Keeping it real

Rating: 8/10 (21 September 2009)

Having served, I appreciated the reality with which Black Hawk Down was presented. For example, the Ranger falling to his death because he missed the repelling rope as the Black Hawk maneuvers to avoids enemy fire, showcases an unavoidable mishap. For me this movie revealed some of the subtle and rarely talked about realities soldiers face daily. It also showcased some of the overlooked political realties. Conflict is conflict; but real combat is a major advantage for real life guerilla fighters. Yes, our soldiers are well trained, but nothing prepares a soldier for combat like combat. Our soldiers do not have the opportunity to fight as much as militia fighters; yet we are always fighting battles in our enemy's backyard creating a distinct disadvantage for our soldiers; and if they loose, for our militaries' reputation. And we always underestimate their (third world guerilla fighters) level of experience. We usually fail to take them serious until they kill one of our soldiers. This arrogant American mentality puts our soldiers at another distinct disadvantage. In one of the scenes the Ranger commander disagrees with the Delta Forces Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) and subsequently reprimands him by telling him, "you are combat ineffective soldier!," for disobeying his directive in front of his subordinates. This may have been the most realistic depiction in the entire movie. Anyone who's been in the Army knows that Delta Forces soldiers are on an elite level rarely seen in any military setting and should be respected as such. It's not that I recommend or condone disobeying orders, I think experience trumps ego's and should be set aside during stressful situations. The egotistical infighting of arrogant leadership may be the military's most lethal killer....of American troops! Ironically, one of the most pronounced differences between the experienced and not so experienced combat soldier, is the level of compassion with which they approach life. Those soldiers that have experienced combat shy away from bravado, while those that haven't actually seen war seek the glory of the stereotypical brave man. This overlooked aspect of military life is rarely exposed, but still puts lives at risk. "It's amazing what can be accomplish, if it weren't for ego's," Ronald Reagan. The method of international target selection also needs to be improved. The U.S. will always be called upon to help other nations with their political mishaps. (And don't discount the difficulties NATO Forces have communicating with each other.) But at some point we're going have to learn to be painfully selective. Don't we owe it to the parents of the young men and women who are, were and will be killed or maimed, to produce tangible results from these skeptical overseas missions? I'm sure they would think so. It's condescending of us (the US) to downplay the patriotism of the families of our nation's fallen soldiers, by nonchalantly selecting insignificant international political targets. Black Hawk Down not only successfully salutes the soldiers involved in the Somalia experience with it's authenticity, it succeeds in showing the audience the always miserable and chaotic circumstances our soldiers face while in the exercise of heated international conflict.