UNITED STATES PSYOP IN SOMALIA (4/4)

Herbert A. Friedman

UNOSOM II PSYOP

The PSYOP transition from UNITAF to UNOSOM II was not a smooth one. Lieutenant Colonel Charles P. Borchini, the Commander of the 8th PSYOP Battalion and the PSYOP Task Force hired and trained local Somali reporters and journalists, translators, artists, broadcasters, radio producers, and printers so that after the U.S. Army personnel from the 4th PSYOP Group returned to Ft. Bragg and the UN took over, the transition would be seamless. The UN seemed to agree. In February 1993, two UN officials recommended that the operation use the Somali civilian staff with the addition of some UN employees as supervisors.

In March, the UNOSOM II staff surprised everyone by requesting that there be no change in the PSYOP staffing, and that the U.S. Army personnel remain.

In April, the Central Command still planned to have the 4th PSYOP Group redeploy back to the Continental United States. Meanwhile the State Department approved the United Nations request. LTC Borchini reduced the military manpower to the absolute minimum and shipped all non-essential equipment home. At the same time, the UN assigned a single US Army officer to supervise the PSYOP organization.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Admiral Jonathan Howe visited the PSYOP Task Force on 3 May 1993, the night before the change from UNITAF to UNOSOM II was to take place. After seeing the complexity of the operation, he requested more UN personnel that same evening. Meanwhile, LTC Borchini left four noncommissioned officers to supervise the operation until the UN was ready to take full control.

UNOSOM II Leaflets

The official code numbers for the UNOSOM II leaflets are partially known. All start with the letters CH followed by a number. The highest number that I am aware of is 40, but I have at least six with unknown numbers, so there could be more than 40 standard airdropped leaflets. Like the UNITAF leaflets most are fairly crude pen and ink drawings. Some are in color, some not. Some of the more interesting leaflets are:

CH3

Leaflet CH3 depicts a white dove of peace being crushed by a fist labeled "USC/SNA" ("United Somali Congress / Somali National Alliance"). Text on the back is:

The people of Somalia are striving for peace, but USC/SNA is bringing armed conflict back to serve their own greedy purposes. Only the Somali people can break the grasp and return peace to the country. Embrace peace and bring Somalia back to prosperity and security.

CH5

Leaflet CH5 depicts a Somali woman showing her children where to hide as armed gunmen pass by on the other side of the street. Text on the back is:

Citizens of Somalia. To insure the safety and well-being of all Somali citizens, UNOSOM II asks that if at any time violence or military actions commence in your area, you immediately leave the area or seek the nearest available shelter.

CH6

Leaflet CH6 depicts a street with happy civilians walking and shopping in peace. Some citizens enter a building where one of the civilian charity agencies that donate food to the Somali people is located. The text on the back is:

Along with UNOSOM II came the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing food and aid for the people of Somalia. Do not allow this beneficial relationship to be destroyed. When stability returns to Mogadishu so will the NGOs. Cooperate with the UN and continue the progress that has been made toward improving the lives of all the Somali people.

CH31

Leaflet CH31 depicts a Somali walking along a road toward a beautiful city with a signpost that says "progress." He pulls a camel that bears the Somali star. Text on the back is:

The answer to Somalia's problems lies within you. The world community will continue to donate its vast resources to the restoration of Somalia, but relief efforts are being hampered by a few individuals. We must work together to end the violence and create a safe secure environment for the relief and restoration of Somalia.

CH10

Leaflet CH10 depicts General Aideed at the left and a woman holding her dead husband at the right. Text on the back is:

On 19 June at 1240 a.m., four gunshots were fired by Aideed bandits VIC of K-4. The Aideed bandits were In a white car that shot bullets into a group of innocent Somali people who were in the streets by the Saudi Relief Agency compound. A number of innocent Somali casualties occurred due to this ruthless action by the Aideed bandits. This proves to the Somali people that Aideed is an enemy to the Somali people and the entire world.

UNOSOM asks the assistance of the Somali people to catch the bandit Aideed so that he may be tried by an international court so that the whole world will know of the criminal acts that he has committed against the Somali people.

CH12

CH12 also depicts the Somali warlord. Text to the left of his sketched portrait is:

To any Somali citizen. UNOSOM is offering a reward to any citizen who provides information leading to the arrest and apprehension of Mr. Aideed, former chairman of the USC/SNA. Information should be provided to UNOSOM force headquarters at gate eight, or Mr. Aideed can be delivered to force headquarters.

The identical message is on the back to the left of a second sketch of Mr. Aideed, this one bareheaded.

The N.Y. Times of 11 June 1993 stated that the United nations is offering $25,000 for the arrest of General Aideed. It says that 500 posters and 60,000 leaflets have been prepared and disseminated.

CNN reported that helicopters dropped "wanted" leaflets showing a drawing of Mohammed Aideed from 22 to 24 June 1993. The English word "wanted" and the Somali words "Raadin Abaal Marin" were on the front of the leaflet. The back had a message offering an unnamed reward for Aideed's capture.

The NY Times of 24 June 1993 mentions the United Nations military campaign against Mogadishu warlord and clan leader Mohammed Farah Aideed:

American gunships bombed the clan leader’s weapon depots and Radio Mogadishu, the site used for General Aideed’s broadcasts, and then ground forces were deployed on 17 June to attack his headquarters. Today the United nations dropped tens of thousands of leaflets over Mogadishu that offered a reward of an undisclosed amount to any Somali who turned General Aideed in or provided information leading to his arrest. Bold letters across the top of the bright yellow posters bearing a sketch of General Aideed proclaim him to be ‘wanted.’ Some Mogadishu residents are collecting the posters as souvenirs.

