in the U.S. Congress have criticized or questioned the Clinton administration’s Somali policy.

Question No. 1: What is the mission of the U.S. forces? Hamilton, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the original aim of President Bush was limited to carrying out a relief action and restoring security. He said that the scope of the current mission should be narrowed, to restoring security in Mogadishu so that the relief action of distributing food can be carried out in a safe environment. Senator Byrd said: I think we should ask the administration what the mission in Somalia is.

Question No. 2: How to deal with Aideed? Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “I don’t think that seizing one person can bring everything to an end.” He also said that expanding the peacekeeping mission in Somalia was wrong, and it was now time to narrow the United States’ role in Somalia, and that this mission should never be expanded further.

Question No. 3: Should the United States narrow the scope of its action in Somalia? On 27 September, Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: If Clinton does not take action, then Congress will take action to narrow the scope of the U.S. actions in Somalia. Senator John McCain said: Some Somalis are not willing to see our presence in their home. “Frankly speaking, I am not willing to see us continue to stay there.” In September, the Senate adopted a resolution, requiring the administration to submit a report on the Somali situation to Congress by 15 October, and also decided that Congress would make a decision on the actions of the U.S. troops in Somalia on 15 November.

The actions of the U.S. forces in Somalia were strongly criticized by Italy. Italian Prime Minister Ciampi held talks with Clinton not long ago, advising the United States to solve problems peacefully. On 27 September, French Foreign Minister Juppé told the media in New York: I am not sure whether the problems in Somalia can be solved if General Aideed is killed. He said: If Aideed gives up the use of violence, the international community should be ready to hold talks with him. He also announced that France would withdraw about 1,100 French soldiers from the peacekeeping forces in Somalia by January next year.

Under the domestic and external pressure, a U.S. Government official privately revealed on 28 September that Clinton has formulated a new strategy. That is, to isolate rather than arrest Aideed, and exclude him from the new political structure. On 28 September, the White House announced that about 2,500 American soldiers will be withdrawn from Somalia in the next few months.

U.S. Secretary of State Christopher denied that there were changes in the U.S. policy, but he indicated for the first time that it is necessary to have a “political strategy.”