     Anonymous | Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 03:12 am
Intelligence failures and the death of the 18 Rangers
Friday, 26 January 2001 21:12 (ET)
Intelligence failures and the death of the 18 Rangers
By Richard Sale, Terrorism Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born Islamic
terrorist suspect sought by the United States in connection with the August
1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, had months earlier
been linked to the 1993 deaths of 18 U.S. Rangers in Somalia. A Justice
Department indictment of those responsible, however, was suppressed and no
action taken, U.S. intelligence sources revealed Friday.
The Rangers were part of an abortive U.S. attempt on Oct. 3, 1993, to
kidnap two top lieutenants of Somalia's strongman Gen. Mohammed Farrah
Aidid. The original CIA plan had been to use a 10-man force, but this was
put off by the U.S. military leadership, and the next day a larger force of
160 Delta operators and Rangers was sent in its place.
The task force was ambushed and 18 Rangers killed by militia trained by
bin Laden, according to former U.S. military and intelligence sources with
close knowledge of the incident.
Postponement of the "snatch" of the two aides was a "major blunder,"
according to a U.S. participant in the incident who asked not to be named.
According to former U.S. intelligence officials, bin Laden was secretly
indicted for the Ranger killings in 1997. "I personally discussed the
indictment with the FBI," one former U.S. government source said. But the
indictment was later "torn up" and then made part of a public indictment of
bin Laden and 17 co-defendants filed in 1998 by the Justice Department
following the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in which 224
people died. The Ranger murders are mentioned specifically on pages 18 and19
of that indictment.
According to former U.S. military sources, the U.S. military leadership,
led by Adm. Jonathan Howe, senior officer of the U.N. peacekeeping force in
Somalia, believed that Aidid's Somalia National Alliance forces were behind
the July 12 murder of Pakistani troops in the U.N. force, and that the
warlord should be captured and tried as a war criminal. Howe requested a
Ranger force to hunt Aidid down.
By the early summer of 1993, Aidid began an escalation. There were attacks
by Islamic detachments operating out of Aidid-held areas of Mogadishu on
U.N. forces, and on June 5, 24 Pakistani soldiers were ambushed and killed.
The U.N. promptly declared the SNA "an outlaw faction," according to one
U.S. official.
On June 12, Aidid and several of his aides left Mogadishu for Khartoum
where they attended a People's Arab and Islamic Conference chaired by Hassan
Abdallah al-Turabi, a Sudanese leader who sponsored terrorism against the
United States and backed the spread of Islam throughout the Horn of Africa,
according to U.S. official who spoke to United Press International on
condition of not being named.
This source said that Turabi had ties to Abdul-Rahman Ahmad Ahmad Ali Tour
who had proclaimed the Islamic code or Sharia as the law of Somalia and had
henceforth received financial and military aid from Iran and Sudan.
"Certainly Gen. Aidid was receiving some technical and logistical aid from
Sudan as part of a fledgling military alliance in 1992," this source said.
The decision to fight U.S. forces in Somalia was a direct result of
Sudan's strategy, according to a U.S. government analyst. Robert Oakley,
former U.S. ambassador to Somalia, disagrees, but he concedes that Sudan was
very nervous about U.S. intervention: "The Sudanese thought that they were
next, that after we were finished in Somalia we would strike at Sudan." The
Hezbollah -- the fundamentalist Islamic militia -- for example, published
documents at the time alerting factions that Sudan was really the next U.S.
target. "It was a totally mistaken idea," he said.
But whatever the reason, Aidid began amassing his assets, with Turabi
supplying weapons, men and military supplies, according to U.S. officials.
According to U.S. government sources there is general agreement that bin
Laden was not the master mind or the grand strategist but rather the
logistical officer. He had hidden Arab Afghans -- the Islamic volunteer
fighters from all over the Middle East who had fought against the Russians
during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan -- on his "farms' in Sudan, and he
had also smuggled large amounts of money into Ethiopia and Eritrea for
purchases of supplies for "Afghan" forces.
These sources said that bin Laden led a clandestine effort to move
militant "Afghans" into Somalia through third countries like Ethiopia and
Eritrea, providing lodging, trucks, fuel water, weapons, ammunition,
explosives and medical kits, and establishing resupply points.