General Zinni noted in Battle Ready that bombing Aideed's radio station wasn't necessarily a good idea:

The months to follow would show that the UN failed to learn this lesson. Instead of countering Aideed’s hostile media blasts in kind, they tried to close down his radio station. Freedom of the press has to work both ways; we don’t shut down the radio stations just because we don’t like what is broadcast. The resulting confrontation was the opening of the violent war between the UN and Aideed.

CH18

Leaflet CH18 depicts an armed helicopter taking aim at a pile of munitions. The text on the back is:

UNOSOM II has taken and will continue to take decisive steps towards reestablishing stability in Somalia. These actions are not directed against any clan or group, but against those who continue to use violence. This destruction of unauthorized weapons and the facilities that contain them will help move Somalia forward intro a new era of stability and peace.

CH19

Leaflet CH19 depicts a UN helicopter firing rockets and destroying a Somali armed "Technical" vehicle. Text on the back is:

UNOSOM II will not tolerate any actions which threaten the safety and security of the Somali people or UN personnel. Response to these attacks will be stern and direct. UNOSOM II is determined to end the violence and ensure the restoration and rehabilitation of Somalia.

CH21

Leaflet CH21 shows a mother and two children looking at a young man holding a grenade. The text is:

Some of Aideed's supporters are using innocent children to attack UNOSOM troops. These selfish criminals do not care about the Somali people or their safety. They care only for themselves. Parents protect your children! Do not allow them to be used by others to commit violent acts. Children are the future of Somalia. Assist in the capture of these criminals before any children are injured or killed as a result of these ruthless acts.

CH33

Leaflet CH33 has a nation building theme. It depicts citizens walking happily down a peaceful street where shops are open and children play. Text at the top is, "Tomorrow's future will be prosperous if..." and at the bottom, "We work together!" The text on the back is:

The world community will continue to donate its vast resources for the restoration of Somalia. We must work together to end the violence and create a safe environment for all the people of Somalia. The answer to Somalia's problems lies within you!

CH40

Leaflet CH40 depicts a Somali "technical" armed vehicle firing a rocket. Text on the back is,

Citizens of Mogadishu! Recently the criminal elements of the SNA and its illegal leadership have launched indiscriminate rocket attacks of the citizens of Mogadishu. These attacks have resulted in numerous casualties among innocent citizens. This must be stopped. UNOSOM forces will take direct measures to destroy these rockets and the personnel firing them. We seek your assistance. Report these criminals to the Somali police force or UNOSOM II forces.

Reuters reported on 9 September 1993 that UN helicopters dropped leaflets over Mogadishu warning of eminent military activities. Women and children were warned to stay indoors after dark.

UN Chronicle,June 1993 lists the four phases of UNOSOM II. Military support of relief activity and the disarming of factions would continue. Operations would be extended into Northern Somalia. Once all of Somalia was under control, the military presence would be scaled down and some civilian government supported. In phase four, the military forces would be reduced. UNITAF already occupied 40% of Somalia with 37,000 troops. The UNOSOM II force of 20,000 troops was considered sufficient to control the rest of the country.

The September 1993 issue of UN Chronicle reports on the death of Pakistani peace-keepers:

Twelve of the soldiers were helping to unload food at a feeding station when they were foully attacked by cowards who placed women and children in front of the armed men. On 17 June, UNOSOM raided the headquarters and weapons stores of the SNA/USC faction to deprive General Aideed of weapons and tools needed to intimidate the Somali people.

In the June 1944 UN Chronicle, the headline is "Mandate for UNOSOM II revised. Coercive methods not to be used." The Council on 18 November 1993 in its resolution 886 had asked the Secretary-General to provide a future strategy for UNOSOM II. In the wake of five months of violent confrontations between international peace-keepers and as armed Somali faction, including a 5 June ambush of a Pakistani contingent which resulted in 24 deaths and street fighting in October during which 18 American soldiers lost their lives."

Like UNITAF, UNOSOM II broadcast on the radio and published a newspaper with the same name. Instead of Radio RAJO (Radio Hope), UNOSOM used the name Radio MANTA (Radio Today). The radio station was operated on shortwave by the United Nations staff in Mogadishu. Radio Manta began broadcasting on 4 May 1993 following the handover of the international operation in Somalia from the US-led Unified Task Force (UNITAF) to the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). It broadcast news, inquiries about missing persons, songs, plays and poems. The station transmitted in the Somali language from two 600-watt shortwave transmitters. Their schedule was as follows: 0415-0500, 1000-1045, 1100-1145 and 1300-1345 on 9540 kHz. The station also broadcast at 1600-1645, 1700-1745 and 1900-1945 on 6170 kHz. The radio signal was not strong enough to reach all over Somalia.

Maanta Newspaper

UNOSOM II continued the UNITAF policy and produced the newspaper Manta, (sometimes written as "Maanta"), written by Somalis but edited by the United Nations staff. This paper was distributed in Mogadishu.

I spoke to a Special Forces trooper who served in the 8th and 9th PSYOP Battalions from 1989-1994 and worked on both the UNITAF newspaper RAJO and the UN newspaper Maanta. Both were printed on high speed Risograph machines. He still grieves for five Somali civilians who delivered the newspapers throughout Mogadishu. During one of their delivery runs, they were stopped by a group of gunmen who opposed the UN campaign. The five were executed on the spot. He said:

They may not have been soldiers, but they believed in our cause.

A second member of the 8th PSYOP Battalion who served in Mogadishu from January to October 2003 added:

I have my own memory of these men. Two of them in particular stand out in my mind. The leader of our deliverers was a gentleman we referred to as “the Colonel.” He was older and always carried a walking stick and claimed to have been trained in the United States when there was a legitimate Somali Army.

