Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War

By Brian Freeman

Bowden, Mark. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. New York: Penguin Group, 2000.

After years of fierce battles between competing warlords, Somalia’s government is overthrown and the country is in complete chaos. These warlords destroy the agriculture of Somalia and use starvation as weapon. An estimated 300,000 Somalians died of starvation and another 1.5 million people suffering from malnutrition and diseases.

With hundreds of thousands dead and millions starving in the early 1990s, the United Nations voted to intervene militarily in Somalia to feed the starving people and begin the process of rebuilding the nation. United Nations, led by United States forces, met powerful resistance from the most powerful clan leader Mohammed Farrah Aidid. Several bloody incidents led the UN and former President Bill Clinton to conclude that Aidid was an obstacle and must be removed. Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War is a minute-by-minute reconstruction of one of the most paramount battles in the short, ill-fated American military campaign to capture and disrupt Mohammed Farrah Aidid in Mogadishu.

Originally former President George Bush Sr. ordered to send an overwhelming deployment of American military forces to help lead the United Nations operation to open relief supply routes against the depredations of Somali militias whose power struggles had caused the famine. The United Nations operation at first is extremely successful. However in late 1992 the most powerful clan Islamic Habr Gidr, headed by warlord Mohammed Farrah Aidid, attacked both UN and U.S. forces. President Bill Clinton changed the peacekeeping mission to an assault on Aidid and Habr Gidr. Clinton gives Special Forces Unit Task Force Ranger and Delta Force the job of capturing Aidid.

By this time, Aidid and his clan considered themselves at war with the United States. The planned raid launched on October 3, 1993, and was later called Black Hawk Down. Originally, the plan was to focus on the capture and meeting of two Aidid's senior advisors, reported to be in the most dangerous part of Mogadishu. The goal of the raid was to destabilize Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s clan politically after they failed to capture Aidid. This was the sixth raid of its kind consisting of Army Rangers and Delta Force who were so confident from previous quick victory missions that they neglected to properly equip themselves with night-vision devices, water, and body armor panels.

The mission was led by elite Delta Force soldiers that would go in by helicopter to kidnap the two top Lieutenants of Aidid's clan. The Rangers were given the job of securing the perimeter and escorting convoy that contains the captured Lieutenants of Aidid's clan out of the city. The convoy consisted with 160 men, 19 aircraft, 9 hummers, and 3 five-ton trucks. The operation from the start was marred with problems and would turn disastrous when two Blackhawk helicopters were shot down. After 27 hours of fierce fighting, 18 U.S soldiers are dead and over 70 injured. The Somalian death count was much higher with over 1000 injured and 500 dead.

The planned assault was only supposed to take an hour and was launched into the most dangerous part of Mogadishu. The entire mission changed from capture and extract to search and rescue when the first of five Blackhawks crashes inside the city. Originally commanders thought it was highly unlikely that Somalis could shoot down helicopters with rocket propelled grenades. By the end day the U.S. Military saw five shot down, with two crashing in the city and three limped back to base before crash-landing.

Several Ranger and Delta elements of the attack force fought their way to the crashed chopper and attempted to secure the area. Not only are members of the militia attempting to prevent the Special Forces from securing the area, but the citizens of Mogadishu, who were sick of U.S interference in their country, also take arms. Gunfire is coming from all sides when the second Blackhawk is shot down. The Special Forces unit trying to contain the perimeter around the first crash site were then ordered to spilt up and set up a perimeter around the second crash. While the main convoy containing the captured Lieutenants attempts from the target location to the crash site. The Somalia militia set up road blocks making the convoy disoriented in the city streets. They drove around in circles through heavy fire looking for the crash sites. As the convoy losses mounted and with the two Lieutenants killed in the action, they were forced to return to base, leaving about 100 Americans surrounded by fierce militia at the crash site.

One of the most memorable moments of the book is when snipers Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart volunteer to secure the second crash site until help can arrive, although it arrived far too late. The two snipers along with the help Mike Durant commit a patriotic Alamo last stand and fight to the bitter end. The two snipers fall in combat and Durant is taken hostage, but because of the snipers bravery, they both win Medals of Honor.

The American soldiers are forced to fight through the night with ammo running out and no water. U.S. forces send air support and helicopters continue strafing runs support but this only buys time. The U.S. soldiers around the crash site needed to be evacuated. It is well past midnight before an armored column, which should have been sent originally, could be brought together. The armor units, supported by elements of the 10th Mountain Division, began the rescue, starting with the trapped Americans. Operating in heavy fire, the column finally extracted the pinned-down forces and their captives.

When images of American corpses being dragged through the streets of Somilia and Michael Durant looking bloodied and battered surface, all of Washington is asking what went wrong. A lot of blame was directed about having American troops under United Nations command, but the majority of the blame focused on the Secretary of Defense Les Aspin, which ultimately caused him to lose his job. Les Aspin repeatedly refused to send armor personal carriers and tanks into region.

The lost of American military life forced President Bill Clinton to terminate the hunt for Aidid and pull Task Force Ranger out quickly. A few months later, all US forces withdrew completely from Somalia and UN nation-building effort collapsed. Mark Bowden makes it clear that the failed mission in Somalia had a “profound cautionary influence” on American military policy for years to come. The United States would refuse to send ground troops and conduct. Mark Bowden has taken his award winning series of newspaper articles written for the Philadelphia Inquirer and made it a truly great book about the spirit, professionalism, valor, skill, and nobility of the American fighting forces involved in this conflict. Bowden’s research of first hand source material, documentation of his sources, and reliance on first hand interviews is first rate and qualifies this book as an excellent work of history, not merely a piece of investigative journalism.

