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Les Aspin
Former Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense who denied U.S. commanders' requests for armor and AC-130 gunships before the Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down); 18 American soldiers killed
Overview
Leslie Aspin Jr. served as the 18th United States Secretary of Defense from January to December 1993 under President Bill Clinton. Aspin had previously served 22 years as a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin and chaired the House Armed Services Committee. As Defense Secretary; Aspin became embroiled in the crisis following the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3-4; 1993; the engagement memorialized in the book and film "Black Hawk Down." In September 1993; U.S. commanders in Somalia; including Major General Thomas Montgomery; requested M1 Abrams tanks; Bradley Fighting Vehicles; and AC-130 Spectre gunships to support operations against Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Aspin denied these requests; reportedly believing that deploying heavy armor would signal an escalation inconsistent with the mission's stated humanitarian focus. When the Battle of Mogadishu occurred on October 3; Task Force Ranger was forced to fight through the city without the armored support that could have facilitated a faster extraction and potentially saved lives. Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down; 18 American soldiers were killed; 73 were wounded; and one pilot (Michael Durant) was captured. An estimated 500-1;000 Somali militia and civilians were also killed. The debacle led to the withdrawal of American forces from Somalia and directly influenced the Clinton administration's reluctance to intervene in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Aspin resigned under pressure in December 1993; acknowledging his role in the equipment denial. He died of a stroke in May 1995.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Denied commanders' requests for M1 tanks; Bradley Fighting Vehicles; and AC-130 gunships before the Battle of Mogadishu
18 American soldiers killed and 73 wounded in Battle of Mogadishu without the armored support that had been requested
Somalia debacle directly influenced Clinton administration's refusal to intervene in the 1994 Rwandan genocide (800;000 killed)
Resigned under pressure in December 1993 after acknowledging his role in the equipment denial
Related Investigations (1)
Known Associates & Connections
Bill Clinton
President who appointed Aspin and accepted his resignation after Mogadishu
Thomas Montgomery
U.S. commander in Somalia whose armor requests Aspin denied
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- July 21, 1938
- Birthplace
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Education
- •Yale University; B.A.
- •Oxford University; M.A. (Rhodes Scholar)
- •MIT; Ph.D. Economics
Key Timeline
July 21, 1938
Born in Milwaukee; Wisconsin
January 1993
Becomes 18th Secretary of Defense under President Clinton
September 1993
Denies commanders' requests for tanks; Bradleys; and AC-130 gunships for Somalia operations
October 3-4, 1993
Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down): 18 Americans killed; 73 wounded without the armored support that had been denied
December 1993
Resigns as Secretary of Defense under pressure following the Mogadishu disaster
March 1994
U.S. forces withdraw from Somalia; administration reluctance to intervene shapes response to Rwandan genocide
May 21, 1995
Dies of a stroke at age 56