The Battle of Mogadishu, known by many as "Black Hawk Down," lasted roughly 18 hours and cost the lives of 18 Americans and one Malaysian, along with many more allied troops wounded. Somali casualties were far higher, with some estimates nearing 700 dead or injured. Jonathan Carroll, author of Beyond Black Hawk Down, points out that this was just one day in a nearly two-and-a-half-year operation. He joins host and Editor-in-Chief JP Clark to discuss what he has deemed the most ambitious attempt in history to rebuild a nation—the first country to be called a "failed state" after a brutal civil war. Carroll concludes that Somalia offers crucial lessons on the need for a clear strategy and that the events there foreshadowed challenges later faced in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In my view, Somalia isn't an example of why we shouldn't intervene... Somali is an example of don't go in without a strategy on how to get there.
Jonathan Carroll is an Associate Professor of Military History at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a doctoral graduate of Texas A&M University and a former infantry officer in the Irish Defence Forces, Jonathan specializes in analyzing modern military operation with a current focus on the military history of 1990s conflict and stabilization operations. In addition to his recent work on the intervention in Somalia, Jonathan is working on research projects focusing on the UNAMIR mission during the Rwandan Genocide, and the UN/NATO intervention during the Bosnian War.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: A "technical" vehicle in Mogadishu at the time of the UNOSOM I mission 1992-1993.
Photo Credit: CT Snow from Hsinchu, Taiwan via Wikipedia.org
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SEAMLESS SYSTEMS: OPERATIONAL DATA IN THE FIRST ARMY
U.S. First Army partners with the Army Reserve and National Guard to help them prepare for their missions. Melissa Sayers, the director of First Army's operational data team, discusses the mission of an operational research systems analyst (ORSA) and the importance of creating a data-centric military. She joins host Tom Spahr in the virtual studio to explain how her team uses a cloud-based platform called Vantage to provide leaders with a "single pane of glass" view of friendly forces, including data on equipment, personnel, and finances. She emphasizes the importance of leadership empowerment and building trust to drive collaboration and cultural change within a large organization.
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FROM APPREHENSIVE TO ACCOMPLISHED: A WAR COLLEGE STORY
Every August, a fresh new cohort of students arrives on Carlisle Barracks to attend the resident course at the U.S. Army War College. The goal is to educate and develop these senior military and civilian leaders to serve at the strategic level, enhancing national and global security. Maria Gregory shares her hard-won tips for success with host Liz Woodworth. Maria began the 2024-2025 academic year feeling apprehensive but by the end felt transformed (for the best!) Maria hopes the lessons she learned during the "Carlisle Experience" might help others to make the most of the opportunities available during their own studies.
And for all those students that have just arrived be sure to check out our special Back to School series for more incredibly useful information like you'll find here.
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AI-READY DEFENSE: MILITARY INTELLIGENCE IN CENTCOM
Sapriya McLendon, a 2024 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, joins host Tom Spahr in the virtual studio to discuss her command of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) (MIB-T). The 513th MIB-T plays a critical role in providing the ground intelligence picture for CENTCOM, a task they've honed over two decades of continuous engagement in the Middle East. Their conversation delves into the unique aspects of the 513th MIB-T, including its data-centric organization and innovative use of data to enhance efficiency in both business operations and warfighting tasks.
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TRAINING FOR VICTORY: SPECIAL FORCES AND SECURITY FORCE ASSISTANCE
Frank Sobchak, a retired Special Forces colonel and author of "Training for Victory: U.S. Special Forces Advisory Operations from El Salvador to Afghanistan," joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss the complexities of security force assistance (SFA). Their conversation delves into the challenges of measuring success in advisory missions and avoiding deeper U.S. combat commitments. Frank's research, based on five case studies (El Salvador, the Philippines, Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan), identifies key variables influencing SFA success. He cites advisor language and cultural awareness, advisor-to-host nation ratio, consistency in advisor pairing, combat advising, and the ability to organize host nation units. He emphasized that while not all factors need to be perfectly aligned, a majority must be in place for a mission to succeed.
This is the podcast of WAR ROOM, the official online journal of the U.S. Army War College. Join us for provocative discussions about U.S. national security and defense, featuring prominent national security and military professionals.
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