GrumpySmurf 0 #76 August 22, 2002 They had a series of interviews on a PBS special about the events in the 'Mog' involving the Rangers, Delta and Night Stalkers a few months before the release of 'Black Hawk Down' and walked through both what happened on the ground and what lead to the inital decision to go after Aideed and why it was destined to fail even before leaving the ground. This wasn't going to be cut and dry like Iraq was. They explored both the breakdown in communication between the Allied Forces in Somolia after the Marine task Force left, and the mistrust between the relatively new Clinton administration and the military brass. Interesting stuff - though I see the logic in denying the use of heavy air support in a built up urban setting - the level of collateral damage from civilian casualties would have been a PR nightmare for the US - especially if CNN had gotten footage of it in the typical colour corrected high def. that they always seem to. Then again, going after a warlord in broad daylight in one of the most dangerous and heavily armed parts of the country doesn't ring a bell of wisdom either. At least the Yanks didn't have to face the embarrassment of thier 'best' capturing and torturing to death two unarmed Somoli's "Think if a UN Army set down here and started trying to collect everyones guns." I think you may have to worry more about the BATF doing that to you than any Krauts, Canucks or Frogs wearing baby blue helmets - especially if Bush's popularity keeps sinking with the economy and the Dem's take the White House in the next election. Wasn't there rumour of Hilary running in 2008 - now THAT scares me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrumpySmurf 0 #77 August 22, 2002 They had a series of interviews on a PBS special about the events in the 'Mog' involving the Rangers, Delta and Night Stalkers a few months before the release of 'Black Hawk Down' and walked through both what happened on the ground and what lead to the inital decision to go after Aideed and why it was destined to fail even before leaving the ground. This wasn't going to be cut and dry like Iraq was. They explored both the breakdown in communication between the Allied Forces in Somolia after the Marine task Force left, and the mistrust between the relatively new Clinton administration and the military brass. Interesting stuff - though I see the logic in denying the use of heavy air support in a built up urban setting - the level of collateral damage from civilian casualties would have been a PR nightmare for the US - especially if CNN had gotten footage of it in the typical colour corrected high def. that they always seem to. Then again, going after a warlord in broad daylight in one of the most dangerous and heavily armed parts of the country doesn't ring a bell of wisdom either. At least the Yanks didn't have to face the embarrassment of thier 'best' capturing and torturing to death two unarmed Somoli's "Think if a UN Army set down here and started trying to collect everyones guns." I think you may have to worry more about the BATF doing that to you than any Krauts, Canucks or Frogs wearing baby blue helmets - especially if Bush's popularity keeps sinking with the economy and the Dem's take the White House in the next election. Wasn't there rumour of Hilary running in 2008 - now THAT scares me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,179 #78 August 22, 2002 >Wasn't there rumour of Hilary running in 2008 - now THAT scares me. Yep, but I fear the next election will present us with the usual best-of-two-bad-choices. I would be excited if someone like Colin Powell or Condoleeza Rice ran, but I think both of them are far too smart to want to be president. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
