Very emotional movie

Rating: 8/10 (24 January 2003)

This is an excellent film in many ways. As an avid viewer of war films, stemming from my very early years during WW2, it ranks high on the list of good ones in my view. However, having said that, I must add that it was very personal and very intense for me because I was in Somalia immediately prior to the time these events took place. The opening commentary by our Austrailian friend, I found to be quite touching. As luck would have it, I was billeted in Baidoa, Somalia with the Australian CARE organization during the UNITAF occupation. I had worked in Somalia as a developmental anthropologist during the period 1985 and 1986 and had Somali students while teaching at the U of Wyoming. I had read Mark Bowden's excellent book and knew several of the individuals involved in the operation. Moreover, Mohammud Faarah Adid had been my landlord when I'd stayed in Somalia before the civil war.
I'm submitting this review in hopes someone will read it because this film should be seen as an indictment of war and the cruelty we humans often heap on each other. Some reviewer extols us to "leave the politics some where else." Crap. You can't escape it. Viewing this film as our President and his lackeys prepare this nation for more war so the rich can enjoy more wealth and the nation can enjoy cheap and pollute the environment with gas-sucking SUVs is pure politics. No rational human being likes it. But like it or lump it, that's what this film is all about.
The youth of our nation and the Somalis paid a terrible price for the follies of our leaders. Let's hope we can learn something from it.