According to current and former U.S. intelligence sources, the on-site
commander and field coordinator in Mogadishu, working with Aidid, was Ayman
al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian militant who is currently in hiding with bin Laden
in the Afghanistan mountains. Zawahiri, who is also mentioned in the bin
Laden indictment, worked with the "Afghan" forces and with Aidid's senior
military aides.
Throughout the summer of 1993, the escalations continued.
Aidid forces soon began to mortar U.S. and U.N. troops, and by early
August, bin Laden-trained groups of the Habar Gidir tribe began to engage
the Americans, said one U.S. intelligence source. "It's clear they were
well-trained. I mean, they were smart, did some really sophisticated stuff,"
said the source.
On Aug. 11, a Hezbollah-style remotely controlled bomb killed four
Americans. On Sept. 5, Aidid's augmented forces ambushed a Nigerian U.N.
contingent, killing seven soldiers. It took a massive intervention by
U.S.-U.N. forces to relieve the hard-pressed Nigerians, according to U.S.
government officials.
On Sept. 13, fierce fighting took place between U.S. and Aidid forces in
which a Cobra gunship attacked a hospital being used as a Somali
headquarters and storage facility. Aidid charged that the U.S. had killed
civilians, and on Sept. 15, Aidid launched mortar attacks against the U.N.
compound, and when women and children stoned U.N. patrols, the U.N. patrols
opened fire, U.S. officials said.
According to Oakley, the fight on Oct. 3 was "a spontaneous response"
fueled by the previous U.S. killing of Somalis. "It was primarily a Somali
operation. They had the motives and the tactical knowledge," he said.
But this is disputed by former U.S. govermment officials. A former U.S.
military source with close knowledge of the incident said that the
continuing growth of Aidid's forces was "by design, (not) something anyone
missed." He added that the CIA was reporting that 150 to 200 fighters a day
were arriving in Mogadishu. "To most people that would indicate a massing of
troops," he said.
Not to the U.S. military, he said, who saw the attacks as individual
incidents, not the probing of a larger and well-organized force.
When the United States could not capture Aidid, it decided to kidnap two
of Aidid's top leaders, what one former U.S. military source called
"tier-one personalities" -- of top importance -- Omar Salad, Aidid's top
political advisor, and his ostensible minister of interior Abdi "Qeybdid"
Hassan Awale. They are described as "hard-liners," men with blood on their
hands," by a U.S. source.
On Saturday, Oct. 2, CIA operatives reported that they had "eyes on"
surveillance of the top Aidid aides who were in a teahouse only 400 yards
away from the U.N. compound. "It was perfect for a snatch job. We could have
had them both and it would have only taken ten men," said a former U.S.
military source.
He said that the intelligence was passed on to the military leadership,
including Maj. Gen. William F. Garrison, whose reaction was to wait until
the next day and send a big, high-profile force in to seize the men, this
source said.
The force was called Task Force Ranger, an assault force made up of
Delta's C Squadron, a top Army commando unit, and Rangers from Company B,
3rd Battalion of the Army's 75th Infantry, backed up three surveillance
helicopters, a spy plane, four MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and eight Black
Hawk troop-carrying helicopters. The force was supported on the ground by
eight Humvees carrying Rangers, Delta operators and four members of the
Navy's SEAL Team Six, the Sea, Air, Land group of the Navy's special forces.
Together this force totaled 160 men.
The force easily seized the two Aidid aides when they walked into a trap.
However, in the fight, two high-tech MH-660 Black Hawk helicopters were shot
down and two more crash-landed. Eighteen Americans were dead and dozens more
were wounded. Aidid's forces suffered at least 500 dead and a thousand more
wounded.
But to some U.S. intelligence people the frustration remains. Commenting
on the two Aidid aides in the teahouse, a former U.S. military source said:
"The CIA could have captured them with 10 men. On Saturday afternoon at four
o'clock, they had eyes on contact."
The U.S. military leadership "bears responsibility for the loss of those
lives," he said.