The second man is the one that still bothers me to this day. I don't recall his name, but he was a young man about 18 or 19. I dip Skoal (a smokeless tobacco), and agreed to buy Skoal for him if he would stop chewing khat (a mild narcotic). When he came to pick up Maanta for the day he would make sure that he had a great big plug of tobacco in his mouth, and I would make sure that he had been laying off the khat. About two weeks later the slaying occurred. I can still picture his face in my mind.

Victor K. Bolena was a Sergeant (E-5) assigned to the 8th PSYOP Battalion from 1990 to 1994 as a 97E Interrogator and Korean Linguist. He arrived in Somalia April 1993 and departed October 1993. He remembers:

We had a very tight knit group and we worked practically non-stop to keep up with demands of the United Nations staff and managing the couple dozen Somalis working for us. A few of us were awarded a United Nations commendation medal by Lieutenant General Bir prior to our departure. The day that our delivery crew was executed was an extremely sad day for all of us.  I think about those men often.  Everything you wrote was correct to the best of my recollection except that I remember that our lead deliveryman was referred to as “the Major” and not “the Colonel.”

One of my favorite PSYOP products was the Aideed “Wanted” poster.  We were actually just toying around with the Old-West wanted poster motif when one of our senior Somali translators told us that we should use it since Somalis love American Western movies.  It took some convincing but the United Nations staff eventually approved the poster and we ran with it. 

This may be the poster mentioned by William J. Durch in UN Peacekeeping, American Politics, and the Uncivil Wars of the 1990s, Macmillan, 1996. Durch says:

Admiral Howe printed and distributed a wanted poster that offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of General Aideed.

Thomas K. Adams adds in US Special Operations Forces in Action, Taylor & Francis, 1998:

The initial response was a counteroffer by Aideed of one million for Admiral Howe’s head.

If nothing else, Aideed apparently had a sense of humor.

Radio Rajo, the voice of the Unified Task Force, was changed to Radio Maanta (Radio Today) with the handover of command from the US-led Operation Restore Hope to UNOSOM-2 (UN Operation in Somalia Phase 2) on 4 May 1993. It broadcast only in Somali and has two short-wave transmitters which with a power of 600 Watts. Their schedule is as follows: 0415-0500, 1000-1045, 1100-1145 and 1300-1345 on 9540 kHz, 1600-1645, 1700-1745 and 1900-1945 on 6170 kHz.

Conclusion

Major General S. L. Arnold talks about the U.N. Accomplishments in an article entitled "Somalia: An Operation Other Than War," Military Review, December 1993. He says:

The cycle of starvation in Somalia has been broken. Except for some isolated incidents, the food emergency is over. Factions have turned in many of their crew-served weapons, and disarmament talks are being conducted. Marketplaces have opened and are thriving, while many displaced persons and refugees are moving back to their homes, villages and farms…We have come very close to establishing the right environment to enable the Somalis to arrive at a ‘Somali solution.’ The last obstacle is the warlords. They must join together, combining their power for the collective good of all, or individually, they must lose power. Only then will Somalia be on the road to full recovery.

LTC Borchini adds:

Operation Restore Hope focused international attention on the challenges faced by military forces as they applied their combat talents and training to support different humanitarian objectives. The soldiers of the 4th Psychological Operations Group (ABN) readily adapted to the demanding requirements of the challenge. Based on their experiences in Somalia, they are better prepared to face new opportunities to use their unique skills in operations around the globe. The devastation and loss of life in Somalia humbled our soldiers, but having witnessed how PSYOP directly contributed to that country’s first tentative steps toward peace and reconstruction has also strengthened their readiness to participate in future peacekeeping operations.

The United States Army in Somalia says:

The United States entered Somalia in December 1992 to stop the imminent starvation of hundreds of thousands of people. Although it succeeded in this mission, the chaotic political situation of that unhappy land bogged down U.S. and allied forces in what became, in effect, a poorly organized United Nations nation-building operation. In a country where the United States, perhaps naively, expected some measure of gratitude for its help, its forces received increasing hostility as they became more deeply embroiled into trying to establish a stable government. The military and diplomatic effort to bring together all the clans and political entities was doomed to failure as each sub-element continued to attempt to out-jockey the others for supreme power. The Somali people were the main victims of their own leaders, but forty-two Americans died and dozens more were wounded before the United States and the United Nations capitulated to events and withdrew.

The author encourages interested readers who may have additional information or personal experiences with Somalia and Operation Restore Hope to write to him at sgmbert@hotmail.com.

Note: In September of 2008, I received a request from Cedoca, the Documentation and Research Centre Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons of the Belgian agency that is responsible for the processing of applications for asylum. They asked me if I had any information that would be helpful in the case of the asylum applicant General Morgan. What role did General Morgan did he play in the peace talks? Where is he at present? Is his militia based in Southern Ogaden (Ethiopia) and is his family living in the United States? I explained that I simply wrote about the military aspects of the war and have no special knowledge of the current whereabouts of the players. The request would indicate that Morgan is attempting to find amnesty in Belgium.

Source : http://www.psywarrior.com/SomaliaHerb.html

La sécheresse continue à frapper au Somaliland

SOMALIE: Mercredi 4 Avril 2012 (DjibTalk) — Les opérateurs sanitaires de la République du Somaliland ont lancé un appel demandant l’envoi d’aides alimentaires et d’eau potable pour des milliers de familles qui, à cause de la sécheresse, ont perdu leurs moyens de subsistance. Les familles, qui vivent dans les zones de Garba dadar, Gargaara bari, Gerisa et Osoli, dans l’ouest du Somaliland, ont perdu tout leur bétail et ne parviennent pas à disposer de stocks alimentaires réguliers. D’autres, se trouvant dans les zones de Gargaara et Gerrisa, survivent grâce aux fournitures assurées par le Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM) de l’ONU. A Ceel la helay également, dans le nord de la capitale, Hargeisa, la situation est grave.

