the real blackhawk down

“Heads up people, 21 Jan 02, 2100 hrs,the History channel is showing a documentary about the Rangers,Delta Force and Air Force action in Somalia in 93. Lots of interviews, the real deal.”

“That sounds cool I thinkI am going to watch it.”

“I had to count those hours out on my fingers. Thanks for the heads up!”

“Thanks for the info., Birch.”

“this is interesting

It doesn't have the pic in the mag tho that has a caption reading "Soldiers take cover from incling fire", shows a couple of soldiers hunkered down behind a wall and one dope sticking his head up just waiting to get nailed.”

“Thanks for the heads up. That story has always been of interest to me. I'll be watchin'”

“Thanks Mr.Birch. I saw the ad the other night and wanted to see it, and would've forgotten all about it. I've heard enough about it since they've been making the movie, but tonight will be the real thing.”

“if i had cable i would watch it

Toasty coasty”

“Thanks, I read the book, and it is even more interesting considering the fact that we are looking for Al Queda there.”

“I wish I got history channel. I only get basic cable, that sucks.”

“Sorry, but I feel inclined to say the AH-64D is a better chopper.

errrr :P”

“I think I have seen this show. 'Blackhawk Down' was the biggest US military disaster since the My Lai massacre Vietnam.”

“bacpac is back. Does that mean Gear Slut is gone?”

“better read the book bacpac”

“or watch the history channel. 18 US killed 500 or so Somali attackers thought to be killed as many as 1000 wounded.”

“I would like to read the casualty list.

Lots of women and children were killed with small arms fire.”

“Lots of Somali's held women and children in front of themselves as they advanced with RPG's”

“Tea, take another look..."The History Channel" is on basic cable where I live.”

“sometimes it's on Basic, and sometimes it's not. it's up to the individual cable system whether to offer it on Basic. even if you lived in the same city, you might not get the same channels. eewww, work!

this sounds like an interesting show...too bad i don't get cable, at all!”

“lyra, the book is excellent.”

“bacpac, good to see you are back. You are wrong about your " my lai" comment.

Why dont you give the specifics about what caused this to be the (in your words)"Greatest Military Blunder" . You make such a powerful statement, back it up with facts...jack.”

“No cable a'tall.

I'll be sure to catch the movie, tho.

It'll be a treat to see those few, those proud, those Rangers kick some So-smally A$$!

I remember watching the amphibious invasion of Somalia. Those poor soldiers had to wade through a sea of journalists - I LOL'd!”

“Gojo, those soldiers braving the "tide" at mogadishu somalia were the US Marines talk about a stupid plan....

Bacpac, since you are making Vietnam comparisons, how about Dien Bien Phu other wise known as Khe Sahn. Putting and airbase in a valley????? great plan, heck the corps could just called France for their opinion on the location.”

“Hey Biz, doesn't it kind of depend on what you want that particular chopper to do? I don't think an Attack Helichopper would be good for sling loading 105mm howitzers or transporting our troops to the front line. I could be wrong though.

UH-60 is a fine piece of equipment.”

“Just as a reminder...
Will someone remember to re-post this on the 21st!”

“I put it on my calendar.”

“Tonight on Larry King Live (CNN) @ 9pm, Larry will interview THE guys who took part in that mission.”

“Click for link

Wednesday, January 16, 2002

A Black Hawk helicopter
Tonight:
Black Hawk Down is based on the true story of the deadly 1993 mission in Mogadishu, Somalia, by elite U.S. Delta units and Army Ranger infantry. Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, resulting in the deaths of 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalians. Larry is joined by retired Col. Danny McKnight, retired Col. Thomas Matthews, retired Col. Lee Van Arsdale and other survivors of that mission who recall that infamous day in U.S. military history.”

“Thanks Buddur!”

“Ho-hum. Once again Larry shows how to get a full hour out of 5 minutes of material.”

“How is it that Larry King is known as a good interviewer? He was horrid.”

“I went and saw the movie this afternoon. It was very well made and followed the book very well. It was action packed from start to finish but not in a good way. It was absolutely gut wrenching and so sad.”

