[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[December 4, 1992]
[Pages 2174-2176]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Address to the Nation on the Situation in Somalia
December 4, 1992

    I want to talk to you today about the tragedy in Somalia and about a 
mission that can ease suffering and save lives. Every American has seen 
the shocking images from Somalia. The scope of suffering there is hard 
to imagine. Already, over a quarter-million people, as many people as 
live in Buffalo, New York, have died in the Somali famine. In the months 
ahead 5 times that number, 1\1/2\ million people, could starve to death.
    For many months now, the United States has been actively engaged in 
the massive international relief effort to ease Somalia's suffering. All 
told, America has sent Somalia 200,000 tons of food, more than half the 
world total. This summer, the distribution system 
broke down. Truck convoys from So- malia's ports were blocked. 
Sufficient food

[[Page 2175]]

failed to reach the starving in the interior of Somalia.
    So in August, we took additional action. In concert with the United 
Nations, we sent in the U.S. Air Force to help fly food to the towns. To 
date, American pilots have flown over 1,400 flights, delivering over 
17,000 tons of food aid. And when the U.N. authorized 3,500 U.N. guards 
to protect the relief operation, we flew in the first of them, 500 
soldiers from Pakistan.
    But in the months since then, the security situation has grown 
worse. The U.N. has been prevented from deploying its initial commitment 
of troops. In many cases, food from relief flights is being looted upon 
landing; food convoys have been hijacked; aid workers assaulted; ships 
with food have been subject to artillery attacks that prevented them 
from docking. There is no government in Somalia. Law and order have 
broken down. Anarchy prevails.
    One image tells the story. Imagine 7,000 tons of food aid literally 
bursting out of a warehouse on a dock in Mogadishu, while Somalis starve 
less than a kilometer away because relief workers cannot run the 
gauntlet of armed gangs roving the city. Confronted with these 
conditions, relief groups called for outside troops to provide security 
so they could feed people. It's now clear that military support is 
necessary to ensure the safe delivery of the food Somalis need to 
survive.
    It was this situation which led us to tell the United Nations that 
the United States would be willing to provide more help to enable relief 
to be delivered. Last night the United Nations Security Council, by 
unanimous vote and after the tireless efforts of Secretary-General 
Boutros-Ghali, welcomed the United States offer to lead a coalition to 
get the food through.
    After consulting with my advisers, with world leaders, and the 
congressional leadership, I have today told Secretary-General Boutros-
Ghali that America will answer the call. I have given the order to 
Secretary Cheney to move a substantial American force into Somalia. As I 
speak, a Marine amphibious ready group, which we maintain at sea, is 
offshore Mogadishu. These troops will be joined by elements of the 1st 
Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California, and 
by the Army's 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York. These 
and other American forces will assist in Operation Restore Hope. They 
are America's finest. They will perform this mission with courage and 
compassion, and they will succeed.
    The people of Somalia, especially the children of Somalia, need our 
help. We're able to ease their suffering. We must help them live. We 
must give them hope. America must act.
    In taking this action, I want to emphasize that I understand the 
United States alone cannot right the world's wrongs. But we also know 
that some crises in the world cannot be resolved without American 
involvement, that American action is often necessary as a catalyst for 
broader involvement of the community of nations. Only the United States 
has the global reach to place a large security force on the ground in 
such a distant place quickly and efficiently and thus save thousands of 
innocents from death.
    We will not, however, be acting alone. I expect forces from about a 
dozen countries to join us in this mission. When we see Somalia's 
children starving, all of America hurts. We've tried to help in many 
ways. And make no mistake about it, now we and our allies will ensure 
that aid gets through. Here is what we and our coalition partners will 
do:
    First, we will create a secure environment in the hardest hit parts 
of Somalia, so that food can move from ships over land to the people in 
the countryside now devastated by starvation.
    Second, once we have created that secure environment, we will 
withdraw our troops, handing the security mission back to a regular U.N. 
peacekeeping force. Our mission has a limited objective: To open the 
supply routes, to get the food moving, and to prepare the way for a U.N. 
peacekeeping force to keep it moving. This operation is not open-ended. 
We will not stay one day longer than is absolutely necessary.
    Let me be very clear: Our mission is humanitarian, but we will not 
tolerate armed gangs ripping off their own people, condemning them to 
death by starvation. Gen-

[[Page 2176]]

eral Hoar and his troops have the authority to take whatever military 
action is necessary to safeguard the lives of our troops and the lives 
of Somalia's people. The outlaw elements in Somalia must understand this 
is serious business. We will accomplish our mission. We have no intent 
to remain in Somalia with fighting forces, but we are determined to do 
it right, to secure an environment that will allow food to get to the 
starving people of Somalia.
    To the people of Somalia I promise this: We do not plan to dictate 
political outcomes. We respect your sovereignty and independence. Based 
on my conversations with other coalition leaders, I can state with 
confidence: We come to your country for one reason only, to enable the 
starving to be fed.
    Let me say to the men and women of our Armed Forces: We are asking 
you to do a difficult and dangerous job. As Commander in Chief I assure 
you, you will have our full support to get the job done, and we will 
bring you home as soon as possible.
    Finally, let me close with a message to the families of the men and 
women who take part in this mission: I understand it is difficult to see 
your loved ones go, to send them off knowing they will not be home for 
the holidays, but the humanitarian mission they undertake is in the 
finest traditions of service. So, to every sailor, soldier, airman, and 
marine who is involved in this mission, let me say, you're doing God's 
work. We will not fail.
    Thank you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 12:32 p.m. from the Oval Office at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, USMC, 
commander in chief, U.S. Central Command. The address was broadcast live 
on nationwide radio and television.