Au mois de février, le PAM a distribué des aides alimentaires à quelques 150 000 personnes au Somaliland dont 38 000 mères et enfants de moins de 5 ans. Par ailleurs, 18 600 personnes supplémentaires ont reçu quant à elles des rations familiales ou des coupons repas dans le cadre du programme visant au traitement des enfants malnutris, des femmes enceintes et des mères auxquelles avaient été diagnostiqué un état de malnutrition. Environ 48 000 personnes ont également reçu des rations alimentaires par l’intermédiaire des programmes alimentaires scolaires. Dans les zones montagneuses rurales des environs de Baki, environ 1800 enfants ont été classés comme malnutris. Les taux de malnutrition les plus élevés sont observés parmi les évacués de la zone de Burco (Togdheer). Dans les régions septentrionales de la Somalie, les pluies ont débuté à la mi-octobre 2011 mais elles ont diminué jusqu’à cesser totalement avant la date prévue. Le PAM a par ailleurs lancé d’autres programmes de secours portant sur la construction de réserves, de puits et de routes en mesure de supporter les éventuelles catastrophes.

 

Source : http://www.djibtalk.com/readmorehead.php?newsid=7493

 

Somalie: les premiers soldats de l’AMISOM atteignent la ville de Baidoa située à 250 km au sud-ouest de la capitale

DJIBOUTI: Vendredi 6 Avril 2012 (DjibTalk) — La mission de maintien de la paix de l'Union africaine en Somalie (AMISOM) a annoncé hier le déploiement des premières unités de soldats dans la ville de Baidoa contrôlée actuellement par les troupes éthiopiennes. La ville de Baidoa, la troisième plus grande ville de Somalie, située à 250 km au sud-ouest de la capitale somalienne, était sous contrôle des Shebabs avant que les islamistes ne soient évincés par les troupes éthiopiennes le mois dernier.

"Aujourd'hui, les premières troupes de la force AMISOM à Mogadiscio ont été déployées à Baidoa, dans l'ouest de la Somalie. Il s'agit des premières troupes à être envoyées dans un grand centre urbain à l'extérieur de la capitale depuis le déploiement de la Mission de l'Union africaine en Somalie en 2007", a déclaré le porte-parole de l'AMISOM, Paddy Akunda, dans un communiqué.

Une équipe de 100 soldats d'Ouganda et du Burundi a été déployée aux côtés des troupes éthiopiennes dans la ville de Baidoa.

"Aujourd'hui est un grand pas pour la Mission de l'Union africaine et pour toutes les personnes voulant la paix en Somalie", a déclaré le général de brigade, Audace Nduwumunsi, commandant adjoint de l'AMISOM.

Les Shebabs ont perdu du terrain face aux forces des voisins de la Somalie et aux forces de l'AMISON qui soutiennent les forces du gouvernement.

Les Shebabs ont récemment annoncé sa fusion avec Al-Qaïda et ont promis de continuer de lancer des attaques.

 

Source : http://www.djibtalk.com/readmorehead.php?newsid=7515

 

Création d'une unité conjointe de liaison et d’intégration AMISOM/TFG

05 avril 2012

Le chef de la division analyse de l’AMISOM, Fred Ngoga Gatereste, annonce que l’AMISOM et le TFG ont créé une unité conjointe de liaison et d’intégration afin de renforcer l’échange d’informations. « Le partage d’informations porte déjà ses fruits étant donné que les opérations conjointes de l’AMISOM et du TFG ont permis la défaite des terroristes d’Al Shebab dans la zone de Daynile avec des pertes minimes de notre côté. L’unité conjointe de liaison et d’intégration va encore plus renforcer notre coordination alors que nous libérons plus de territoires des terroristes d’Al Shebab », explique-t-il. (Source : UA)

Somalie : la marine danoise libère 12 otages

Par Europe1.fr avec AFP

Publié le 12 avril 2012

La marine danoise a annoncé jeudi avoir libéré douze otages iraniens et pakistanais et capturé seize pirates présumés lors de l'interception d'un bateau sur la côte est somalienne mercredi.

"Le navire de guerre Absalon a intercepté hier (mercredi) un bateau-mère pirate. 16 pirates présumés sont retenus. 12 otages du Pakistan et d'Iran ont été libérés", selon un communiqué de la marine danoise.

TOUJOURS LA QUETE D'AIDID TRES VIOLENTS COMBATS DANS LA CAPITALE SOMALIENNE, Vendredi 10 septembre 1993

Un hélicoptère américain au moins a tiré jeudi sur des femmes et des enfants à Mogadiscio lors de combats entre Casques bleus pakistanais et miliciens somaliens mêlés à la foule, a indiqué le porte-parole militaire de l'ONU, le major américain David Stockwell. Ces combats ont fait un nouveau mort chez les Pakistanais. L'intensité des combats et les armes utilisées laissent penser que les Somaliens ont eu beaucoup de morts, a déclaré le major Stockwell, alors que des témoins affirment qu'il y a eu «des dizaines de morts», 150 selon la faction d'Aïdid, surtout des femmes et des enfants.

