FRONTLINE: AMBUSH IN MOGADISHU (TV)
Summary
One in this documentary series. This edition focuses on the ambush of U.S. Army Rangers in Mogadishu, which had a profound effect on U.S. foreign policy. Images include footage of Somalia and its people, still photographs, pieces of military and news footage, and interviews. The narrator opens by describing the fire fight in Somalia on October 3, 1993, in which eighteen Americans were killed. Surviving Army Rangers describe the events of that day, after which the program backtracks to give information on the events leading up to the ambush. The narrator explains that in an effort dubbed "Operation Restore Hope" U.S. President George Bush sent 25,000 United States troops to famine-stricken Somalia. General Anthony Zinni comments on their mission. A Somali community leader, Mrs. Abshir, explains that the Somali people were relieved and happy about the arrival of the Americans, while Khalil Dale of the Red Cross recalls the difficulties of distributing food to the hungry because food convoys were always being looted. Retired Colonel Kenneth Allard expands on the "injection of food" and its effect on the power balance in Somalia. The narrator describes the results of President Bill Clinton's arrival in office, noting that by March 1993 twenty-one nations had sent forces to Somalia. Retired Admiral Jonathan Howe was brought in to assist with the installation of a new government, viewers learn. This caused tensions with Mohammed Farah Aidid, a warlord who was hoping to take power. When a Pakistani peacekeeping patrol was ambushed by Aidid's forces, an emergency United Nations resolution declared that those responsible should be apprehended. General Zinni calls this resolution a mistake because it turned peacekeeping operations into a kind of war. It was at this point that the Army Rangers were called in. Abdi Hassan Awaleh, Aidid's Defense Minister, explains that Aidid was using the same Somali informants as the U.S. and knew what information the Americans were receiving. The narrator also describes a secret negotiation the Clinton administration set up with Aidid, about which the military was not informed. The Rangers received an intelligence report on October 3 that Aidid was going to be at the Olympic Hotel, and they went in on what they perceived as a routine mission. En route to the hotel, the U.S. forces realized that they had been set up by their informants. A Black Hawk helicopter was shot down, and ground forces drove to the crash site under continuing fire from Somali gunmen. Rangers recall the ambush and their astonishment that anyone made it out alive. They explain that they were cut off and forced to hide out for the night but finally made it back to their base. President Clinton's October 7, 1993, television address is shown, in which he announces the withdrawal of American troops from Somalia in the aftermath of the debacle. Deputy Special Envoy Walter Clarke remarks, "The ghosts of Somalia continue to haunt U.S. policy." The narrator suggests that the White House was reluctant to get involved in foreign conflicts after this incident. A parent of a soldier who died describes his thoughts and a conversation he had with President Clinton. One of the Rangers expresses his belief that his fellow soldiers did not die in vain.
(This program contains violent images.)
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: September 29, 1998 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:26:46
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:69982
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Famines; Somalia - Economic conditions; Somalia - Foreign relations - U S; Somalia - Politics and government; U S - Foreign policy; U S - Foreign relations - Somalia; United Nations
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1983-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Fanning … Senior Executive Producer
- Michael Sullivan … Executive Producer
- Robin Parmelee … Coordinating Producer
- Sharon Tiller … Senior Producer
- Carlos Mavroleon … Producer
- June Cross … Producer
- William Cran … Producer, Director, Writer
- Rebecca John … Researcher
- Janine Schoonover … Researcher
- Paul Foss … Music by
- Will Lyman … Narrator
- William Scott Malone … Reporter
- Mohammed Farah Aidid
- Kenneth Allard
- Abdi Hassan Awaleh
- George Bush
- Walter Clarke
- Bill Clinton
- Khalil Dale
- Jonathan Howe
- Anthony Zinni