    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
    [May 5, 1993]
    [Pages 565-566]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 565]]

    Remarks on Welcoming Military Personnel Returning From Somalia
    May 5, 1993

        To all of our distinguished guests from all the services, to General
    Powell and the Joint Chiefs, Secretary Aspin, Mr. Vice President, ladies
    and gentlemen, and especially to General Johnston and the men and women
    of the Unified Task Force in Somalia.
        General Johnston has just reported to me: Mission accomplished. And
    so, on behalf of all the American people, I say to you, General, and to
    all whom you brought with you: Welcome home, and thank you for a job
    very, very well done.
        You represent the thousands who served in this crucial operation, in
    the First Marine Expeditionary Force, in the Army 10th Mountain
    Division, aboard the Navy's Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, in the Air
    Force and Air National Guard airlift squadrons, and in other units in
    each of our services. Over 30,000 American military personnel served at
    sometime in these last 5 months in Somalia. And serving alongside you
    were thousands of others from 20 nations.
        Although your mission was humanitarian and not combat, you
    nonetheless faced difficult and dangerous conditions. You sometimes were
    subjected to abuse and forced to dodge rocks and even bullets. You saw
    firsthand the horror of hunger, disease, and death. But you pressed on
    with what you set out to do, and you were successful. You have served in
    the best tradition of the Armed Forces of the United States, and you
    have made the American people very, very proud.
        In the weeks to come, we will formally recognize the contributions
    of those who participated in Operation Restore Hope. But earlier today,
    to honor their accomplishments and that of all who supported that
    effort, I awarded to General Johnston the Defense Distinguished Service
    Medal in recognition not only of his extraordinary service but also of
    all those who served with him so well. Thank you all for your dedicated
    work.
        To understand the magnitude of what our forces in Somalia
    accomplished, the world need only look back at Somalia's condition just
    6 months ago. Hundreds of thousands of people were starving; armed
    anarchy ruled the land and the streets of every city and town. Today,
    food is flowing; crops are growing; schools and hospitals are reopening.
    Although there is still much to be done if enduring peace is to prevail,
    one can now envision a day when Somalia will be reconstructed as a
    functioning civil society.
        If all of you who served had not gone, it is absolutely certain that
    tens of thousands would have died by now. You saved their lives. You
    gave the people of Somalia the opportunity to look beyond starvation and
    focus on their future and the future of their children. Although you
    went on a mission of peace, eight Americans did not return. We salute
    each of them. We thank them and their families. America will never
    forget what they did or what they gave. To their loved ones we extend
    our hearts and our prayers.
        As we honor the service of those who have returned and those who did
    not, it is fitting that we reflect on what the successful mission
    signifies for the future. This, the largest humanitarian relief
    operation in history, has written an important new chapter in the
    international annals of peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance.
        You have shown that the work of the just can prevail over the arms
    of the warlords. You have demonstrated that the world is ready to
    mobilize its resources in new ways to face the challenges of a new age.
    And you have proved yet again that American leadership can help to
    mobilize international action to create a better world.
        You also leave behind a U.N. peacekeeping force with a significant
    American component. This force is a reflection of the new era we have
    entered, for it has Americans participating in new ways. Just hours ago,
    General Johnston turned over command to General Bir of Turkey as UNTAF
    became UNOSOM II. You set the stage and made it possible for that force
    to do its mission and for the Somalis to complete the work of rebuilding
    and creating a peaceful, self-sustaining, and democratic civil society.
        Your successful return reminds us that other missions lie ahead for
    our Nation. Some we can foresee, and others we cannot. As always we
    stand ready to defend our interests, working with others where possible
    and by ourselves

    [[Page 566]]

    where necessary. But increasingly in this new era, we will need to work
    with an array of multinational partners, often in new arrangements. You
    have proved again that that is possible. You have proved again that our
    involvement in multilateral efforts need not be open-ended or ill-
    defined, that we can go abroad and accomplish some distinct objectives,
    and then come home again when the mission is accomplished.
        Some will ask why, if the cold war ended, we must still support the
    world's greatest military forces, the kind that General Johnston and his
    comrades represent. I say it is because we still have interests; we
    still face threats; we still have responsibilities. The world has not
    seen the end of evil, and America can lead other countries to share more
    of the responsibilities that they ought to be shouldering.
        Some will ask why we must so often be the one to lead. Well, of
    course we cannot be the world's policeman, but we are, and we must
    continue to be, the world's leader. That is the job of the United States
    of America. And so today, America opens its arms in a hearty welcome
    home.
        General, to you and all the men and women who served with you, you
    have the admiration of the world and the thanks of your country for
    continuing the tradition of our Armed Forces and the values that make us
    proud to be Americans and for proving that we can lead and serve in new
    ways in a new world.
        In the words of the Scriptures: Blessed are the peacemakers. Thank
    you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:37 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Lt. Gen. Robert B. Johnston, USMC,
    commander, Operation Restore Hope.