Deux Pakistanais et trois Américains ont été blessés durant ce combat dans le sud de Mogadiscio, le plus important livré par les partisans du général Mohammad Farah Aïdid contre les Casques bleus depuis le début de l'Opération des Nations unies en Somalie (ONUSOM). Une centaine de soldats pakistanais, accompagnés de trois chars, quatre blindés de transport de troupes et un bulldozer conduit par des soldats américains, s'apprêtaient à détruire des barricades. Les Casques bleus ont été attaqués par un nombre exceptionnellement élevé de miliciens qui ont tiré des obus de 105 mm. Les Casques bleus ont riposté à l'arme lourde après qu'un de leurs chars eut été touché et incendié. Ils ont appelé la Force américaine d'action rapide à la rescousse avant de se replier dans leur camp. Selon le major Stockwell, les femmes et les enfants se trouvaient derrière un mur et lançaient sur les Pakistanais des grenades, ce qui en faisait, des «combattants», et justifiait les tirs américains.

Les Pakistanais sont repartis à l'attaque peu après avec le soutien d'hélicoptères et de fantassins américain qui sont brièvement intervenus avant d'être rappelés par leur commandement pour des raisons que le major Stockwell n'a pas été en mesure d'expliquer. (AFP.)

Source : archives.lesoir.be

UNITED STATES PSYOP IN SOMALIA (3/4)

Herbert A. Friedman

The UNITAF authority desired to reward certain Somalis who had been helpful to the United Nations forces. They printed a bright yellow cardboard "gift certificate" depicting the 21 flags of the coalition nations and English text on one side, and the flags of the United Nations and Somalia with the same message in both English and Somali text on the other side. The all-English text is, "The holder of this note is entitled to a bag of wheat, to be issued at the stadium complex. This Somali citizen has made a contribution to the Coalition forces by providing useful information. The information assisted Task Force Mogadishu with locating criminal elements, weapons cache sites, the surrendering of a personal weapon or crew served weapons. Treat this Somali citizen with respect and dignity. Authorized signature." The duplicate text on the mixed side of the card is, "Thank you for helping us make your city more peaceful. Please take this note to the Marines at the gate of Mogadishu stadium. You will receive wheat as a token of our gratitude. Consider us your friends. Together, with your assistance, we can make Mogadishu a peaceful city for the future of your children."

MEDCAP Booklet

Booklets and leaflets were also produced in support of MEDCAP. The booklets were printed in both English and Somali and addressed various health concerns, such as malaria, food sanitation, and hand washing. The booklet depicted above is an example of such a MEDCAP publication, designed by the Product Development Center, B Company, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) in support of Operation NATURAL FIRE, a joint operation between the U.S., Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania circa 1998 in East Africa. 

Among the oversized (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch) leaflets, one depicts a hospital on the front. The text in English is "UNOSOM II MEDCAP." People gather in front of the hospital protected by armed humvees. The back is all text and shows the flags of Somalia and the United Nations.

Another oversized leaflet is identical on front and back and depicts a doctor at the left and Somali text at the right

UNITAF newspaper RAJO (Hope)

We will now discuss the UNITAF newspaper RAJO. The 4th PSYOP Group booklet says about RAJO:

The daily Somali language newspaper RAJO was first published on 20 December 1992 printed on both sides of 8 1/2 x 14 inch paper. RAJO was distributed to every town and village where UNITAF was deployed…the JPOTF published up to 28,000 copies of RAJO daily; however, average daily publication quantities often did not exceed 15,000 copies because the supply of paper was limited and it was necessary to reduce wear and tear on the print presses.

UNITAF Somalia PSYOP Themes that were incorporated into RAJO included:

Explain that the UNITAF rules of engagement are applied fairly regardless of faction or position. Highlight that UNITAF does not support or favor any faction.

Reinforce that Somalia's problems can only be resolved by Somalis, that UNITAF and relief agencies can only assist the process. Highlight the roles and capabilities of the 22 nations participating in UNITAF, particularly those from Africa and the Islamic world. Highlight the seamless transition from UNITAF to United Nations Operations in Somalia; emphasizing that there will be no change in the rules of engagement or troop performance. Encourage displaced persons to return to their homes to harvest crops and plant fields. Highlight the redevelopment and re-establishment of Somalia's infrastructure. Highlight the agreements made by faction leaders and the consequences for violating those agreements. Focus on the disarmament, keeping everyone apprised of the progress in each Humanitarian Relief Sector.

PSYOP Soldier passes outcopies of RAJO on the streets of Kisymo, Somalia.

LTC Borchini comments:

Four days after the arrival of the main contingent of forces in Mogadishu, the JPOTF began publishing a daily newspaper and broadcasting a daily radio program — both called “Rajo,” which is Somali for “hope.” At the beginning of operations, the Rajo publishing and editorial staff included 4th PSYOP Group soldiers and civilian specialists as well as Somali linguists from the U.S. Rajo articles covered a number of relevant issues but generally focused on military operations to secure Mogadishu and each of the major towns, humanitarian relief provided to the famine areas, redevelopment efforts, hope for the future and analyses of the reconciliation and national-unity process.

Regular features included interviews with relief-agency staff, public-health information on treating common childhood diseases, the status of security in each humanitarian-relief sector, reports on rebuilding the educational system and judicial institutions, and forming local police forces and security councils. As a complement to the newspaper, the JPOTF established Radio Rajo, a 45-minute, Somali-language program transmitted twice daily on AM/medium wave, FM and shortwave. The program included readings from the Koran, Rajo newspaper articles, selections of Somali poetry and short stories, news about Africa, significant events throughout the world and Somali music. The programs broadcast over shortwave eventually reached every city and town in Somalia where UNITAF forces were located.

