the book is online, (plus photos, audios & videos) click the pic:
Posted on 12/21/2001 4:48:08 AM PST by tom paine 2
he searing new movie "Black Hawk Down" portrays one of the most tragic episodes in America's modern military history, the 1993 debacle in Somalia. But it's good to know some of those real-life soldiers are putting that experience to use.
Consider the character of Sgt. Norm (Hoot) Hooten, played by Eric Bana. He's based on a real Army Ranger, John (Mace) Macejunas.
These days you can find Mace in Afghanistan, where he's part of the Special Forces that drop-kicked the Taliban.
Macejunas and other Rangers helped train Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ron Eldard and other cast members at Fort Bragg in March. The Rangers really "beat up" the movie stars, producer Jerry Bruckheimer told us Wednesday night. On the night before the actors left, he added, "someone slipped a piece of paper under their door. It was a list of the 19 men who died in Somalia."
Bruckheimer said the filmmakers changed Macejunas' name because "officially, guys like him aren't supposed to exist." But "Moulin Rouge" star Ewan McGregor's character required a name change for very different reasons. Called John Grimes in the movie, he's based partly on John (Stebby) Stebbins, who is now serving a 30-year prison sentence for rape and child molestation.
Director Ridley Scott said he went with an invented name because Grimes was "always a composite of several people."
The movie, which comes at you like a tracer bullet, drew comparisons to "The Battle of Algiers" and "Full Metal Jacket" from the crowd that hit the Four Seasons mess hall after the screening where Sony America chief Howard Stringer played host.
Bill Clinton was invited, but he had to be at his office Christmas party. Too bad. The former commander-in-chief is the target of some unflattering dialogue in the film. But earlier in the week, he was heard defending the bungled maneuver, saying the American forces "weren't supposed to go in during the day."
Sony is arranging a screening for him to relive the experience.
the book is online, (plus photos, audios & videos) click the pic:
Yeah right, the Adid was holding his meeting during the day with his commanders , but the rangers were supposed to go in at night. And then sending Pakistani MUSLIM U.N. troops to the rescue was another brilliant move.
They weren't supposed to need tanks either.
Yes, I remember it well. I was thinking about it again this morning. Another boneheaded operation, sending SEALS onto a city public beach with news cameras waiting for them. The SEAL team must have felt like fools. I hope I live to see the day when Clinton is looking out of a window with bars on it.
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