The American policy is exhibiting more and more concerns in that it usually emphasizes that the free world security as well as freedom principles are more important even though the global threats are on its door. The United States’ involvement is something that has been witnessed all over throughout the years and this powerful country has come to be seen as a salvation to some people. The advancement of US support in the various world crises is still a controversial matter given that some think negatively about it as well as others think of it more positively. Nonetheless, the US military involvement comes out of the blues but surely they have saved so many lives. The US involvement in the various crises across the globe is of great importance as well as help to the global community without which many will suffer.
The humanitarian effort by the United States military in Somali is one thing that cannot be pushed aside by anyone. In the year 1992 to about 1994, the United States army was deployed in Somali in order to offer humanitarian support to the starved in the middle of the civil war. The army actually saved thousands of lives but their involuntary involvement in the strife led to the loss of several American soldiers, 30 soldiers together with 4 marines and 8 Air force and this actually loss gave the impression of disaster since the mission that commenced so well turned into a nightmare1. The involvement of the United States is actually based on their interest in the Horn of Africa which can be dated to the Cold War that existed between the Soviet Union and America as early as 1960 where the two were on a competition to gain more allies than the other.
- Center of Military History, The United States Army in Somalia 1992-1994, last modified February 24, 2006, http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Somalia/Somalia.htm#p26
The war was actually as a result of strife that the Somali people together with the Somali army conjured up and turned against their supreme leader, Said Barre, who was repressing the people and also killing them. After fleeing the country, the country fell into an abyss of pure war with the warlords of the various clans fighting against their rival clans and stealing food and resources and so many were killed as well as starved to their deaths. The US had just completed their mission in Ethiopia when their president, George W. Bush decided to offer their relief support to the Somali even though they were completely risking their involvement in a country that is all-out war. The United Nations also, in 1992 0n 24th April to be specific, responded to the conflicts and starvation in Somalia and initiated its own operations, United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM).
The operations in the humanitarian efforts of the United States involved the airlifting of different foods from all over the nearby countries including Kenya to the remote regions of Somali for its distribution to the affected individuals. The Provide Relief was actually an attempt that wished to employ the United States logistics expertise to assist in the relief efforts without really engaging the military forces that were on the ground. The feuding clans in Somali were the major impeding factor in the relief efforts by the US army and the other relief organizations. These clans who were even barely controlled by their leaders and chiefs destroyed food relief camps and also killed those who did not pay the protection money. They also stole relief food which they used to gain loyalties from those clans that were starving as well and this forced the hands of the United states army and the president declared the army to ensure that the food has to reach those dying people, and this initiated the mission, restore hope, whose main aim was to ensure the reach of the relief support.
The increased chaotic environment that involved the distribution of the relief support caused the use of security measures such as using the US Army Special Forces soldier who were in the 5th Special Forces Group that were situated in Fort Campbell to follow the relief flights in order to ensure their safe arrival1. Also, in the process, these forces do feasibility on the dangers in the various regions in low tones without engaging the natives in any war. The reconnaissance actually determine the operations of the ground forces and the Marines whose main goal was to clear a path that was safe to deliver the relief goods. The mission in the end was quite successful even thought there was a heavy loss of the American soldiers due to their inevitable clashes with the clans that were out for blood in the chaotic country with a total of 42 Americans losing their lives.
The United States is still offering humanitarian supports till present all over the globe and it seems it won’t take the sidelines while other human beings are suffering. An instance in Isis, Iraq, there is quite a predicament in the sense that the humanitarian efforts have become totally strained after the siege of Mount Sinjar. Moreover, the UN has already declared that this was the highest level of emergency that involves almost 1.2 million people displaced in a country, in this case, Iraq2. This event has actually been placed at par with the current situations in Syria, Sudan and the Central African Republic. The United States forces, more specifically, the air force in conjunction with the Kurdish military have created a corridor that extends from Mount Sinjar and this has enabled lots of the Kurds to be able to escape the Islamic militia as well as gain safety in Syria3.