One of the most popular features of the newspaper was a cartoon devoted to the comments and the observations of a Somali man named Celmi (after the U.S. Navy sailor who was born in Somalia and served as a linguist for the JPOTF) and his wise friend, the camel Mandeeq. The dialogue between these two characters reinforced various PSYOP themes and described specific aspects of the UNITAF mission.

Barton Gellmann discussed the newspaper RAJO in an article entitled "GIs Edit Daily to Tranquilize Mogadishu" in The Washington Post, 24 December 1992. He says in part:

Specialist Jeffrey Hood, a cartoonist, draws a daily strip featuring a young man named Celmi and his camel Maandeeq. ‘Originally I was going to use a donkey but it turns out that certain clans are associated with donkeys, and others aren't, and we don't want to get into that.’ ‘Hey, what is that?’ the camel asks in the first cartoon of the series. ‘It is a leaflet. It says that the combined task force is here to protect supplies for the Somali people,’ Celmi replies. ‘Oh, that is good. There has been enough suffering already’." The author points out that some Somali gunmen were not impressed. "Look here," says one, outraged, "Here is the camel and here is the man. They are talking. They are saying that we are like animals."

The 4th PSYOP booklet mentions the use of radio as a PSYOP medium.

As a compliment to the RAJO newspaper, the JPOTF established a radio station on the US Embassy compound. Radio RAJO conducted a 45-minute Somali language broadcast twice daily on AM, FM, and short wave. The program included a reading from the Koran, a reading of the RAJO newspaper articles, selections of Somali poetry and short stories, news about Africa, significant events throughout the world, and Somali music. After extensive antenna adjustments, the radio programs broadcasted over short wave eventually reached every city and town in Somalia where UNITAF forces were deployed. Guided by a broadcast journalist from the 4th PSYOP Group's PSYOP Dissemination Battalion (PDB), Somali staff members, PSYOP specialists and civilian analysts worked together to develop articles. For example, to encourage Somali clans to put aside their differences and rebuild their country, JPOTF staff members traveled to Marka where they interviewed President Abdullah Usmaan, Somalia's first head of state and an important symbol of national unity. Excerpts from his interview were published in the RAJO newspaper and broadcast over the radio.

The quality of the PSYOP radio improved with the arrival of Abdullah Omar Mohammed. He was a naturalized citizen who was born in Mogadishu, and a contract interpreter for the State Department. He told the Americans not to broadcast a weather report. Weather comes from Allah, and it would be presumptuous for the Americans to attempt to guess what God might do next. He also insisted that the broadcasts start with a passage from the Koran. The station then played a Somali song and the local news. After that, the station played upbeat American music, which was a favorite of many Somalis.

Radio Rajo began broadcasting with 600 watts. It was first heard on 1480 kHz but in January 1993 was heard on the short-wave frequency 9540 kHz.  The humanitarian mission was multinational so the station later identified itself as the "Voice of the United Task Force." When UNOSOM II took over the station it became Radio Manta (Today) broadcasting on both the old frequency of 9540 kHz as well as 6170 kHz. Italian psychological operations troops also broadcast Radio Ibis on 89.7 MHZ FM.

In the book Battle Ready, by Tom Clancy, with General Tony Zinni (Ret) and Tony Koltz, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, NY, 2004, General Tony Zinni (Ret.), Director of Operations, Somalia Task Force, 1992-1993 and Commander of the Combined Task Force protecting the withdrawal of UN Forces from Somalia in 1993 wrote:

One of my responsibilities was to coordinate our psychological and tactical operations.

Though there were plenty of sources of "information," the Somalis had little access to accurate news accounts. Most Somali news sources -- notably, Aideed's--,were nothing but propaganda ... much of it inflammatory. We published leaflets and a newspaper, and set up a radio station, to counter the lies. The paper and radio station, which were called "Rajo"--"hope" in Somali--made Aideed very unhappy; and he counterattacked through his own radio station. A period of "radio wars" ensued.

When he summoned me to his compound to complain about our broadcasts, I told him we’d tone down our broadcasts when he toned down his own inflammatory rhetoric. He agreed.

Another victory for nonviolent engagement.

According to Dr. Robert Cialdini of Arizona State University, Aideed had an understanding of PSYOP:

Somali warlord Mohammed Aideed … distributed toy rifles to Somali children, hoping that some would be mistaken for real rifles by UN troops, prompting them to fire on Somali children, which would make great propaganda against UN troops. The UN recognized this danger and ran influence campaigns, which were unsuccessful in convincing Somali parents to turn in the toy guns. It was only when the head of the Somali Women’s Organization, who was trusted in the community, urged their surrender that the toy guns were turned in.

The Italian PSYOP Contingent

The Italian military contingent in Somalia produced PSYOP leaflets, newspapers and radio broadcasts. Lieutenant Colonel Charles P. Borchini said more about the Italian PSYOP campaign in his personal monograph "Psychological Operations Support for Operation Restore Hope." He says:

The Italian forces came to Somalia confident in their ability to deal with the Somali people. Based on their historical relations, many Somalis spoke Italian, and the Italians believed that they would have a special relationship with the Somalis. This probably was true to some extent.

I paid the Italian force headquarters a visit. I met their Civil Affairs and PSYOP officer...He showed me several leaflets they had designed, translated into Somali and printed in Italy. They were color, high quality products, that used the phrase "help us to help you" that we adopted and used. One of the leaflets pictured an Italian doctor and nurse treating a baby; however, the baby they were treating was white. We discussed the issue that all PSYOP products must be approved through the J3 (Operations) to insure a singularly focused, well coordinated PSYOP effort, and how we could produce any PSYOP product they needed.

