Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The operation was a clusterfuck, and it was Bush's.* I'm glad that we were trying to help the Somalis and all, because they certainly need the help, but we went in without giving much thought to the political dynamics there, and then got into a shooting war with one faction without even realizing it.
Two books about this from different perspectives, both very much worth reading:
 
Bowden's book is from the perspective of the U.S. military. Hartley is African and was a journalist in Mogadishu.
* eta: I didn't mean this to be nearly as harsh as it sounds. Bush got us into Somalia. Clinton inherited the mission, and by all accounts didn't pay much attention to it until things turned sour. The strategy of fighting with Aidid's clan belonged to military commanders, and can't really be attributed to either president.
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Speaking of U.S. military perspective, there was a fascinating Frontline last night, which was entirely done while embedded with a unit in Southern Baghdad last November. I feel like you never get much perspective about what it is like on the ground from the main stream media, but this did a very good job. It was both hopeful and discouraging at the same time, but really made our troops looks professional and committed.
