U.S. Commander Defends Delay in Move to Baidoa

WASHINGTON Facing growing criticism for the cautious pace withwhich U.S. troops are moving out of the capital of Mogadishu, Lt.Gen. Robert B. Johnston, the American military commander in Somalia,pledged Sunday that his forces would get to the terrorized city ofBaidoa "as soon as we can."

"I can't just run 50 Marines down the road and expect that allwill be well in Baidoa," Johnston said. "It requires the right kindof troops, the right kind of support and logistics, and I will not goto Baidoa until I can, No. 1, protect the forces that go in there andbe able to impose the right kind of security environment on Baidoawhen we get there."

Two aid workers were reported killed over the weekend in Baidoa:a Somali guard for the Irish charity Concern and a guard for the RedCross.

Rick Grant, a spokesman for CARE International, said over theweekend that relief workers in Baidoa - an inland city of about100,000 - are required to stay in a house guarded by more than adozen men with AK-47s.

"It is criminal negligence the Marines aren't there," Grantsaid.

The dispute over Baidoa underscores the tensions between U.S.military leaders, who are trying to accomplish their mission with asfew American casualties as possible, and relief organizations, whichexpected their work in the Somali countryside to change dramaticallyas soon as the troops arrived.

Johnston and Robert Oakley, the U.S. special envoy to Somalia,said that if relief workers feel unsafe in Baidoa or other outlyingtowns, they should depart.

In Bardera, relief workers are concerned that the next stage ofthe operation, taking control of Baidoa, will make matters worse forthem.

They fear that when Marines take Baidoa, a major stronghold ofMohamed Farrah Aidid, many of his heavily armed loyalists will bedriven 100 miles down the road to Bardera, sparking renewed fightingagainst a well-entrenched rival faction.

Meanwhile, thousands of Somali gunmen are spilling across theborder into Kenya, looting and robbing with increased intensity.

Contributing: Chicago Sun-Times Wires