From Marine to Warlord(Somalia & Aidid's son)

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 22, 2007 | Edmund Sanders

[kellynla]

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA — The Planning Department clerk from West Covina was mapping bike routes and San Bernardino Freeway overpasses when two U.S. Marines drove up in a white Chevrolet and took him away.

The night before, on Oct. 3, 1993, Hussein Mohammed Aidid had watched in horror as television conveyed images of a disastrous U.S. military mission against a Mogadishu warlord. After two Black Hawk helicopters crashed, an ensuing gunfight left 18 American servicemen dead, and rioting Somalis dragged some of the bodies through the streets.

"Hell is coming," he recalled thinking before turning off the TV in disgust.

Perhaps no one in the world was more conflicted than Aidid, a Somalian immigrant who settled in Southern California as a teenager. He had served with the U.S. Marines in Mogadishu for four months that year as part of Operation Restore Hope, and the death of the U.S. Rangers "was like a black hole inside of me."

[kellynla]

ping

[mtbopfuyn]

Described by critics as a wily opportunist who switches alliances easily

Beat me to it.

[SandRat]

Interesting

[freema]

Verrrrrrrrry interesting.

[JoeSixPack1]

Haven't we all heard of the rawcruit from bootcamp, whom we made life hell for, is now a General in some 2 bit army somewhere because of his USMC training?

So here's the latest. (Yawn)

Semper Fi

[jokar]

very.

[Marine_Uncle]

Been sick for the past few days, and still in recovery. Attempting to answer so many pings I am getting a bit weary. Think I am just going to close down for the night. Gotta make an attempt to go to work tommorow. No sick days to use, and already have been out for two days, in bed most of the time.
So if you all don't hear much from me, it is because I am still not feeling up to things. Managed to squeak out a few replies tonight but don't feel up to the task.

[freema]

BOIL A CHICKEN. Don't you go getting sick on me : )

[Marine_Uncle]

Had to call in another day off. I don't have any sick days. If they don't value my work performance, I may end up getting the boot. Lord willing by tommorow I will feel up to going back to work.

[freema]

Good old pain aspirin, too. 4 at a time for me!

[Marine_Uncle]

Thanks for the advice.