Word: somali
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...rising tension is forcing American commanders to tighten the rules on confiscating Somali weapons. Until now, the troops have seized arms displayed openly and with hostile intent. Now the U.S. military is promising to take a more aggressive role in ridding Somalia of the heavier weapons and the "technicals" -- gun-equipped pickup trucks -- that have terrified the populace for the past two years. "Heavy weapons will be removed voluntarily or, if necessary, by force," a senior U.S. official told Reuters. "From now on, we're going to be doing more enforcement." That will still leave untold numbers of small arms...
...commanders said their troops were moving faster than expected because there had been no opposition from Somali clan militias and armed gangs. Under an agreement with clan leaders, their heavy weapons -- trucks and jeeps mounted with cannon and machine guns -- are withdrawing from towns the multinational force controls...
...know three guys in Mog who got written proposals of marriage from Somali women...
Only an "outside authority" can disarm Somalia, says 56-year-old Ahmed Jama, a former Somali national police chief. "We are unable -- or unwilling -- to disarm ourselves. The best authority, which has the goodwill of the Somali people, is the American soldiers." He thinks it would take four to six months for "total disarmament." If the U.S. proves unwilling to undertake this part of its mission, then the result will be like the end of the Gulf War -- a job half done...
Under the blazing morning sun a hodgepodge of military vehicles falls into sloppy formation on the dunes near the Mogadishu airport. Somali children sneak through shell holes in a wall to beg for food and baksheesh. Marines shoot souvenir snapshots of each other as the convoy slowly takes shape...