Black Hawk Down MTI

Rating:
Summary: Black Hawk Down worthy of all praise
Review: Mark Bowden delivered an excellent novel destined to be a classic in the non-fiction community. The level of journalism and reasearch involved in writing this book must have been amazing, as was described in the back. Finally, an accurate account on modern war and a look at what a soldier truly is. A person who well trained, is still a human with a past, with a mother, and a life. Bowden shows that the American military in the modern world is capable of winning a battle and losing the war as it did in Vietnam. Bowden also delivers a phenomenal look at what it means to be an elite soldier, and the fear and bravery that flows through the veigns of those called to do America's worst.
The book is an honest and detailed look at the Battle of the Black Sea, which erupted in Mogadishu, Somalia when the United States sent the elite Army Rangers, and almost mythical Delta Force to begin a campaign of bringing down Somali warlords tearing the fragile African nation apart.
A must read for anybody who is, was, or plans to be apart of the greatest military in the world.

Rating:
Summary: Truth is more fascinating than fiction
Review: I came across this book a few years earlier while looking for something to read on an 18-hour flight. The author happened to be in-store signing books that day, so I decided to check it out. This book is a moment by moment retelling of the worst U.S. military firefight since Viet Nam. It is told through the eyes of participants from both sides of the Battle of Mogadishu. The author writes in his book the exhaustive research that went into it, and tells the story accurately and objectively(judging by what I've heard from people who are authorities on the subject). The book is graphic, but it humanizes the participants in this battle at the same time. Anyone in the military should read this book. It will give them a better appreciation of what may one day be expected of them. Civilians should read this book to gain an understanding of the sacrifices made by the military. It is pertinent to everyone because it shows the results of good intentions gone bad, and faliure of a government to hold to it's own policies.

Rating:
Summary: You MUST read this!!
Review: I recall hearing very little about this event when it happened, but I will never forget the video of our brave KIA's being dragged through the filty streets of Mogadishu by the very same people we were there to help. The fact that the media glossed this over is a shame, and is a smack in the face of every soldier who puts their lives on the line for this country every day. Many thanks to Mark Bowden for reminding us of their sacrifice, and for doing what the media should have done 8 years ago. Finally, many, many thanks to the soldiers who remind us of how lucky we are to be Americans, based on their hard work defending our way of life.
NSDQ!!

Rating:
Summary: A well written reminder of the horror of modern warfare
Review: Bowden's book reminds us how messy and horrific war is, even
in the modern era of smart weapons, smart tactics, and overwhelming US superiority. This is an image we never get from movies, and rarely from television or newspapers. He also does a good job of describing the details of what was going on in Somalia, much of which was not well covered in the popular media
at the time.

Rating:
Summary: Award Winner
Review: The author should be awarded a medal for doing such a fine job of not only researching the Army action in Somalia but also paying tribute and respect to those involved. The author pulls no punches and tells it like happened. The work is so well written I felt like I was actually there in Mogadishu and I felt the same outrage that the soldiers on the ground felt. Should be required reading for all military professionals. Worthy of all acclaim and then some. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: damn good book
Review: One of the few books that I could not put down!

Rating:
Summary: Objective History of Soldiers who were Down but not Out
Review: If Black Hawk Down was not nonfiction, I wouldn't have believed it. The heroic tale of a group of just over 100 U.S. Rangers, DELTA operators, and SEALs in the 15+ hour non-stop battle of their lives to survive against thousands of agressive,armed Somali militia should be near impossible for anyone to put down who has an interest in military history. However, the main strength of the book is delivered by the author Mark Bowden himself. As an investigative reporter, he takes pains not to play the role of a monday morning armchair quarterback, and as a result simply reports the facts surrounding the October 3-4, 1993 "Battle of the Black Sea" in Mogadishu. Throughout the book, I began seeking the military commanders or politicians who should be "blamed" for this mission gone so bad. Bowden doesn't provide the answers, but instead lets the reader come to his or her own conclusions. His research of first hand source material, documentation of his sources, and reliance on only first hand interviews is first rate and qualifies this book as an excellent work of History, not merely a piece of investigative journalism.

Rating:
Summary: UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Review: Mr. Bowden's narrative reminded me of the blunt reality of the battlefield: it is still a deadly dangerous place. For those of us who served our country during a time where very little American blood was spilled in anger, and for those of us who viewed the antiseptic depiction of the Gulf War on CNN, "Black Hawk Down" serves as a valuable reminder that technology has not removed the human element from the old-fasioned firefight. The author does a remarkable job in bringing the battle to life for the reader, and--more importantly--honoring those who served and gave thier lives the the streets and alleys of Mogadishu. His evaluation of the events of October 3rd and 4th, 1993 in this far-away African city is straight-forward and even-handed. I applaud his effort, as well as the effort given by all the D-boys, Rangers, SEALs, Pararescuemen and soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. Thank you, this is a story that needed to be told.

Rating:
Summary: Dropped in the Center of Hell
Review: I got this book, and let it sit on my shelf for sometime before I picked it up. When I did though, I started to feel like these fine operators were dropped right into the pits of darkest hell. Mark Bowden does outstanding work in two ways: First, he puts you right in there, amidst the confusion and all the FUBAR scenarios that Task Force Ranger, the combined Delta/Ranger/SEAL force, encounters. Second, this is a remarkable piece of work in that Bowden has a limited background in this, and had to do incredible amounts of research to turn out such an outstanding piece. Another aspect is the way the Somali perspective is also presented. Finally, if you follow SpecOps in any fashion, you'll quickly see how even the smallest factors can completely make the difference between how men train for these situations and how the conflict was ultimately prosecuted as a result of these unfortunate events. Get this book and gain a new level of appreciation for these men who provide our national security.

Rating:
Summary: Great book with few minor annoyances
Review: Mark Bowden does an excellent job in portraying the Battle of THe Black Sea to its fullest extent. The graphically descriptive images of the battle and the emotions that plagued those involved were realistically displayed. It is definitely a book destined for great reviews. The only minor drawback is the constant fluctuations between different characters' point of views and the chronology of the events. THough noted that such technique could be aiming for the true confusion that these Rangers and Delta Operators were plagued with, but it would be much easier on the readers if it was clearer.