This page, prepared by the UN, really summed things up there. After spending 1.6 billion dollars over a three year period, what lessons? I am really starting to loose any respect for the UN I had left.

link to UN site

Jim

The amount of money put into things like this is sobering to say the least!!

What were the lessons learned?? Never leave home without a M1A2 or two!!

Heck, without the US, the UN and NATO would fall apart as fast as the Warsaw Pact did when the USSR fell.

The really sad thing is that armor was requested and denied more than once for that mission. Even Bradleys or LAV-25's would have turned the tables during the "blackhawk down" conflict, but a few Abrams would have been really nice. They could not have touched those. On that note, how would the Bradley's or LAV-25's hold up against an RPG?

The Malaysians lost several APCs (unsure of the models) to the Somali militiamen. Bradleys would have had a hard time, but would be more effective than the LAVs. RPGs can do a number on wheeled vehicles. A lucky shot can take off a Bradley's track though. RPGs would have little effect on an Abrams, even to the running gear or engine compartment. The cosmetic damage to the exterior would royally piss off the crew and any RPG would be met with a 120mm tank round. Just try hiding behind a car or concrete wall when that big bullet takes aim at you!

There is a mention of the Malay vehicles in Daniel Bolger's "Death Ground: Today's American Infantry in Battle" (?) They were German bulit APCs called Condors. The book has a section where troops from the US 10th Mountain Division rode with the Maylasians to try to extricate TF Ranger.

Bob