Watch this movie to understand Iraq (spoiler alert as far as spoilers apply to something that actually happened)

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2005)

This movie is simply one of the best movies, let alone war movies, of all time! But when I watched it, I felt anger. Not anger toward the soldiers, or even toward the Somali Militia, but it was directed at those in Washington who set ridiculous ROEs (Rules of Engagement). At the beginning of the movie the militia seizes a Red Cross food shipment and actually guns down dozens of starving refugees trying to get a handful of rice. An American Blackhawk is hovering right overhead and their request for intervention is denied due to a lack of jurisdiction!!! Were we there to help them or not? Then in the planning of the raid, Gen. Garrison's request for AC-130 gunship support is denied, "in Washington's infinite wisdom." As it turns out, they really could have used it.
To those critics who say the Somali point of view isn't brought forth, are we talking about the point of view of men who use food and starvation of thousands of people to make a point? That point of view is brought out in an interrogation scene between a prominent Somali fund-raiser and Gen. Garrison and also another interrogation scene between the leader of the militia and WO Mike Durant. Or are you talking about the point of view of the Somalis cheering on the American soldiers as they finally make it to Pakistani Stadium and security.
This movie shows exactly the kinds of efforts that our troops are making right now in the cities and towns of Iraq. This movie could have just as easily been set in Fallujah last November. The war is chaotic, scary, and intense, with danger lurking around every street corner. Only now we're fighting it as an actual war, not just trying to arrest certain figures. We also have the necessary support and ROEs from the commanders in theater and back home.
I want everyone to pay attention to Hoot's last lines. Notice how a soldier reacts when he sees a family in a house huddling from the violence outside. See what it takes for another soldier, who till then had been portrayed as bloodthirsty, to shoot a woman. These were quick scenes but conveyed the utmost professionalism of our soldiers.