--
Copyright 2001 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
-- |
| MAD MAC | Saturday, January 27, 2001 - 01:34 pm
Dude, this thing has so many errors in it it's not worth the paper it was printed on. It is possible that the SNA received some training assistance in the usage of RPGs in downing aircraft. That's it. The rest of this, including many of the dates, names and facts are off base. Additionally the target wasn't determined until a couple of hours before the raid. Howe had nothing to do with it. If you listen to some people UBL is suddenly responsible for every Islamic nut on the planet - and everyone else who we get in a fight with. Pretty soon they're going to stat making a connection between Milosevic and UBL. |
| Aro | Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 04:57 am
MM,
That is pretty good resposes. I admire your openmindeness. |
| MAD MAC | Sunday, January 28, 2001 - 11:03 pm
Aro
Well, I have my moments. The fact is that the fight between us and the SNA was between us and the SNA. And it was about who was going to govern Somalia and how. I have to admit that the SNA played their cards well. Our leadership did not. And we had all the trump cards. Bowever, I would also say the SNA victory was a phyric one. I mean, at the end of the day Aideed shot his wad fighting us - he was resource depleted. The RRA booted him out of Baidoa and Bur Hakaba and he was eventually killed trying to gain control of Hamer. In my opinion, no one won the war. Everyone lost. It was a story with a lousy ending. |
| sexydiva | Monday, February 05, 2001 - 08:14 am
to mad mac we think that you are great, and the way you take interst in somali people.Ignore what they say to u like u said it is a free country. Speak youre mind my white brother and hope you find a somali girl that can satisfy u in every way.
write back soon i'll be waiting 4 u |
| somali | Monday, February 05, 2001 - 08:46 am
yeh what about arawelo she likes him |
| Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar-Waryaa | Monday, February 05, 2001 - 01:47 pm
Salama...
And now we are proposing Mac-Cap-Mac to marry one of our 'ladies.' No wonder this 'lousy-kufaar {those are what you call yourself, Mad-Cap-Mac} will then eventually get your {not mine} vote to be nominated to your { again, not mine} President of Soomaaliya.
I believe that will happen, in the near future, by very narrow-minded people.
Mad-Cap-Mac is a very old man. In theory of old, not for age, but how to play the tricks. How to deceive. How to wrestle those young nourishing minds. And finally, how to act a 'neutral,' American-free interest when it comes situations like Islam and America.
He is very good. I must admit he is doing his best and remembering every possible act for how he had been trained. Taking every advantage of it. I must solute him. But, alas, as I said many times:
Beware the ravenous Wolf in the Net.
___________________
Nabadeey!! |
| MAD MAC | Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 04:55 am
MMAW
I'm not sure what you were getting at, but it sounded poetic. Anyway, I don't think I qualify to be president of Somalia, and I'm also pretty sure I don't want the job. Too much pressure to perform.
Sexydiva
Well abai, unless my current woman leaves me, I think I am doomed to spend my lifewithout my Somali dream woman. The one I had in mind, some years back, didn't dig kufaars (or short white guys, I'm not sure which). And since I consider myself pretty damn lucky to have the woman I have, I'm not really thinking about collecting another. But thanks for the vote of confidence.
Somali
Are you kidding - Arawello is a hard core Islamic type person. She wouldn't even shake my hand. |
| Anonymous | Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 09:52 am
Salaams,
Oh dear, poeple ( somali, or whetever, your other user name is) let me ask you, what do you do for aliving?? I no longer sensitive to this kind of accusation. What is your problem???
Waryaa macruufo,
long time no see. how are you doing bro?
I think, I agree the guy has very good education. I also think, though, many of you would not agree with me, the guy has a better intention than most of us. He is intelegnt I have to say.
MadMAc,
How do you figure out that?? It is true I decided not to shake hands with men anyomore. Gosh, you must be reading my writings.
About your dream somali woman ( lol) may be and most properly she did not want marry a non-muslim. why did not you convert to Islam if you liked her that much.
Just you to convert Islam, despite the age gap, I would drove through the tunnell and no matter, you would convert to Islam ( provided there was no Thai lady in your life)No more arrogant.
Somali,
meet me Bonn.
Arawello |
| Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar-Waryaa | Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 10:54 am
Salama...
Mad-Cap-Mac:
I know you wouldn't chose to be a quasi-president of Soomaaliya, let alone THE president of it. And I know that. But, only a narrow-minded people would nominate you as they proposed to marry one of our sisters.
Anon:
Ani aboosto lee. Waan ugahey sababta uu kaas inta u joogo, ugoowna odey-odey dhaley waaye. Sabab uu u joogaa meshaan qof walbo oo aqli qabo waa la socda. Lakiin dadka kaliya ee ugu qalbi yar aa fahmeynin sababtaas. Ilahoow ummadaa ugu deeq aqli dhaamo key heestaan hada oo ay ku fahmi la yihiin.