Borchini adds that the Italians also produced a bi-weekly newspaper for distribution in Mogadishu. The Italians had their own radio station, and although once again the Americans worried that they were producing independent PSYOP that might go against the JTF scheme, it turned out that, the station only broadcast music and messages from Italy for the Italian armed forces. The few messages that they did send to the Somali people were concerning medical treatment and vaccinations.

About the Italian operation Borchini concludes:

Although my initial feelings were that only the JTF should produce leaflets or a newspaper, or run a radio station, the intent of the Italians was pure. They wanted only to foster good relationships and promote peace, security and development in Somalia. Through close coordination, we were able to harness their efforts along with ours to maximize the overall PSYOP impact.

The German PSYOP Contingent

This German operation is discussed in an interesting 1999 British Joint Services Command and Staff Defense Research Paper by Chef de Bataillon, M. E. Limon. He says in part:

The German PSYOP organization is Das Fernmeldebataillon 950 Operative Information (FmBtl 950-OpInfo). This battalion, based in Andernach, consists of 709 regular personnel. The Battalion consists of a Headquarters Company; Company Two produces radio and television programs (live or video); Company Three provides all printing capabilities; and Company Four provides loudspeaker teams. A 93-man “Quick Reaction Force” is kept on alert. The Germans normally deploy a small number of personnel to the theater of war, while all the PSYOP products are planned and designed in the Germany-based Headquarters Company. Their mission was to explain the role and objectives of the German forces to the local population, to explain the objectives of the UNOSOM II forces, and to maintain morale of the German troops.

The German element deployed to Somalia was composed of 20 personnel in three teams; a functional Headquarters (4 personnel), a printed products team (12 personnel), and a loudspeaker team (4 personnel and four loudspeaker trucks).

The OpInfo Battalion printed 16,000 copies a week of the newspaper IRRIDA NABADA (“The Gates of Peace”). In addition, they printed 87,000 leaflets and 4,500 posters, many on the subject of landmine awareness. They regularly took part in loudspeaker broadcasts and produced a weekly 45 minute radio program. The personnel remaining in Germany produced leaflets and pocket guides for the German soldiers and 118 hours of radio programs to maintain the morale of their personnel.

The German PSYOP unit explains its Somalia responsibilities thusly:

UNOSOM was the first UN deployment for the PSYOPS forces: From 19 to 29 May 1993 the first two soldiers of Signal Battalion 950 were on duty as a reconnaissance and advance party of the German support unit in Somalia.

On the basis of the reconnaissance results the battalion was assigned the following mission:

1. Distribute information on the mission of the German UN forces among the Somali population.

2. Support non-violent resolution of conflicts.

3. Support troops by providing field postcards and special postmarks and broadcasts by “Radio Andernach” from Andernach, Germany.

4. Produce target audience radio programs for the Somali population to support and explain the UNOSOM II mission.

Originally, this mission was to be carried out by 19 soldiers. As it was impossible to support non-violent resolution of conflicts without the use of loudspeakers, a loudspeaker team of 4 was added.

In the course of the deployment, numerous products were produced by the PSYOPS forces, including flyers, posters and newspapers such as “Gateway to Peace” for the Somali population.

The first UN deployment in the history of Signal Battalion 950 ended on 23 March 1994 with the final parade and deactivation ceremony for the support unit in Köln-Wahn.

PSYOP Loudspeaker Humvee with Patrol

The 4th PSYOP booklet also mentions the use of loudspeaker teams in Somalia,

From the initial landing on the beach at Mogadishu to the transition to UNOSOM II, the eight loudspeaker teams participating in Operation Restore Hope faced many different challenges. The loudspeaker teams broadcasted numerous messages, including surrender appeals, instructions during weapons sweeps and at roadblocks and announcements to organize crowds at feeding sites. Loudspeaker teams also distributed the UNITAF newspaper RAJO in many of the major towns and villages in each humanitarian relief sector.

As loudspeaker teams were attached to Army and Marine forces in each of the humanitarian service sectors, they were given the responsibility and authority to request specific leaflets based on the situation confronting each maneuver commander

The heliborne PSYOP personnel also disseminated leaflets informing the people of Mogadishu that the objective of the operation was to improve security in the city. It was earlier noted that children liked to chase the leaflets, which also provided a simple and effective way to draw them out of the way of the potentially dangerous areas being searched.

UNOSOM II

UNITAF was a moderate success. Most Somalis were being fed and there was a reasonable amount of law and order within the country. The United Nations was not satisfied. Besides the earlier ongoing missions, UNOSOM II was also entrusted with assisting the Somali people in rebuilding their economy and social and political life, re-establishing the country's institutional structure, achieving national political reconciliation, recreating a Somali State based on democratic governance and rehabilitating the country's economy and infrastructure. Force was authorized. The mission that started with feeding the Somali people and protecting food convoys had become one of building a new society. This is sometimes called "mission creep." That required the neutralization of the warlords, and would lead directly to the American military disaster popularly depicted in the book and movie "Blackhawk Down."

But first, we must mention a lesser known loss of a Blackhawk helicopter that led directly to a PSYOP leaflet being prepared and dropped over Mogadishu. 

Somali Militiamen on wreckage of “Courage 53”

At 0200 on 25 September 1993, during a night reconnaissance mission over Mogadishu, a 101st Airborne Division UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with the call sign "Courage 53" was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. The explosion ignited the fuel and brought down the aircraft. As the helicopter fell from the sky in flames, the pilot tried to steer it toward friendly forces occupying the seaport. Instead, the helicopter hit the top of a building and then fell to the ground and skidded over a hundred yards before it came to rest against an embankment.

