The Battle of Mogadishu—Thirty Years On

October 03, 2023 01:20:20
The Battle of Mogadishu—Thirty Years On
Modern War Institute
The Battle of Mogadishu—Thirty Years On

Oct 03 2023 | 01:20:20

/

Show Notes

Thirty years ago this week—on October 3, 1993—US special operations forces launched a mission in Mogadishu. It was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, which was aimed at capturing Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The mission was intended to be of a short duration. But things changed when, shortly after members of Task Force Ranger launched from their base, fighters on the ground began firing on US aircraft. The battle that ensued—which would later become the subject of journalist Mark Bowden’s book, Black Hawk Down, and subsequently a film of the same name—lasted well into the next day. In this episode, you'll hear three people who took part in that battle. Listen as they share their firsthand perspectives of the action over those two days, describing the challenges they faced, reflecting on what was required to overcome those challenges, and exploring the lessons the battle holds for future Army leaders.

Other Episodes

Episode

October 21, 2024 00:54:24
Episode Cover

The Maven Smart System and the Future of Military AI

Both military practitioners and scholars believe that artificial intelligence will influence the character of war in the future. But it’s difficult to know how...

Listen

Episode 0

November 12, 2020 01:02:16
Episode Cover

The Brain and the Battlefield

In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. James Giordano, the Chief of the Neuroethics...

Listen

Episode

September 05, 2024 00:35:56
Episode Cover

The Modern Commander

Would Patton be an effective battlefield commander today? Do the characteristics of successful commanders generally remain constant over time? Or do they evolve alongside—and...

Listen