“How was Clinton treated?”

“Fairly neutrally. Washington in general was portaied as unsuportive and Clinton kinda looked like the guy who packed up and went home with a job unfinished. I understand why he did what he did though.”

“The battle in Mogadishu was THE biggest single battle (duration and casualties) since Vietnam...bigger than Panama,Grennada and the Persian Gulf. As I have read it was a war faught in the press and OUR nation didnt/doesnt have the heart to see our own dead so we bailed. The somaliis exploited this and won the war squarely (this battle excluded). We decided to choose sides in this conflict which was wrong and led to Oct 3 1993.

I hope my nation has learned from this. I hope that as a people we are willing to think long term and not pack up when our soldiers die.”

“The movie did a good job of explaining why the skinnies would not stop the killing and that it was fairly futile to try and stop them from doing it.”

“I saw an interview with the current "Alpha" warlord-can't recall his name--I don't believe they will roll over as easily as the Taliban if we decide roll south . He seemed very much in control of his emotions and it came off to me to national pride more so than religious zeal,
He pretty much said bring it on-the fiefdoms will unite.
I have to see this flick-”

“Monday, January 21 at 9
p.m. ET/PT (8 p.m. CT) The History Channel presents The True Story Of
Black Hawk Down. Based on Mark Bowden's best-selling book Black Hawk Down,
takes an in-depth look at the Battle of Mogadishu by presenting the first-
hand accounts of Army Rangers, Delta Force members, UN officials, and Somali
militiamen. Bowden shares his knowledge and research throughout the program,
guiding the story from the arrival of the UN peacekeeping force through the
events of October 4, 1993.”

“I just hope it doesn't have crummy re-enactments. Weren't they wearing helmet cams or sumtin?”

“I was wondering something. In the movie, all the guys had the U.S. flag on their arms, but they were all backwards. Does anyone know why this is?”

“don't know. But where I work they emailed this to everyone after 9-11

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/jimerson/flagday.htm”

“One positive thing I did take away from this movie is the afermation that a nation that can arm themselves is a nation that can fend off even the greatest of nations.”

“Nigal What I took from it is that we should let the miltary carry out the missions we give thim with no restrictions...Had they been able to use the c 130 air fortresses no helicopters would have been shot down and this would have been a non story. When politics interferes with war you end up with dead soldiers.. Think Vietnam vs Desert Storm”

“unfortunately i missed this thread until this morning... can anyone who saw the History channel version tell me whether they mentioned the 10th mountain division coming in or not?”

“I watched the special last night on the history channel. Pretty informative. I thought they could have put in more background information that explained why Somalia was such a fractured country to begin with.

I can't believe Aidid's (the head warlord we went to overthrow) son, who was educated in the U.S. and was in the Marines, went back to Somalia to take over his father's role after his dad croaked.

Seems like it was all just a big clusterf#ck of an operation.

That country is doomed.”

“Ok, saw the Movie and saw The True Story Of Black Hawk Down. Other then the cheese file footage of MILS clade soldier playing war games, I thought The True Story Of Black Hawk Down was much better at telling the story of what happened. Ok so it wasn't all flashy like the Hollywood version, but it was the same story. It was nice to hear the story told by the men who were there.

Nigal, the flags stripes aways point to the rear when worn on the shoulder of a uniform or placed on the side of a vehicle. Kind of like if it were a fabric flag and the vehicle or person were moving the flag would flow to the rear.”

“larock,
Where did you see
The True Story Of Black Hawk Down?

The CNN interview?

I don't think I will see this movie, it doesn't sound like it was all that well done.

?”

“It was on the History Channel a couple of nights ago.”

“It was very well done and worth seeing Biz. Unlike most Hollywood films they kept the author envolved as well as the men who fought in the firefight. They gave tech information and were extras.”

“The movie was well done, I just thought the History Channel's show had a little more of the insight that I was looking for.

Of course the book is really answering many of the question I left the theater with. I know,"what a weirdo, reading the book after seeing the movie".”