Italians in Somalia-part 2

[easyand]

Other pics of Folgore parachute brigade in Somalia

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush2.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush3.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush4.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush5.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush6.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/bush7.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/diario2.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/diario4.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/diario6.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/ilnostro6.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/itala3.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/itala4.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/m60c.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/m60e.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/moga.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/moga2.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/moga3.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/random_image.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/som.jpg

http://ssos.altervista.org/timor/som2.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/folgore4a/Mangusta.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/folgore4a/Somalia31.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/folgore4a/Blindo.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/folgore4a/Entrata%204a%20cp%20Falchi.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/folgore4a/Trasferimento%20a%20Mogadiscio.jpg

[ZeroPositive]

What was the track record of the Italians in Somalia?
I read in the book Blackhawk Down they would warn the Somali's of the American Raids?
Cool photos

[seruriermarshal]

Great pic , I like A129 !

[easyand]

excuse me but I can't understand "track record" :oops:

[ZeroPositive]

as in how they performed etc...
sorry mate don't mean anything bad just wondering how they did in Somalia.

[FB]

What was the track record of the Italians in Somalia?
I read in the book Blackhawk Down they would warn the Somali's of the American Raids?
Cool photos

This sort of accusation (completely false) stems from the not so idilliac relations that characterized the Italians and the Americans down there, and that is strange because normally is quite the other way around. I think that generally speaking all the Somali mission was flawed at its root by several widespread misunderstandings about the mission's aim, the UN role in it, who was in charge of what, political (VERY heavy) pressures on the Military (each Country on its contingent). All this on top of a ready to explode bomb type of Country, Somalia, with all its factions, bosses, religions, tribes, nationalities etc. To this it must be added what IMHO is easely not taken in full consideration, if not merely forgotten: Somalia was an Italian Colony first, and Italy was its Fiducial Administrator until Jul 1st, 1960. In Somalia still lives a Community of Italians, albeit small (and probably in this community lives some not so "clean" subject as the sad affaire of the Italian journalist Ilaria Alpi has probably shown), but with very deep connections into the Somali world. Also our Secret Services (both civilian and military) are said to have some good grips down there, and all this comes from when Somalia was a colony.

As far as the Italian conduct down there, we had our fair share of deaths and wounded. The main clash was the one named after the location it took place: Check Point Pasta, in Mogadishu. There's a thread about in this forum.

Best regards

[easyand]

I' ve heard that the US command didn't called in support the italian forces during the battle of the "black hawk down" because there was enmity between Italian and US commanders.
sad story but probably is true

[ZeroPositive]

Cheers was just wondering, as in the Book BHD the author mentions the raids were hampered by many things and one of them was the Italians warning the Somali's as they felt responsible or guilty something like that.

No offence intended.

Cheers.

[easyand]

I wasn't here and I don't know exatly what happened but a lot of strange (bad?) things happened in Somalia.....

[FB]

Cheers was just wondering, as in the Book BHD the author mentions the raids were hampered by many things and one of them was the Italians warning the Somali's as they felt responsible or guilty something like that.

No offence intended.

Cheers.

No offence taken. I knew about those allusions in the book but simply do not believe them.

On the other hand, as easyand has said, strange things happened down there. I remember that the USA did not see with favor the presence of the Italians in the Multinational Force, when the idea of going there was still in project. Again: the relationship between USA and Italian military was not idilliac in Somalia, and that is strange. Probably hard feelings are still alive in those who were there, being them Italians or USA. One of the reasons for their not getting along very well is the different approach that the Italians and the Americans took when they got there. The Italians could draw upon past experiences in that very country, and very probably contacted the very same people that they knew when they were there as "masters" first and administrators (under UN rule) after. In a word they choose a referent knowing all too well that the country is not controllable without having some friends. This is more or less what they did when they entered the Country during the XIX century. On the other hand it is possible that the Americans did not see with great favor this approach.

Anyway all that mission, albeit born under good intentions, ended up in a failure. This is, above all, the saddest thing, also considering the number of good guys that died there.

best regards

[centa]

someboby said that the bad relationships in somalia between italians and USA were created by the conflicts by C.I.A. and Italian military intelligence for the control of abusive hi-toxic garbage yards.
A GLADIO member ( the italian Stay Behind organisation created for fight during an Hipotetichal soviet invasion of Italy), during an interview on an Italian channel, said that US were disappointed cause it's hi-toxic garbage trucks from US were still destroyed by somalis militia . Somalia became the world's hi-toxic garbage store. Italy maybe had protection or support for it's illegal convoies, USA didn't.
but it's just a voice....

[M1A2U2]

Italians were the first to offer help when the found out about the black hawks going down. They were suiting up and getting ready to go but the Americans refused the help.

[jasonglh]

M1A2U2 were you in Somalia? I see your location is the Pasta Factory as well.