Blackhawk Down Paper Assignment

[mr02060]

Hello Rangers,
I have a question regarding a paper that I have to write over the book "Blackhawk Down" for my military history class this summer. My instructor is an ROTC instructor who is training at Ft. Rucker this summer and is difficult to get into contact with. This is my paper assignment,

1.Throughout the book there are several incidents that show the complexities and confusion of an asymmetrical battlefield. When the U.N. Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) arrived on National Street, Harrell said, “I thought everyone was loaded.” Who was he talking about? Name two other incidents in the book where the leadership either failed to lead or failed to properly coordinate and what negative impacts did it have on the mission?

I was wondering what an asymmetrical battlefield was. The paper has to be 5 pages long (which seems kinda long considering he is only asking a.) who Harrell was referring to and b.) two incidents of failed leadership.)

Any further input would be appreciated. I understand that this book is based on Rangers and other personnel that roam these forums.

[rgrwest]

Just a hint....asymetric means no front lines. There are no divisions between the enemy, local populace and the US Forces. Does that help a bit?

[mr02060]

Roger rgrwest. Thanks for the clarification.

[K.Ingraham]

Five pages is a gift for such a complex subject. Focus early and narrowly.
Read some of the other sources out there, Bowden isn't the only reference.
BHD93.com is another place to try & reach Somalia vets, but since you'll be the #5,458,368th one to ask much the same thing, they'll be unlikely to reply, and as those are by & large the same men as here, unless you strike someone's "he seems like a nice lad" button, you'll likely be limited to print resources. Look for Eversman's book for a primary resource. Then come back with specific questions. The men who were there might be more inclined to answer specific informed questions (yes, that's oxymoronic but it works).
Also, get the director's cut DVD of BHD. One of the tracks is the movie, but the soundtrack is a voiceover discussion between several of the vets who were technical advisors to the film. The PBS & HIstory Channel documentaries are also on that DVD set.

[mr02060]

Roger Ranger K.Ingraham, with the sources you've provided anything but an A on this paper will be unsatisfactory.

[panthersix]

Don't forget the greatest leadership failure of all was when Clinton did not authorize Spectre Gunships and Armor in the first place!

And if it wasn't Clinton, then find out who it was and fry them in your paper! Freakin Armchair Combat Leaders! GRRRRRRRRRR!

[Bravo57]

I'm interested to see what you find on failed leadership and the situations you thought where the leadership either failed to lead or failed to properly coordinate.

[mr02060]

Haha Ranger panthersix I'll be sure to mention that.

Ranger Bravo57 I'll pm you a copy of my finished paper. I'm not too fond of the subject, I'd rather have the option of writing about something a little more positive. However, orders are orders.

[KW Driver]

so what's not positive about it?

I'd like to know what you think is not positive and if there were positives to be found there.

additionally, why don't you want to deal with it?

[mr02060]

Ranger KW Driver I thought that the subject of trying to find where leadership failed was not a positive one. But with hopes of becoming an officer one day, learning about failed leadership may be a good thing. I don't mind dealing with the subject at all.

[rgrpuck]

...I am interested in what your instructor would diffine as a leadership failure.

[Dan B 3/75]

learning about failed leadership may be a good thing. I don't mind dealing with the subject at all.

Leadership at all levels make mistakes, however, mistakes can not be confused with "failed" leadership.

"Failed" leadership is leadership that fails to recognize mistakes, and pursues a course of action that has been proven to be unsuccessful, or unworthy of the cost expenditure in lives and or assets.

Tactical commanders, and leaders, tend to learn from their mistakes more so than leaders outside of that realm, as they see the immediate consequence and effect of their decisions, and can evaluate information first hand and undistorted by a faulty communication process.

Leaders outside of the tactical realm must either personally confirm or deny a given situation (the preferred technique), or rely on information that may be biased for one reason or another. Often times, commanders will be told what their subordinates think they want to hear due to a lack of intestinal fortitude, personal ambition, or simple ignorance. What separates the good leaders from those unworthy is the acceptance of the truth, be it good or bad, and the willingness to adapt to the truth if it means changing a course of action.

In our history, we have had military leadership at the tactical level that has been very adaptive, flexible, and willing to learn from the battlefield environment. However, we have suffered significantly from CIVILIAN leadership that has REFUSED to accept or understand what it takes to complete a given mission, and has been DISMAL in identifying and issuing quantifiable missions and objectives.

Post WW II, our civilian leadership has insisted our military take actions WITHOUT garnering the support of our citizens, WITHOUT properly resourcing the force, and WITHOUT having the intestinal fortitude to STAND BEHIND THEIR DECISIONS. Our military has been consistently resourced to win the battle, however, we almost always get short changed in being able to win the war. This is due to our civilian leadership. PERIOD.

The battle of Mogadishu is an example of an assigned mission without the support requested or needed. The commanders on the ground KNEW the potential capabilities of the enemy, however, they were denied requested assets to support their contingencies, ie, air assets and armor. The battle of Mogadishu was WON by U.S. forces. PERIOD. Despite an overwhelming advantage in force size, the ground force COMPLETED their assigned mission, and successfully completed a contingency mission to recover a downed aircraft, AND, they conducted an exfil from the objective. While the ground force sustained casualties, the enemy was inflicted a significantly greater number of casualties.

Bottom line: Just because leaders make mistakes, does not mean they have failed. Failure occurs when leaders keep making the SAME mistakes.

[Lefty]

Don't forget the greatest leadership failure of all was when Clinton did not authorize Spectre Gunships and Armor in the first place!

And if it wasn't Clinton, then find out who it was and fry them in your paper! Freakin Armchair Combat Leaders! GRRRRRRRRRR!

Suggestion: Who was Les Aspin? Did he affect the pre-conflict situation?
How? Was his influence on the situation in Mogadishu positive or negative? Why or why not?

[Ranger Bill]

Danny McKnight says the book BHD is about 90% accurate. He has a book "In the Streets of Mogadishu" that will be coming out soon. In Mike Durrant's book "In The Company of Heroes" he clearly places the issue of failed leadership on the Clinton Administration. And so does McKnight. Both of these men have been speakers at 75th RRA reunions and I had the opportunity to spend some private time with both of them. They make no attempt to veil the contempt they have for the Administration's decisions.

[KW Driver]

damn Dan, you threw him a whole meal, and not just some free chicken. I was kinda hoping he could apply some critical thinking skills (being in college and all) and get there himself.