Yo, it's cool that reporter Mark Bowden did some hard-fought, investigative writing about a topic the U.S. military (and the Clinton-loving media) would like to forget. He conveys the misery and shock among elite U.S. troops who get bogged down in a massive firefight in Mogadishu, Somalia, while trying to complete a mission. He also provides enough detail about the struggles of the country's citizens to warm the heart of any Obama-loving apologist. My only complaint about the book is that it's very disorienting in its attempt to convey what happened on the scene of battle, and the maps in its pages, an obvious crutch, were of little help.

Well written, extremely well researched and riveting account of the American forces that tried to make a quick capture of two lieutenants of war lord Mohamed Farrah Aidid within the urban city of Mogadishu only to become trapped within the City having to cut their way out and return with a slowly mobilized rescue force to extricate the remaining forces trapped over night. The author, who is a historian and not a pure journalist, has an unusual ability to obtain numerous interviews, predominantly American but also Somalis involved in the fight, with extraordinary access to military communications that really describe the intensity of battle and the feelings of the participants. Full of first hand accounts, you get the battlefield perception of forces on the ground and the pilots in the Blackhawks along with smaller craft referred to as 'little birds'. The author also has a knack for bringing the reader a graphic view of the soldier's lifestyle, particularly away from home and explains in there detail what it means to be a Ranger or 'Delta boy" and the differences in operations and force membership. The accounts are graphic at times on how they fight boredom and deal with battle stress, thus this truly an adult book on the riggers of being in a combat force. The writing is intense, capturing the feelings of the soldiers that although appearing to be a routine mission turns into a nightmare as logistics and radio communications break down, made more complex by the downing of two blackhawks changing the quick get in get out mission into a rescue mission that bogs down within the urban city contested by Para-military forces and pure civilians armed with everything from AK-47s to rocket propelled grenades, the latter bringing down the blackhawks. Highly personalized views of the soldiers who face intense fire from a multitude of directions as every Somalia seems to be armed from a 5 year old that shoots wildly at a convoy to a mother armed with a baby in one hand and well armed Somalis firing from the constant massing of crowds. The authors bring you back and forth between the different military elements following time lines and it is often an agonizing read as you want to know immediately how each participant or group survives. A classic example is downed pilot and lone survivor of a crash, Mike Durrant who is badly wounded and pinned in the wreckage waiting for help that can't get there in time His fate is a constant unknown as you read about his capture and potential death by the Somalis. The fighting is severe and often cruel as the fire is constant and the hatred of the American's intense. It seems a miracle that only 18 soldiers were killed and just under 80 were wounded, many severely, while countless thousands of Somalis were killed and wounded. The author is extremely objective explaining what happens and he is unusual in that he does not cast blame but reports it an unusual subdued factual way. You often wonder while reading the book why no back up force was ready to immediately go in and he explains that in detail, it wasn't that simple. But this is an amazing account of highly professional soldiers trapped with in a wild west city of surprisingly well armed Somalis who rally together, even their company clerks man the rescue force and perform like warriors, to save their comrades and cut them out. The book is now used by the army to study urban warfare and the author is often called upon to speak to military personnel, virtually as an expert, on what went wrong and to learn from that experience.

This is a great book for military enthusiasts. Mark Bowden unleashes every gory and horrific detail in this story of modern day warfare. I must confess I saw the movie before reading the book and i can say, the movie does not do this story justice. If you want the quick Hollywood version of the story, that is your prerogative. If you are looking for a boots-on-the ground minute-by-minute retelling of the events of Mogadishu, this book is for you. Great read and will give you a new found appreciation for our Men on the front lines.

"Black Hawk Down" is Mark Bowden's book about the Battle of the Black Sea, the 13-hour battle pitting the U.S. Army's Rangers, Delta Force, and Nightstalker pilots against thousands of armed Somalis in Mogadishu on October 3-4, 1993. Offering much more than a mere account of the events, strategies, and tactics employed by each side, Bowden digs deep to examine the Somalis' motivation for lashing out against the U.S. in such a violent way. He offers very detailed perspective on the resources that American forces were given to accomplish their objectives, as well as important lessons the American public should learn about what being a successful soldier entails. Bowden also addresses the battle's influence on America's foreign policy agenda as it ignited a sea-change in attitudes towards use of force to resolve atrocities committed by less-developed nations' leaders.

Taken all together, "Black Hawk Down" serves as a powerful reminder that members of the armed services pledge to make the ultimate sacrifice in order defend the nation's principles and ideals, an act that profoundly influences every waking hour of their lives. Bowden's inspired account will motivate every reader to treat those in uniform with proper respect, regardless of feelings towards foreign policy.

The U.S. chose to get involved in Somalia because Mohamed Farrah Aidid, then the powerful Habr Gidr clan's leader, used hunger as a weapon to intimidate, control, and kill members of other clans totaling in the thousands. The Habr Gidr seized international food shipments, prompting the U.S. to send forces out of humanitarian concerns. Over time, U.S. leaders became convinced that the only way to break Somalia's vicious circle of interclan warfare was to arrest Aidid and turn him over to the United Nations. As UN forces struggled in their mission to arrest Aidid and his top advisors, a task force of about 150 U.S. soldiers including Rangers, Delta Force members, and Nightstalker pilots was sent to accomplish this task.

