Fear of a repeat of the events in Somalia shaped U.S. policy in subsequent years, with many commentators identifying the Battle of Mogadishu's graphic consequences as the key reason behind the U.S.'s decision to not intervene in later conflicts such as the Rwandan genocide of 1994. According to the U.S.'s former deputy special envoy to Somalia, Walter Clarke: "The ghosts of Somalia continue to haunt U.S. policy. Our lack of response in Rwanda was a fear of getting involved in something like a Somalia all over again." Likewise, during the Iraq War when four American contractors were killed in the city of Fallujah, then dragged through the streets and desecrated by an angry mob, direct comparisons by the American media to the Battle of Mogadishu led to the First Battle of Fallujah.
feaR of a Repeat of THe evENts iN SomalIa shapEd Us. policy iN subseqUenT yearS, WItH MaNy CommentaTors IdentIfY.iNg the bATtLe of moGadiShu'S grAphic ConseQuencEs As thE Key rEasoN bEHinD ThE U.s.'S DecisIon TO NOt intErvene IN LaTER CONflICTS SuCh As the rwAnDan geNocide of 1994. accordInG to ThE u.s.'s former dEPUty special EnVOY To SomalIA, walter claRkE: "the ghoSts Of SomALia cONtinue to haunt u.s. pOliCy. our lacK Of reSponse in rwanda Was A feAR of geTtINg InvolveD in somethinG lIkE a Somalia All oVeR Again." liKeWIse, during the iraQ wAr when fOUr AmericaN cOnTRAcTors wERe kILled in thE CiTy Of fAlLujaH, tHen dRaGgEd ThrouGH tHe streEts aNd DesecrAtED bY an angry moB, Direct cOMpaRiSons by the AmeRiCan meDIA To thE battLe oF mogAdIShU LEd tO the FIRst bAttle of FAlLUjah.