[link|http://www.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/default16.asp|Blackhawk Down] is a 30 part series that originally appeared in 1997 in the Philadelphia Inquirer. It is, as best as could be managed, a documentary of a real firefight in Somalia in 1993.

It is well worth a read for many reasons. Two of the best are as an outstanding description of what combat is really like, and as a reminder of what depths of hatred a civilian population can reach against a military presence - even when the military presence started with strong public support and had reasonably limited goals. Obviously any conflict in Afghanistan etc would involve less local public support, more forces, and far more ambitious goals.

For those who don't know the circumstances and background to the fight, the following [link|http://www.philly.com/packages/somalia/nov16/rang16.asp|introduction] may help.