- Borger Julian, “Iraq humanitarian crisis has reached highest level, UN aid officials warn,” the Guardian last modified August 14, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/14/iraq-humanitarian-crisis-highest-level-un-aid
- Cooper Helene, Landler Mark and Rubin J. Alissa, “Obama Allows Limited Airstrikes on ISIS,” New York Times, last edited August 7, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/world/middleeast/obama-weighs-military-strikes-to-aid-trapped-iraqis-officials-say.html?_r=0
The Obama administration has also decided to aid in the crisis that is still at hand, Ebola outbreak that is claiming the lives of many people all over. In this case, history still keeps repeating itself in the sense that the US is offering support to save the human lives. The administration has determined to assign 3,000 personnel of the US military to the West of Africa to try and combat this outbreak as well as contain it4. The US army will support through supply of the medical support and also assist whenever logistic expertise is of use. The Ebola crisis has gained quite renowned fame with its pronounced killings all over Africa and as a response to the cry for help from the African government; the US military will intervene to assist in the fight of this virus which is spreading havoc, panic and death.
The Obama administration also specified that the support will not only come in the form of soldiers but also they plan to initiate training if over 500 healthcare workers every week as well as install 17 healthcare facilities throughout the region each with no less than 100 beds. They further aim at establishing a central command where the activities of the international relief support as well as theirs will be centrally controlled for the benefits of the sickly patients. The United States officials have claimed that it will only be a matter of two weeks before the US forces march into the crisis zone and try to curb the problems even if it costs a lot of money3. Moreover, the Pentagon has already requested the Congress to ensure that the funds are redirected in such a way that the humanitarian efforts in Iraq and West Africa are properly supported.
- “3,000 U.S. military members to fight Ebola in Africa,” CBSNEWS, last modified September 16,2014, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-sending-3000-military-personnel-to-fight-ebola-in-west-africa/
As if not enough, the US is still committed to the assistance of those people that have suffered in Syria as a result of the out-of-control conflicts. In this case, the US is providing typical humanitarian support through funds where the Secretary of State, John F. Kerry, made it clear that the US government is providing $500 million to the Syrians affected by war as well as additional humanitarian support5. The USAID depicts that by March 2011 that the US contribution to the assistance of the Syrians is at $2.9 billion since the commencing of the conflicts in Syria which is quite commendable. Nonetheless, the United States has remained the largest contributing donor in the humanitarian support in Syria in this era which most rich country should start emulating. For instance, the US vice president announced that $135 million was directed into the humanitarian funding of Syria.
The United States, despite its means, it has served as a guardian angel for many developing countries all over the world including Somalia, Syria, Iraq and even some West African States. As much as the US is helping, it mainly considers avoiding the spread of crisis and fancies the elimination of such threats to global peace. The wars in Somali caused several deaths but still the US military went in and saved lots of people from starvation as well as clear out some enemy forces6. The Ebola crisis in West Africa has really frightened people but the US is willing to offer its support to these countries and save lives by offering 3,000 army personnel who would offer relief support. In a nutshell, the United States with its military forces, has led to the salvation of so many all over.
- “Syria: The United States remains committed to helping the innocent children, women and men affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria,” USAID, last modified November 24, 2014, http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/syria
- “Obama to announce Ebola force of 3,000 US military personnel,” theguardian.com, last modified September 16, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/16/obama-to-announce-ebola-force-of-3000-us-military-personnel
Bibliography
“3,000 U.S. military members to fight Ebola in Africa.” CBSNEWS. Last modified September 16, 2014. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-sending-3000-military- personnel-to-fight-ebola-in-west-africa/
“Obama to announce Ebola force of 3,000 US military personnel.” theguardian.com. Last modified September 16, 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/16/obama- to-announce-ebola-force-of-3000-us-military-personnel
“Syria: The United States remains committed to helping the innocent children, women and men affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria.” USAID. Last modified November 24, 2014. http://www.usaid.gov/crisis/syria
Borger Julian. “Iraq humanitarian crisis has reached highest level, UN aid officials warn.” theguardian.com. Last modified August 14, 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/14/iraq-humanitarian- crisis-highest-level-un-aid
Center of Military History. The United States Army in Somalia 1992-1994. Last modified February 24, 2006. http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Somalia/Somalia.htm#p26
Cooper Helene, Landler Mark, and Rubin J. Alissa. “Obama Allows Limited Airstrikes on ISIS.” New York Times. Last modified August 7, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/world/middleeast/obama-weighs-military- strikes-to-aid-trapped-iraqis-officials-say.html?_r=0
