10 War Films That Were Basically Just Propaganda

Based on true events, the film follows the story of US special ops fighting in Somalia. They were tasked with protecting UN peace-keepers during a civil war that took place in the early 90s.

During the conflict, Somali forces gunned down two US helicopters. In the ensuing battle, 18 US soldiers were killed and 73 were wounded. The American public was further horrified by live CNN coverage of the event. After a few months of bad press, the Clinton administration pulled US troops out of Somalia.

Some may have seen this as a dark moment in US history, and Ridley Scott’s film could be viewed as a caution against US military intervention. In fact, this is how the film’s star, Josh Hartnett, described the movie.

But, top military brass in the country saw the film in a much more positive light. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz called Black Hawk Down a “powerful film.”

The film was also praised by Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Oliver North, the mastermind behind the Iran-Contra Affair. That’s not to say these men are pro-war, but they’re not not pro-war.