Bowden explains early on that ordinary Somali citizens joined forces with Aidid's militia to fight the Americans. Many Somali mercenaries also joined in the act, fighting against U.S. forces for free. This begs the question: if America was there for humanitarian reasons, why did the Somali people - the very people who stood to benefit from America's presence - turn on the Americans? Why did they consider the U.S. to be a greater threat to Somalia's future than Aidid?

The answer is that a series of events led many Somalis to lose faith in the UN, and over time, the U.S. as well. On June 5, 1993, the Somalis killed 24 Pakistani soldiers who were serving under UN command. On July 12, the UN retaliated by firing armor-piercing missiles into the Abdi House, a residential property hosting a Somali meeting to address UN peace proposals. Many moderate Somali elders and scholars who opposed the Habr Gidr's violence against the UN were killed. As the attack was conducted using U.S.-manufactured helicopters and missiles, ordinary Somali citizens' outrage began to amass. Acknowledging this is key to understanding why opposition to the American cause reached the severe level that it did.

The narrative on the battle itself is extraordinary, with many inspiring acts of bravery committed by soldiers throughout the task force. While the contributions of heroes like Delta Force snipers Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart command attention, two key areas stick out that readers may not expect. The first is how inspired the Rangers and Delta Force members felt by the Nightstalker pilots' performances, particularly those flying the small, AH-6 "Little Bird" gunships. Bowden explains that the Blackhawk and Little Bird helicopters offered the infantry more than a strategic advantage. They served as a psychological safety net, assuring the ground forces that as long as the U.S. controlled the skies, it would prevail on the ground. The Somalis' downing of two of the Blackhawk, troop-carrying helicopters challenged that safety net, but the Little Bird pilots responded in a big way. Bowden relates how they maneuvered their craft through very tight quarters and braved skies filled with rocket propelled grenades - oftentimes while moving slowly to verify U.S. ground forces' location before opening fire. These pilots are truly the battle's unsung heroes.

Secondly, Bowden describes how the U.S. ammunition handlers, communications specialists, and air traffic controller did not hesitate to join the battle when asked to do so. Their actions strongly reinforced the notion that everyone in the military is prepared to engage in combat if called upon. The fact that these young men immediately volunteered to perform such a difficult task speaks very highly of everyone who chooses to serve, regardless of area of expertise.

On foreign policy, Bowden is highly critical of President Clinton's decision to pull out after the battle ended. In addition to the message that Clinton's retreat sent to corrupt leaders of other less-developed nations, Bowden cites the message sent to America's own armed services. By walking away, Bowden believes that Clinton displayed not only disregard for the military's toughness, but a lack of confidence in its ability to make the situation right. Given how ungrateful the Somali people were regarding U.S. and UN action on their behalf, one can see how leaving them to solve their problems on their own may, on the surface, seem justified. But as Bowden states, doing so in a way that disrespected the courage and bravery displayed by the Rangers, Delta Force members, and Nightstalker pilots exacted a very steep price.

That courage and bravery is "Black Hawk Down's" enduring legacy. The soldiers who fought did more than serve their country well. They reminded everyone of the respect that pledging one's life to defend America, its principles, and its ideals should command. Everyone should read this book to better understand how their voting decisions influence and shape the lives of those who make that pledge. Doing so would make America a stronger nation, regardless of the direction its future foreign policy initiatives happen to take.

The book is one of a kind thriller described as a fiction but it is a non-fiction. the 18 hour battle should be must read for any military commander which explain why procedures are needed, any how courage and friendship make soldiers of the same company a combat machine that can overcome 1000s of street fighter that cares nothing but to kill Americans.

Bowden has written a masterful account of the Black Hawk Down tragedy which became a famous Tony Scott movie. The scene is grim: Mogadishu under the warlords with an inept, incompetent United Nations force presuming that it will separate the warring factions and restore peace. The United States commits its troops to snatch a warlord and his cronies to cripple the terrorists gripping this impoverished nation and its capital. Political consideration such as the prohibition of armor takes precedence over protecting the troops. The October 1993 incident raises a lot of questions about elite units, vicious house to house fighting, the support that is possible or necessary to engage such terrorist forces, etc., In addition, there were reports that Osama bin Laden had urged (or some say even sent his underlings) to attack the American troops. The subsequent withdrawal of the troops by Clinton had some analysts saying that this act emboldened bin Laden in subsequent years. With powerful descriptions about the elite fighting units predicament under a mission gone awry, this book will at least acquaint the reader with horrible consequences of modern warfare.

Bowden has written a masterful account of the Black Hawk Down tragedy which became a famous Tony Scott movie. The scene is grim: Mogadishu under the warlords with an inept, incompetent United Nations force presuming that it will separate the warring factions and restore peace. The United States commits its troops to snatch a warlord and his cronies to cripple the terrorists gripping this impoverished nation and its capital. Political consideration such as the prohibition of armor takes precedence over protecting the troops. The October 1993 incident raises a lot of questions about elite units, vicious house to house fighting, the support that is possible or necessary to engage such terrorist forces, etc., In addition, there were reports that Osama bin Laden had urged (or some say even sent his underlings) to attack the American troops. The subsequent withdrawal of the troops by Clinton had some analysts saying that this act emboldened bin Laden in subsequent years. With powerful descriptions about the elite fighting units predicament under a mission gone awry, this book will at least acquaint the reader with horrible consequences of modern warfare.

Great read, action packed. Some parts make you want to cringe, others make you want to cry. I will say that it can get a little gruesome at times and the violence does get to be numbing after a while.