|
 Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team :: 0312362722
Description
| Product Description |
|
A top-secret U.S. Army Special Operations unit has been running covert missions all over the world, from leading death squads to the hideout of drug baron Pablo Escobar to assassinating key al Qaeda members, including Iraqi leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and, in one of their greatest missions, capturing Saddam Hussein. 'The Activity," as it became known to insiders, has achieved near-mythical status, even among the world's Special Operations elite. Now journalist Michael Smith gets inside this clandestine military team to expose their explosive history and secrets.
The Activity’s story begins with the abortive attempt to rescue the American hostages from Iran in 1980. One of the main reasons Operation Eagle Claw failed was a chronic lack of intel on the ground, so in January 1981, U.S. military chiefs set up the “Intelligence Support Activity,” a cover name for a secret army surveillance team that could operate undercover anywhere in the world. Hidden from the politicians and the government bean counters, it would carry out deniable operations preparing the way for Delta and SEAL Team Six.
Michael Smith has spoken to many former members of the Activity, and we follow them on operations from the war on the drug barons that led Colombian "death squads" to the hideouts of Pablo Escobar and his men. We learn of more recent missions, including snatching war criminals from their safe houses in the Balkans (at one time disguising themselves as French soldiers to lull a Serb warlord into a false sense of security), and operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. Killer Elite reveals the incredible truth behind the world's most secret Special Operations organization, a unit that is at the forefront of the War on Terror.Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
Reviews
Customer feedback
|
|
Voting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Guest
A good example of government censorship in action.. Wait for the follow up in 2078, or after the fall of the empire, whichever happens first.. Oh, the government wants you to shut up for 75 years after the fact.. yup..
|
Author: Guest
I bought this book along with several other non-fiction special forces titles and based on the description and reviews I found here I was expecting an exciting read. I couldn't have been more disappointed. My criticisms of this book are myriad, so I'll just start with Smith's style. The writing is extremely heavy on quoted passages that do not flow well from one to the next, making for a very "broken" reading experience. My other MAJOR beef with this book is that as far as content goes it reads more like a social-political primer than a military story. Smith covers all sorts of topics that are covered much better in books by Bowden, Beckwith, and Haney. I got the feeling at every turn that Smith was severely hamstringed by security clearances in his attempt to tell this story, which is too bad because it could have been interesting. Instead it was page upon page of very common knowledge recent history, usually culminating in two or three paragraphs of actual operational detail. Boring. I'd highly recommend you skip this book and instead read some works by the other authors I have mentioned above. This one just lacks anything worthwhile.
|
Author: Guest
I had the good fortune of segueing into Smith's book after reading Dick Couch's "Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior". Unknown to me at the time, Couch's book laid some excellent groundwork to provide a better understanding of the men in SOF.
Smith pulls no punches, revealing how SOF was considered by many, especially senior officers in the US Army, a renegade maverick group of fighters/warriors. Yet, clearly, the Special Operations Teams (Special Operations Forces) are critical to successful warfare. That is particularly true in this era of guerilla and insurgent style warfare.
These "behind-the-scenes" stealth warriors are essential and critical to strategic and tactical operations. They are the men in the shadows, often immersing themselves in the most hostile and dangerous elements of warfare.
This work is recommended to all US Military (and Allied) personnel, even if not considering SOF for their own journey. The good news is that in recent years these Teams have received greater respect, stronger support and more funding. Anyone interested in the "guts and grit" required within this less-revealed aspect of Military operations should take the time to read this book. That includes Military and Civilian alike.
|
Author: Guest
While being both entertaining and informative, the book is severely lacking. Filled with interesting tales, the book never really capitalizes on the term "killer elite". It is more of a story centered on those that gather intel rather than those charged with exploiting it. I would reccomend the new Robert Pelton book in place of this one.
|
Author: Guest
For a book titled "Killer Elite" one would expect more action. This is not to say that the book doesn't provide interesting information on the secret unit the Activity, just that the book is perhaps mistitled. The author essentially rehashes the work of others going over once again Carter's failed attampt to rescue the hostages in Iran, the killing of Pablo Escobar, Kosovo and "Blackhawk Down." The book also accepts the premise of Richard Clarke that Clinton wanted to kill Bin Laden and that it was the military that was too scared to carry out the mission. For all that Clinton is, a tough warrior he is not. All in all a good overview of a secret unit. It is probably a good thing that the author couldn't find out more about the activites of the Activity.
|
Send to Friend
Send to friend
|
|
