Why did the 1st Battle of Mogadishu turn out the way it did?

I can't do better than to quote from Military History Online, reporting on the "lessons learned" > Lessons Learned The lessons learned range from the tactical to the grand strategic. read more

The Battle of Mogadishu is only perceived to be an exceptional debacle because of the 'CNN Effect' [2][3][4] and 'body-bag effect' [3] - photographers and live satellite news crews were there to film the humiliating outcome and it got replayed 24/7 to US audiences, like (say) the Rodney King beating. read more

The Battle of Mogadishu, or Day of the Rangers (Somali: Maalintii Rangers), was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. It was fought on 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States—supported by UNOSOM II—and Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who had support from armed fighters. read more