U.S. experience in Somalia

Except for the movie "Black Hawk Down" most voters know or remember little about the U.S. experience in Somalia in 1983. According to the CIA World Factbook, after the British withdrew from Somalia the new nation was ruled by "authoritarian socialist rule characterized by the persecution, jailing, and torture of political opponents and dissidents. After the regime's collapse early in 1991, Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting and anarchy. In May 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland" in an attempt to establish a democratic government. The balance of the country can best be described as an anarchist region controlled by clans who are, to a great extent, criminal organizations. This left the region vulnerable and even inviting to radical Islamic terrorist organizations such as al Qaida. Using Somalia as a base of operations, terrorists threaten other African nations and continue to strengthen their forces. Piracy and the holding of captured ships for ransom has been an ongoing source of income.

There has been limited news coverage of U.S. military operations in Somalia as well as other African nations. Operations bases have been built and are staffed by U.S. forces. There is some truth that U.S. operations have, according to the New York Times, been expanded in the last year to include "Special Operations troops, airstrikes, private contractors and African allies." The Times further states, "This year alone, the United States has carried out airstrikes in seven countries and conducted Special Operations missions in many more."

The focus of much of the military operations has been against the Shabab, a Somali based terrorist organization affiliated with al Qaida. Shabab fighters have attacked anyone trying to stabilize Somalia as well as taking part in operations outside of Somalia.

This low key type of warfare gives us a vision of how the U.S. is, along with troops from other nations, now conducting operations against insurgent of asymmetric military forces. According to the New York Times: "American Special Operations troops work with soldiers from Somalia and other African nations like Kenya and Uganda to carry out more than a half-dozen raids per month. Much of the information in this column comes from a nytimes.com article from Nov. 15 titled "In Somalia, U.S. Escalates a Shadow War."

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.