Will Healthcare Reform Work?

By Brian Freeman for mydisfunkshion.onsugar.com

The majority of America voted for a man who promised change, and as the leader of our country, he has brought change which we all should embrace.

I am optimistic about the Healthcare Reform bill. However, I have a lot of concern, which all Americans should feel, because I have yet to see a government program where spending did not exceed estimates.

As I understand it, taxes begin now and benefits are not implemented until four years down the road--a gimmick to decrease the projected 10 year costs. I don't think four years worth of taxes will be put into an account to be applied to costs of benefits down the road.

Additionally, the back room deals caused by Republicans (which is a party I no longer love) have created a convoluted and mangled mess of rules and regulations that will take time to sort out in addition to an ever increasing bureaucracy that will add costs which I am sure were not included in the CBO cost projections.

I'm concerned that the government that has never been constrained by fiscal responsibility will be able to pull this one off. However, Americans are good at messing things up and learning.

This will be a long struggle with many changes and there will be downfalls, but ultimately we should all realize for the betterment of society that this is the right thing to do.

We are one of most advanced nations in the world, and yet, so many our citizens fall through the crack and suffer from our current broken healthcare system.

We should remember our history and realize this is the same government whose army lost every major battle in the American Revolution except Yorktown. We were ripped apart in WWII North Africa by Rommel; lost miserably at Bull Run; and pushed to brink of annihilation at Pusan. Washington D.C. was sacked in the war of 1812. Yet we survivied and learned from our mistakes to come back.

American history is filled with struggle, but it is who we are. We screw up, learn, and come back for more. As it was said about American troops in WWII, who made a number of huge mistakes, “We only make them once!”

The Health care bill will be no different.

To be honest, after having my father (a veteran) pass away, I had the pleasure of dealing with the best run healthcare program in the United States Veterans Affair. I sincerely hope the U.S. can bring the efficient healthcare services it offers to the military to the civilian population as well.

Sardis

By Brian Freeman

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead .Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. " (Revelation 3:1-4). KJV

Known biblically as the home of the church that received the fifth of letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Sardis was the capital of the Lydian empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

The last Lydian king, Croesus (560-546 BC), famous for his extraordinary wealth, is said to have panned gold from the nearby river Pactolus.

In 17 AD Sardis experienced a devastating earthquake, after which Emperor Tiberius rebuilt the city.

Sardis was dominated by Persia from 546 BC, when King Croesus and Sardis fell to Cyrus. The ancient historian Herodotus records the shock of the Lydian defeat, as they considered the city impregnable. Sardis was captured by Antiochus the Great at the end of the 3rd century BC.

A great colonnaded marble road of 4600 feet in length divided the Roman city, whose population was estimated as large as 120,000 in the time of the Apostle John.

Interesting ancient custom of Sardis- Herodotus mentions the curious practice which permitted their women to chose their own husbands.

Ancient Sardis had a very large and prosperous Jewish community, which produced the largest ancient synagogue outside of Palestine. It is found in the center of the urban center, instead of on the periphery as synagogues typically were. This attests to the strength and wealth of the Jewish community in the city. This synagogue came into use in the 3rd c. A.D.

The ruins of the synagogue include splendid mosaic floors, some walls and columns, and over 80 Greek and seven Hebrew inscriptions.

Construction on the Temple of Artemis began in about 334 BC by the ancient Greeks, the temple was renovated by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. During the Roman period it served also as a temple of the imperial cult.

Temple of Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the temple dedicated to her in Sardis was one of the seven largest Greek temples (more than double the size of the Parthenon).

Most of what remains today dates from the Roman rebuild in the 2nd century. Only two complete columns and a few partial ones still stand.

Sources

McDonagh, Bernard. Blue Guide Turkey The Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts. New York: Penguin Books, 1989.

Mcray, John. Archaeology and the New Testament. Michigan: Baker Book House, 1991.

Craftsman the Guaranteed Brand

By Brian Freeman

Every man loves tools, whether its the kind for doing your nails or getting the nails dirty—which I prefer. If you're looking for a gift for the man who enjoys using tools, then this is the article for you.

In order to fix anything you must have the proper tools, and in the world of tools, Craftsman is the most trusted brand.

Consider Craftsman tools the Gucci of the tool world for one good reason—the Craftsman hand tools are guaranteed forever. According to Craftsman website, “If any Craftsman hand tool ever fails to give complete satisfaction, return it to Sears for free repair or replacement.” This warranty for the consumer gives specific rights to return any hand tool for any reason, which means they have an unlimited lifetime warranty.

This lifetime warranty program was instituted by Sears when they began selling the Craftsman line in 1927 and requires no receipt or dated proof of purchase. If the owner takes the item into a local retail store, it may be replaced or repaired free of charge—no questions asked.

This guarantee is the most coveted among tool-aholics, and it's one of the reasons why Craftsman tools are the most purchased tools in the United States. Craftsman tools are very expensive new, but the trick is find them used at pawn shops, flea markets, or buy them from somebody who has no clue about the warranty.

Personally, I travel to flea markets to buy used Craftsman tools. The tools often look broken or rusted, but it does not matter because it is all covered by the warranty. Just to give an example, I bought large ratchet from a flea market which only cost four dollars. I returned the ratchet to the Sears store and got brand new 25 dollar ratchet.

Buyer beware this only applies to handtools (i.e. cutters, ratchets, wrenches, sockets, etc.). Electrical tools have a limited warranty that is usually still very good, but I am wary to purchase them.

Check online to view the warranties on electrical tools before buying.