PFC Matthew K. Anderson, SGT Ferdinan C. Richardson, and SGT Eugene Williams were killed in the fiery crash. Chief Warrant Officer Dale Shrader the pilot, and Chief Warrant Officer Perry Alliman the co-pilot, survived the crash.

Shrader's arm was broken and Alliman was badly burned and blinded. Somali militiamen rushed to the scene and opened fire on the two Americans with AK-47s and hand grenades. Shrader fought them off and killed at least one attacker. In the midst of the firefight a friendly Somali approached the two Americans waving a flashlight and yelling “American boys!” They had no choice but to trust him. He led Alliman and Shrader to a nearby United Arab Emirates unit that was securing the seaport. That Somali saved their lives.

“Thank you Mogadishu” leaflet

After the attack, in an attempt to foster friendship with the Somali people, UNOSOM printed a leaflet thanking the good citizens of Mogadishu for their help in rescuing the two Americans. The front of the leaflet depicts the downed helicopter, the two injured pilots, the Somali that guided them and others who point the way to safety. Text on the back is:

Thank you Mogadishu. Three UNOSOM soldiers died during the attack on a helicopter last Saturday. But other UNOSOM soldiers were saved by the actions of the brave Somali rescuers. These rescuers are heroes, and UNOSOM salutes them. Their actions bring great honor on themselves and Somalia. 

Michael Clauss who served in Somalia from July 1993 to March 1994 as a sergeant (E5) with the 10th Aviation Brigade (10th Mountain Division) in the Quick Reaction Force S-2 (intelligence section) adds:

We eventually found the Somali who helped the crew and offered him a reward. He asked for a job instead.

In May 1993, all the parties involved in the civil war agreed to a disarmament conference proposed by Mohammed Farah Aideed, the leading Somali warlord. However, on 5 June, 24 Pakistani troops in the UN forces were killed in an ambush in an area of Mogadishu controlled by Aideed. On 8 August his forces detonated a mine under a passing U.S. Military Police vehicle on

Jialle-Siaad Street

in Mogadishu killing four U.S. MPs. The UN passed resolution 837 calling for the arrest of all involved. On 22 August Task Force Ranger deployed to Somalia under the name Operation Gothic Serpent. The Task Force was made up of U. S. Army Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 130 members of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment (Delta Force), and 16 helicopters from the 160th Special Operations Regiment (Night Stalkers). During August and September 1993, the task force conducted six missions into Mogadishu, all of which were tactical successes, although in one instance the task force members mistakenly raided an unlisted UN facility and temporarily restrained some UN employees.

On the afternoon of 3 October 1993, the task force received intelligence that foreign minister Omar Salad and top political advisor Mohamed Hassan Awale, two of Aideed's Habr Gidr clan leaders, were in central Mogadishu. The task force sent 19 aircraft, 12 vehicles, and 160 men to arrest them under Operation Irene. The two leaders were quickly arrested along with a number of other suspects. During the action, two MH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were struck by rocket propelled grenades and crashed. The end result was a 15-hour pitched battle that resulted in 18 American combat deaths and 73 wounded in action. The Somalis desecrated the bodies of the American soldiers and television stations around the world broadcast the scenes. The soldiers could not be rescued by tanks or heavy armored vehicles because Clinton Defense Secretary Les Aspin had personally turned down repeated requests for heavier armor, believing that the sight of such weapons would make the Americans appear to be on a mission of conquest rather than peacekeeping. One American, Chief Warrant Office Mike Durant was taken hostage, but was returned to American forces on 14 October 1993. Operation Gothic Serpent ended on 13 October 1993. Following these events, the United States reinforced its Quick Reaction Force with a joint task force consisting of air, naval and ground forces equipped with M1A1 tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. At the same time, United States President William Clinton announced the intention of the United States to withdraw its forces from Somalia by 31 March 1994. Secretary Aspin resigned under fire at the end of 1993.

To be continued

Source : http://www.psywarrior.com/SomaliaHerb.html

L’armée iranienne libère un cargo détourné par des pirates somaliens aux Maldives

 jeudi 12 avril 2012

Par RFI

Des pirates somaliens s’étaient emparés en mars dernier d'un cargo iranien battant pavillon bolivien et de ses 23 membres d'équipage, dans la zone économique exclusive des Maldives. Une opération de l'armée iranienne a permis de libérer le cargo et ses survivants. Huit marins philippins sont rentrés chez eux. Ils racontent comment cette opération s’est déroulée.

Avec notre correspondant à Manille, Gabriel Kahn

Ces huit marins font partie de l’équipage de 23 personnes qui étaient à bord du navire iranien Eglantine quand il a été pris par des pirates somaliens le 26 mars dernier dans l’océan Indien, au large des Maldives. Ce bateau de transport de marchandises a été repris aux pirates quelques jours plus tard au cours d’une opération musclée de l’armée iranienne.

Les survivants ont été accueillis en grande pompe lors de leur arrivé à Manille et l’un d’eux a brièvement décrit les circonstances de cette opération. « La marine iranienne a repris le navire aux pirates après avoir tiré plus de 80 000 balles. Nous pensions que nous allions tous être tués. Aujourd’hui, nous sommes contents d’être ici sains et saufs, malheureusement deux d’entre nous sont morts durant cette opération ».

Selon le département des Affaires étrangères philippins, les pirates auraient tenté d’utiliser l’équipage comme bouclier humain durant les échanges de tirs. L’un des Philippins a été touché à la tête, le second serait mort étouffé dans la salle des machines. Environ 350 000 Philippins travaillent embarqués dans des bateaux à travers le monde.

Source : http://www.rfi.fr/asie-pacifique/20120412-armee-iranienne-libere-cargo-detourne-pirates-somaliens-maldives