__________________
Nabadeey!! |
| ahmed | Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 04:30 pm
Somalis has problem. Even nobody knows there are patrolium in Somalia we are still protesting. I do agree local poeple must be involve however we all will be benefit any investment in Somalia. Ten years ago no one want to explore partrolim in Somalia. If we do not take this chance now these oil company will find some where alse to invest and probably in few years the demand of patrolim will decrease. To |
| Inquiring mind | Tuesday, February 06, 2001 - 05:52 pm
Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar-Waryaa
Brother I do not really know why Mad Mac is here can you explain it to me since you claim to know the reason behind It. Is he CIA?
Inquiring mind |
| Anonymous | Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 05:21 am
TEST |
| MAD MAC | Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 09:28 am
Arawello
Are you in Bonn???? Tell me it isn't true. If so you're just a train ride away abai.
Why didn't I convert for my little Abgal woman (OK I'll give that much away)? That would be a lie. Who wants to live a lie? I convert so I can get a woman???? What's wrong with that picture. Don't you think that might annoy Allah just a little bit? I'm pretending to be a Muslim so I can get a little nookie. Bad idea. And when the truth comes out, and it always does, don't you think my little wife is going to be annoyed? Here I lie and do a false conversion so I can marry her. To be a Muslim you must embrace it with all of your heart. If you have reservations and then go ahead and do it anyway to get a woman - in my book that's unethical.
Inquiring Mind - Dude it's a long story. I'm not CIA so you can chill. |
| Miskiin-Macruuf-Waryaa-Aqiyaar | Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 12:40 pm
Salama...
Inquiring Mind-Scape:
Your mind do really inquire to know that. If so, then let it alone have it--the motive.
The motive behind Mad-Cap-Mac's presence is 'well-known.' To be meant in those words of 'well-known' depends on who you ask. It varies. However, the most 'commonly' known is to 'deceive,' as I said earlier, those young nurturing and nourishing minds of our youth. And I am a youth. Among them. However, we do need to take his words discreetly. Wisely. Vehemently cautious.
Ever wonder a military service--to be specific, an inteligence officer--to be here almost all five hours a day. Writing. Answering. Commenting. Explaining his edgeful views. It doesn't take a rocket-sciencist to figure it out.
And I said earlier, his motive varies. And depends on who you ask. In mine, it is his deceiving tactics for that tit-for-tat. He doesn't use his techniques as a vis-a-vis for the older generations. When it comes to talk to older generations, he is mainly a defensive than an offensive. But, look where youths participate, he is, at this time, a more offensive. Capturing their 'territories.' In territories of mind.
Mad-Cap-Mac:
Spare your breath. Try not to protest. I know you are going to. But, try it not.
_______________________
Nabadeey!! |
| MAD MAC | Thursday, February 08, 2001 - 09:14 pm
MMWA - hell of a name you've got there.
I'm on the net about 1/2 hour a day. I read and type pretty quick dude. Maybe 45 culmulative minutes. Certainly not five hours. I'm lucky in that I can log on whenever I have time. I post up on the Boxing Bulletin Board as well but that doesn't mean I'm spying to get the inside boxing track.
Let's face it, I've obviously been patently honest in my discussions here. You guys would be suspicious of any non-Somali who was talking politics on this board. So no matter what I say or who I say it to, I'm always going to be considered an outsider and regarded with suspicion. It's almost not worth answering the question anymore. |
| Anonymous | Friday, February 09, 2001 - 08:36 am
This article tries to discredit the fact that SNA lead by the Late General Aideed disabled the Great Western Forces lead by Gen. Howe. This is a case of Galkacyo Military Academy beating West Point. The Somali Fighters were smart. They knew when to pick their battles and knew in the end, time was on their side. It is a classical military strategy.
The central theme of the article was a BLACK MAN DID NOT BEAT US, some Arab Terrorist did it. Well it seems Gen. Aideed was the 20TH CENTURY SHAKA ZULU. In the end, Aideed did accomplish his goal.
