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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: HOT ZONE DOCUMENTARY

Hot Zone Documentary, Chapter Two: Somalia

Amid the anarchy of Somalia, searching for evidence of al-Qaida and visiting the site of the infamous 'Black Hawk Down' battle.

By the Hot Zone Team, Wed Oct 3, 9:37 PM ET

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"A World of Conflict" is the documentary about the "Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone" project, in which veteran war correspondent Kevin Sites reported from every major global conflict in one year, in an effort to understand the costs of a world perpetually at war.

We are highlighting one chapter of the documentary each week in chronological order, allowing you to see the film in its entirety — entirely online. This week's chapter features Sites' reporting from Somalia.

The documentary is included with Sites' new book, "In the Hot Zone: One Man. One Year. Twenty Wars." (The Harper Perennial paperback original is available for presale now at Amazon.com.)

The documentary contains searing, never-before-seen images of combat and its lingering impact on civil society, beginning with the anarchy of Somalia in September 2005 and culminating with the explosive war between Israel and Hezbollah in summer 2006.

Along the way we meet both the perpetrators and the victims of conflicts; armies and insurgents; child soldiers and child brides; tales of heartless degradation and inspiring resilience.

The film also documents Sites' return to Fallujah, Iraq, the scene of a controversial battle where he videotaped a U.S. Marine killing a wounded, unarmed Iraqi insurgent inside a mosque.

A World of Conflict puts a human face on war, ultimately imploring us as global citizens to assume greater responsibility by becoming more aware.

Chapter 2: Somalia 

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Sites chose Somalia as the first location of the project. If any place embodied the concept of a "Hot Zone" it was Somalia, a nation that had been without a functioning government for over a decade. 

In this chapter, shot in Sept. 2005, Sites visits the site of the infamous "Black Hawk Down" incident, where an American Black Hawk helicopter was shot down during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.

Sites also reports on Islamic fundamentalism in Somalia, exploring whether al-Qaida had set up shop amid Somalia's anarchy. He interviews Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys (pictured above), a hardline cleric who, just a year later, briefly took control of Somalia when a council of Islamists wrested power from secular warlords.

Aweys was tapped to head the council, but didn't hold power for long; the interim government, backed by Ethiopia, soon defeated the council.

Hot Zone Somalia coverage archive  

Next: Hot Zone Documentary, Chapter Three: Congo
Previous: Hot Zone Documentary, Chapter One: Introduction
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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
I wonder how much have we been lied to
Posted by garciacv79 on Tue, Oct 23, 2007 12:00 AM ET
2
Why does Yahoo news not show commercials between "Hot Zone" episodes? What motivation could a big player in a super-competitive business possibly have to just throw money away like that? Three words: Propa. Ganda. Duh!
Posted by scastaneda109 on Tue, Nov 6, 2007 6:26 PM ET
3
The documentaries are invaluiable and meritorious. The scary part is the real players, the power(s)/people and obscured reasons that is behind the scene and their engine to attain their objectives. Like water, Money and politics and greed seeks its onw level has no borders. What we are seeng in the documentaries are the pawns, faces, victims and locations that are the results. As for the firast comment? Each moment a politician and the "turst us" media opens their mouth. And guess what? The show continues on as planned and AS the New yorkers say...."IN YOUR FACE PAL!!".
Posted by crhernandez13 on Thu, Nov 29, 2007 11:41 AM ET
4
the only entity more evil than the villans shown on this video of human devestation is the people who watch it and do nothing including supposed Christians like myself. yes, we have been lied to because we feel more comfortable accepting the lie.
Posted by karmamaticvisuals on Mon, Dec 3, 2007 1:53 PM ET
5
most nations who opt for war still do not learn from history at all, just go to show how greedy some people change and abuse what is given them, just like small kids who never stop asking for more
Posted by kskhoo_71 on Tue, Dec 11, 2007 7:58 PM ET
6
I have a lot of respect for the marines who risk their lives trying to protect their land. They are the closest things to "heroes" we can ever get. I, however, have no respect for the people up there who send them to their death fighting a fight thats not even theirs.
Posted by iancwm on Tue, Dec 18, 2007 10:19 PM ET
7
basically after reading the comments like "supposed Christians" are you putting yourself down because you view and do nothing? There are many christian ways to help, prayer #1. I also have the highest regard for all the soldiers from the different countries that are trying to protect our world. Let's not be naive enough to think that we will always be living in America free, if we don't take the fight elsewhere. Wait I have another truth, most countries don't have to start a war here. They are just silently buying up businesses, as unimportant as AMPM's or convenience stores. So you think 9/11 was a ploy??? I believe it was real. I despise war, but I despise people who call themselves, "peace activists" they are trying to make a mockery out of our men and women who are seriously trying to protect our country, no matter whose fight you think it is. No, they don't want to leave their families and perhaps die at all ages, but they do it on a volunteer basis. Remember we don't have the draft. As one who sacrifices family time and long periods without seeing a loved one. I'm willing to do this for all of us. If one Christian is found or one child really sees the kind part of Americans, Canandians, ,etc then all was not lost.....!!!
Posted by v4wwjd on Tue, Dec 25, 2007 5:10 PM ET
8
All those who are confused about the purpose of war should pay closer attention to the politics of nations. How stupid is it to spread democracy through the barrel of a gun? War efforts of nation are never about freedom but resistance by the people is always about freedom, lets not get the two confused. Von Clausweitz says about war.." is a continuation of state policy by other means."
Posted by black_a_moor on Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:23 PM ET
9
basically put, we are all in a world of hurt, everyone's all talk and no action, how much longer will the weight of pain and suffering around the world go on, before civilazation cracks from the immense weight, it's a thin line between peace and anarchy, and i cant remember a time when there has been peace in this world, i've been around for twenty-eight years, and things remain the same, the planet is rolling backwards towards doom. with fragile government holding power it's just a matter of time before the @#$% hits the fan...... remember mad max...... we are not the far from living like that in the near future. MAY GOD SAVE US ALL
Posted by champjah on Sat, Jan 19, 2008 11:39 AM ET
10
To the confused Americans, no Iraqi has ever harmed the land of America in the history of mankind. God bless the patriotic Iraqis who Kill those the foreign invaders that have invaded and occupied their lands. I am a former US Marine and would also kill anyone who invaded my land. Today, I piss on the graves of dead American Troops who are in Iraq. My morals and ethics do not change for I have integrity. Heil Bush the fascist war criminal and murderer. Jail Bush.
Posted by chrisyes43 on Mon, Mar 3, 2008 1:02 PM ET

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in memoriam

The Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone team dedicates this site to Marla Ruzicka, a fearless voice of compassion, who was killed in Iraq on April 16, 2005, while trying to lessen the suffering of others. For more information, see Civic Worldwide.