Black Hawk Down MTI

Rating:
Summary: Numbing
Review: This is striking. A hyper-detailed account of an extended gunfight in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, it drops the reader into a well-planned, well-intentioned military intervention that, through an accumulation of chaotic details, degenerates into a confused mess. After two helicopters are shot down, and three others badly-damaged, a mixture of Rangers and Delta Force are shuffled inelegantly through a hail of gunfire, in a city where every building looks the same, by a command and communication hierarchy that is unable to react fast enough to cope with the changing situation. Although technically a success, the 15-hour battle saw the deaths of over 500 assorted US and Somali people, with over a thousand wounded, many for life. Bowden's book pulls this over you and doesn't let forget that, without vehicles and night-vision, all men with guns are more or less equal. Well-drawn maps detail the confusion as a bullet-ridden rescue convoy is led through the city, creating more casualties than it would have prevented, and thankful Bowden has also interviewed surviving Somalis, both civilians and gunmen. Whilst Somalia comes across as anarchy, there aren't really any villains - the US troops are well-meaning but overrun, and the Somalis were understandably enraged at the sight of armoured soldiers kidnapping local heroes.

Although there is a great deal of political background, the meat of the book transcends that - it's about people hiding behind cars and rocks, people shooting at shadows and being shot in turn, people being killed at different speeds. The cumulative effect is numbing, and the growing death toll seems less shocking than it should be, as reserve gives way to shots at anything that moves. It would make a great film, too, in another universe - I shudder at the thought of Jerry 'Armageddon' Bruckheimer producing this.

Rating:
Summary: Best Military Book Ever Read
Review: This is by far the best book I have ever read on combat. Other then perhaps "Pork Chop Hill" wich I read as I child I can not remeber another book that I have ever read that really made you feel like you were in combat.

As far as anyone being interested in joinin the military I would suggest reading this book first. It is a good reflection in how our military is put in to such poor situations by incompatent politicians. This book is a good example of why we should not being getting involved in situations and countries where we have no place.

Also for those interested in the weapons and tactics of modern combat, this is a great book.

Rating:
Summary: no way out
Review: tim bowden poignantly recounts the the most hellish 48 hours in war since vietnam. a tale of unimaginable horrors that leaves the reader longing to identify and understand the courage that makes a soldier. if you liked this i would recommend THE THINGS THEY CARRIED BY TIM OBRIEN .

Rating:
Summary: Real Heroism
Review: I saw the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and must say I liked. However, we must remember that it was only a movie. If one wants to learn about an actual "Saving Private Ryan", true heroism, and the real meaning of dedication to duty, one must read this book. This is not a movie, but reality.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: I'll keep this review short. Buy and read this book, it should be required reading for all Americans. I haven't even finished the book, and yet I felt compelled to write a review. whether or not you agree with the politics of why we were in Somalia, this book is a real eye opener into what our troops do all over the world daily. We owe our troops, especially combat vetrans, our deepest gratitude and respect for the job they do. If you were there and are reading this review, THANK YOU!!!!. This is an incredible story of courage and heroism in the face of overwhelming odds. A great read.

Rating:
Summary: The Day of The Rangers: An American Defeat
Review: Blackhawk down, is typical of the ethnocentric junk parlayed by authors who pretend to be unbiased historians.

Flush from a the Gulf War and prodded by the American television media, the pompous and arrogant U.S. military went into Somalia supposedly for "humanitarian" and "nation building" objectives.

Those objectives quickly disintegrated into the mass killings of Somali nationals by helicopter gunship, soldiers and armored vehicles using high velocity weapons; in the pursuit of Mohammed Farrah Aidid. Our military killed a lot of innocents and we have nothing to be proud about. The American Media hardly reported any of this! It was no surprise, that the whole of Mogadishu, the Somali capital, turned against the US and it's UN allies.

The Rangers and its Delta force component repeatedly went into Mogadishu hunting for Aidid using helicopters and fast-rappelling techniques. Once great, twice maybe, three and four times, what were they thinking? Do these so called "elite troops" lack the most basic of good military judgment? What happened to speed and surprise? What happened to varying your approach to the enemy! The Rangers had TWO THIRDS of their men wounded in action, many of them seriously.

They came within hours of being wiped out. They were in fact saved by the courage of Malaysians who using their armored vehicles saved them. The response of American military and political officials was to blame the Malaysians saying they had not been quick enough to respond.

The American media was quick to show some of the 18 Rangers and Delta Force men, being dragged around and urinated on. They did not show the hundreds possibly thousands of Somalis who died or suffered grievous wounds.

Somalis refer to this as the day of the Rangers. Like Yorktown and Gettysburg for Americans, they will forever remember in their nation's history, this victory. The Rangers and most Americans too, will remember this unfortunately not for the shame our military inflicted on our nation, but because they left wounded and dead men on the battlefield, something they have vowed they would never do.

