When the US military was in Somalia in 1993, what were they trying to accomplish?
Prior to Resolution 794, the United States had approached the UN and offered a significant troop contribution to Somalia, with the caveat that these personnel would not be commanded by the UN. Resolution 794 did not specifically identify the U.S. as being responsible for the future task force, but mentioned “the offer by a Member State”. On the evening of 4 December 1992, President George H. Bush made an address to the nation, informing them that the USA would send troops to Somalia. Known as Operation Restore Hope, the mission would formally become UNITAF. The operations of UNOSOM 1 were suspended. The first elements of UNITAF landed on the beaches of Somalia amid a media circus on 9 December 1992. The vast bulk of UNITAF’s total personnel strength was provided by the United States (Some 25,000 out of a total of 37,000 personnel). Other countries that contributed to UNITAF were Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zea