He will go down in history as the Man who singlehandley handed a Defeat to the US since the Battle of Saigon in 1975. |
| Nin Yaaban | Friday, February 09, 2001 - 10:47 am
Saalaan,
Ala naag soomaaliyeed dhilo casar dhe. imikay odaygii cadaa ee Mad Macna u soo dhigteen.
Walahi waxan ka baqayaa maalinta dambe inay naagahaan soomaali intaty jameekaan iyo dadka dhaafaan.dameero noo soo xareeyaan oo marka lagu yidhaahdo waa Dameere oo waa xaywaane maxaad guurkiisa ka rabtaa aya yidhaandaan " Waa Dameer Musline maxaad "qof" muslin ah iigu diidaysaa"..lol
Walaahi anigu nacay naag soomaaliyed..wax dhintay baa dhaama, bilaa kalsooni..cadaw caabuud miidhan ah oo dhaqakooda iyo dadkooda cuqadad ka qaba.
nabadeey..waxbyahay. |
| Anonymous | Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 05:28 am
MM,
That is very true. I was just teasing at you because you kept taliking this lady. I di not say out of ignorance.
peace.
Nin Yaaban,
Why are you insulting me??? I am not a prostitute for god's sake do not call me that ever again.
Arawello |
| Anonymous | Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 05:58 am
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>Assalamu Alaikum This is a letter from Saudi Arabia and addressed to all
> > >>>>>the Muslims. These are the words of Sheik Ahmed,the watchman of the
> > >>>>>Prophet Muhammad's mosque (PBUH). On Friday night after reciting the
> > >>>>>Holy Quran, Sheik Ahmed slept and saw the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in his
> > >>>>>dream. The Prophet (PBUH)said to him, "Sheik Ahmed, this Friday about
> > >>>>>six thousand (6,000) people died, but none of them went toheaven. The
> > >>>>>women do not follow what their husbands tell them anymore. The believers
> > >>>>>who have money do not help the poor. People do not perform their
> > >>>>>pilgrimage as it is prescribed. The Muslims do not say their prayers
> > >>>>>regularly, let alone how it is supposed to be." Sheik Ahmed, tell the
> > >>>>>Muslims that this letter comes from you. They are to produce more copies
> > >>>>>of this letter and give to other Muslims so that it can spread and get
> > >>>>>to all the Muslims in this world. Anyone who produces this and spreads
> > >>>>>it to other Muslims will see it indeed (will see the REWARD). The
> > >>>>>Prophet (PBUH) will count such a person to Paradise along with his
> > >>>>>children. The Muslim who receives this letter and refuses to disperse it
> > >>>>>among other Muslims will not seebenediction INSHALLAH). Those who are
> > >>>>>indebted must write. Allah in his infinite mercies will send help to pay
> > >>>>>his debt. I, SheikAhmed, if what I said is a lie, may the Prophet (PBUH)
> > >>>>>not send his divine benediction to me. Dear Muslim brothers and sisters,
> > >>>>>you must follow the religion the way the Prophet (PBUH) honored it, like
> > >>>>>the divine revelation it is. Ask for forgiveness, fast every Monday.
> > >>>>>Produce twenty (20) copies of this letter and spread it to all Muslims.
> > >>>>>Anyone who does this until all Muslims get a copy, will INSHALLAH, see
> > >>>>>the opening of the Prophet's(PBUH) desires and success will follow. He
> > >>>>>will see thethings he had never seen before. This is not a letter to be
> > >>>>>kept. It must be dispersed in large quantities. * A man called Klavern,
> > >>>>>got this letter andgave it to his secretary to produce twenty (20)
> > >>>>>copies and disperse them. After some days, he saw many doors of
> > >>>>>opportunities opening up forhim. Another person named Abdul-Salam got it
> > >>>>>and forgot it in the drawer of his office, and after a certain time he
> > >>>>>lost his job.He later remembered the letter and went and produced twenty
> > >>>>>20) copies which were distributed and within five (5) days he got
> > >>>>>employed and is in a higher position than what he had before. Another
> > >>>>>man called Balemanthan received it and he thought it was something
> > >>>>>useless and treated it without respect or courtesy. He tore the letter
> > >>>>>and within nine (9) days he died. I am appealing to anyone who comes
> > >>>>>across this letter to kindly circulate it in large volume. Thanks. May
> > >>>>>Allah Bless You. With regards Golam Mortuza
> > >
i hope you guys enjoyed......
peace&harmony |