Rating:
Summary: The uncanny reality of war
Review: In the pages of Black Hawk Down, Mark Bowden provides a painstakingly detailed and thorough account of the events that occurred in Mogadishu, Somalia on October 3-4, 1993. United States military forces, primarily the Rangers, Delta Force operators and Navy SEALs, were called upon to perform an extraction of two lieutenants of the reigning warlord, Aidid. While the operation was indisputably dangerous, the soldiers involved were well trained and experienced in this type of operation. Were it not for the felling of a Black Hawk helicopter by an RPG, the pitched battle that followed may never have occurred.

I have never served in my country's military forces, but I often wonder about war and the emotions of soldiers in battle. I've read quite a bit on the subject and I realize that I will likely never know what they've experienced, but as well as a piece of literature can, Bowden brings to life what our soldiers went through during this event.

Bowden does an excellent job of showing both sides to the conflict. He expresses the Somali perspective as best he could with limited informational resources at his disposal. He apparently risked his own life to travel to Mogadishu to get first-hand accounts from the people who witnessed and participated in the battle.

Upon completing this book, I was floored, emotionally spent. I'm proud of the soldiers who participated in the U.S. operations in Mogadishu for carrying out their duties and defending our interests to the best of their ability. I am, however, ashamed that in this age of sound bites and front-page photo ops, that our political leaders want to sweep such efforts under the rug when they do not meet their sharp definition for the word "victory." When our troops give their lives for a cause, they should be remembered and revered for their efforts and their sacrifices. Like many Americans, I was appalled when the scenes of our soldiers bodies being dragged through the streets of this dusty African city were televised repeatedly. I wanted our country to raze Mogadishu to the ground for the shameful behavior of the rabble that humiliated our troops. Now I just feel a dull ache and sorrow for the families of these men.

This book conveys the reality of war like no other I have read. Surprising considering that it was written by a man with no military experience. Read it and you will come to know (as best a noncombatant can) what our troops went through during this battle and why the choice of sending our troops to defend democracy is one which must never be made cavalierly.

Rating:
Summary: Journalism at its best
Review: A brilliant telling of a one-day battle where our UN soldiers in Africa are pitted against the unspeakably evil factions that rule poverty-stricken Mogadishu, Somalia. Author Bowden manages to embrace and hold a multitude of terrifying moments that ultimately merge and grow into hours of fighting. It is the result of a small-scale action that unexpectedly erupts into violence by the slimmest of margins. An action that grows to a full-scale battle that rapidly expands to one of impossible odds against our tiny forces.

The battle's progress is poignantly shaped by the unwillingness of the American soldiers to fire into the developing threat areas for fear of hitting women and children. However, the opposing tribal soldiers show no qualms at all against using Mogadishu's innocent citizens as shields and decoys as they attempt to close on the tiny handful of defenders. That unwillingness to hurt the innocent, cost the lives of some of the defenders. This work, vivid and forceful, is an unrelenting cliffhanger.

In writing this account, Bowden insists on the need for unflagging accuracy, resulting in a milestone work, --- a cogent and forceful lesson for all. It is a close-up zoom into the lives of a people that are poor, where existence is their only priority. It is also must reading for the politicians who insist on solving all world problems by imposing the American way.

But, most of all, it is a stirring and resounding tribute, a salute to our superb Rangers and supremely skilled Delta and Seal teams.

This is journalism at its very best.

Rating:
Summary: BHD Movie?
Review: Hello, I absolutely loved this book and I recommend this to any military enthusiast! I noticed it mentioned that Jerry Bruckheimer Pictures was working on a movie based on this event, if so, when should the movie be out and where could I get more information on the movie? Email me at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Gritty look at modern warfare
Review: Mark Bowden's "Black Hawk Down" is described as "A story of modern war". It tells us about the Battle of the Black Sea in Somalia on Oct 3-4, 1993. The Somalis refer to it as Ma-alinti Rangers (The Day of the Rangers). All Most Americans remember are the images of dead U.S. soldiers being dragged through the streets by mobs of Somalis. That is an image that stays with most Americans.Mark Bowden describes in incredible detail the operation to capture top players in the Aidid clan, who the UN felt was responsible for much of the turmoil in Mogadishu. Minute by minute narratives take the reader along with the men of Task Force Ranger, Delta Force, and the Night Stalker crews. This book takes any glamour out of war some people may see. While wars are sometimes necessary, they should be a last resort. War is messy and people die grotesque deaths. But when war is necessary it comforting to know there are soldiers ready to go anywhere, anytime into harm's way.This book goes into some of the fingerpointing you'd expect, but Bowden keeps the story on tract. This is a story about the men at ground zero, not what was happening in Washington. He is diligent in covering the Somali point of view even though there have been criticisms to the contrary. There are lessons no doubt, to be learned from America's involvement in post cold war conflicts such as Somalia. Books like "Black Hawk Down" create healthy discussions that may not answer all the questions, but at least ask them. The Battle of the Black Sea was a tactical success but is perceived as a failure. Even though 18 Americans died the mission was a success. Read this book to honor those 18.