Chapter 406
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: General Aidid
Rewind the clock a bit to 1992, when the world was focused on the U.S. presidential election. Somalia was suffering from a historic drought on top of the nightmare of civil war.
The disaster was so horrific that over a million civilians starved to death, drawing attention from the international community.
"Save the civilians first. Stop the power struggles!"
The UN issued recommendations, but the rebels wouldn't even listen with half an ear.
"What can you do if we ignore you? You're just parrots who know how to spout pretty words."
The UN first dispatched observers to monitor a rebel ceasefire.
But when the rebels didn't bat an eye at these measures, the UN ended up sending in large-scale armed forces and supply units.
Most of these troops came from Third World countries.
"It's our neighbors' problem anyway, and it affects peace in the Indian Ocean, doesn't it?"
With the intervention of Third World nations, some semblance of order began to take hold in areas like Mogadishu.
Assassinations started to drop dramatically from that point on.
For a moment, it seemed Somalia's catastrophe was easing.
It was an illusion.
"What? The UN guys have food? Then we take it by force!"
Somalia's warlords attacked UN food distribution sites and looted the supplies.
The UN forces were powerless against the rebel raids.
"We cannot permit engagements."
Third World countries vented their frustration at the UN's directives.
Having tasted success, the rebels—now seeing the food crisis easing—demanded the UN withdraw and hand back Mogadishu Airport, which was under UN control.
"We can't do that."
When the UN rejected the demand, rebel leader General Aidid attacked an Indian base—one of the Third World contingents.
This attack prompted the UN to request reinforcements from the major powers.
This happened in November 1992.
The U.S. took a passive stance on the issue.
"Most of Somalia's neighbors aren't even our allies anyway."
While the U.S. stayed hands-off, Korea took an active approach.
"If Washington won't shoulder the world's police duties, then we have to step up."
Korea's intervention in Somalia was to secure the safety of Third World allies Yemen and Kenya.
Korea dispatched 8,000 rapid-response troops, including Marines, in response to the UN's call.
Aidid was temporarily cowed by Korea's massive involvement.
"Better keep my mouth shut for now."
Taking advantage of the quiet from General Aidid and the Somali rebels, the UN resumed food deliveries.
But Korea anticipated this wouldn't last.
"We can't garrison there forever, so it's only a matter of time before the rebels change their tune."
So, eliminate Aidid while they had the muscle.
Korean forces steadily tracked Aidid's location through communications intercepts.
Korean early-warning aircraft were always in Somalia's skies.
"Call duration was 25 seconds again."
"Damn it."
Korean forces had the tech to track via radio intercepts, but they needed 30 seconds or more for a precise fix.
Koreans grew irritated seeing how rigorously Aidid maintained comms security.
In truth, Aidid wasn't special in this regard.
Keeping phone calls short to thwart intercepts was common knowledge by now.
Even drug cartels knew it— no way the rebel leader controlling a country didn't.
Korean forces garrisoned through the summer of 1993, waiting for openings, but Aidid never gave them one.
He always kept calls under 30 seconds, changing phones and locations each time with shrewd caution.
The tug-of-war ended in August.
With Pyongyang's attention shifting to Yugoslavia, Korean forces began withdrawal operations from Somalia.
"Pull out."
With the naval fleet that had been providing offshore support moving to the Mediterranean, withdrawal was inevitable.
Korean forces left a small contingent to remain as part of the UN force and pulled out the rest.
Of course, Pyongyang wasn't completely indifferent to Somalia.
"Keep surveilling Aidid."
Separate from the withdrawal, the Korean government continued launching early-warning aircraft from Kenya.
In case they needed to launch the Aidid elimination op.
Once Korean forces withdrew, rebel leader Aidid bared his teeth without restraint.
"Without the Koreans, the UN is nothing."
Aidid, who had stayed quiet while Korea was there, resumed clashes with UN forces.
"What the hell are the UN rules? Just watch them provoke us?"
When Third World countries blew up, the UN reluctantly approved response options.
Peacekeepers led by Third World nations began using force against Aidid.
