Hatred becomes another theme of this book almost from the first pages, as the soldiers descend on Mogadishu. The UN had sent American and other forces into Somalia to try to get aid to the people who have been torn apart by several years of civil war. The American forces had focused on Aidid, a warlord who appeared to be the main force behind the continued unrest in his country. On October 3, 1993, American soldiers descended on Mogadishu to capture two of Aidid's top gang members.