But Aidid, who had diligently built up his strength in the meantime, didn't yield easily.
Especially since he had child soldiers addicted to khat—like a drug to them.
The UN underestimated this and took heavy losses.
"Your route is obvious. Have a taste."
UN forces fell into Aidid's ambushes, suffering significant casualties.
With things like this, Third World countries decided they couldn't afford more losses and began pulling out.
Even nations like Pakistan, who joined for UN stipends, were no exception.
As countries withdrew, the UN once again begged the major powers to intervene.
This time, Korea took a negative stance.
"If we send in a small force alone, we'll just bleed."
Korea officially announced it wouldn't intervene.
Hearing this, Aidid triumphantly declared victory.
"The invading UN has retreated. Somalia's fate will be decided by Somalis alone."
But Korea had no intention of letting it go.
"If we abandon this, Kenya and Yemen might waver."
Korea pretended to wash its hands of Aidid, but kept tracking him from the air.
The Air Force secretly moved fighter-bombers to Kenya for a decapitation strike on Aidid.
Unaware of this, the world was convinced Pyongyang had completely backed off Aidid.
With everyone around believing it, Aidid thought Korea had bowed out of the Somalia issue too.
Aidid dropped his caution for the first time, making calls over 30 seconds.
Korea pinpointed the location but judged an immediate strike too risky.
"He might change positions, so let's wait a bit more."
Korean forces gave Aidid more time.
Days later, Aidid made another call over 30 seconds.
This time, four or more.
Korean forces confirmed the location but knew he'd switch spots soon.
"Still hasn't dropped his guard."
Hitting him with missiles under these conditions was tough.
"Wait for a more decisive chance."
Unaware Korea was after his head, Aidid's calls grew longer.
Of course, he still changed locations each move.
Finally, Korea gained confidence they could take him out.
"Aidid is using his phone while on the move."
Calls stretched as long as 30 minutes.
Aidid clearly believed phones were safe while moving.
"It's true that risk drops if you're moving when calling."
But that was old news.
Now they could pinpoint via signal tracking.
Korean command immediately requested airstrikes from Pyongyang.
"Launch the decapitation op."
To nab Aidid, Korean forces scrambled Songgolmae fighter-bombers stationed in Kenya.
The Songgolmae, a large twin-engine jet developed in the 1970s, could also perform bomber duties.
The Songgolmae taking off to hunt Aidid was loaded with four 1,000kg bombs.
Oblivious that Korean bombers were airborne, Aidid issued orders to his units over the phone.
"Crush the Mahdi bastards with force. Is that so hard?"
As Aidid spewed curses, his adjutant spoke up.
"General, call time's nearing 30 minutes."
"Switch phones."
Aidid was letting his guard down, but he didn't forget basic precautions.
He swapped phones and redialed.
The Korean AWACS scoured signals around where Aidid's call cut off.
They snagged his new call mid-sweep.
"It's Aidid's voice."
Korean forces already knew he never stopped talking on the phone.
The Songgolmae nimbly closed on Aidid's vehicle.
The fighter, airborne from Kenya and streaking to Mogadishu, soon had Aidid's car in visual range.
"Goodbye."
The Songgolmae flew over Aidid's vehicle and released its four bombs.
"What's that plane noise?"
By the time Aidid sensed doom and stuck his head out the window, it was too late.
General Aidid, Somalia's biggest warlord, vanished into flames without even a scream.
Korea announced the feat in a matter-of-fact tone.
"We judged warlord Aidid, who disrupted UN operations. Anyone else interfering with UN relief will get a taste of heat."
Korea's decapitation declaration was enough to terrify Somalia's warlords.
Aidid dying in a strike while riding in his car proved they could be next.
"We're not like that idiot Aidid blocking relief. Carry on with aid."
Somalia's famine crisis ended cleanly with that one bombing.
Through Aidid's elimination and swiftly ending the Yugoslav civil war, Pyongyang made the world acutely aware of its power.
The only nation capable of shouldering global security wasn't just America anymore.
Korea was too.