Shadow Warriors: Inside The Special Forces (Commander Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Having spent a chunk of my 12-year military career in and around Special Ops, I looked forward to reading this book. And as a continual student of unconventional warfare, I was expecting the book to be a detailed history of Special Forces, peppered with stories and detail from Stiner, someone who had obviously "been there, done that". It is not.
The subtitle of the book is "Inside the Special Forces", and it is very misleading. Early in the book, some of the history of the Jedburghs and the OSS is given, but the book soon turns into a memoir for Stiner, with Clancy giving a few explanations here and there, and basically heaping his stamp of approval and admiration on the material written by Stiner.
That's pretty much about all there is to the book. As far as the material goes, Stiner was on the inside during Just Cause, and so he presents an extremely glossed over and sanitized version of events. Anyone who was in or studying the military during that time knows that Just Cause was the epitome of a "charlie foxtrot" operation that barely came off. Special operations guys were used as shock troops and some of them - among them a platoon of Navy SEALs - were killed because the 'regular' military didn't know how to use them. He barely mentions this. Stiner was far enough away from the action not to have his career sacrificed by the fallout from Just Cause, so he gets to tell the story of how the military reorganized it's Special Operations Forces after that time. He had a part in that, so for that I guess the book is useful.
All in all, don't be fooled into thinking that the book is as advertised. A few tidbits of useful information are presented here, but not anything that isn't easily found elsewhere. Obviously Stiner is a mover and shaker, and deserves all the respect he commands, but I think it's too bad he felt he had to conceal his memoir in this book. I would have read his story if it was published seperately, but I guess if you could get Clancy to front for you, this makes a great deal of sense.
I'm a huge Clancy fan, fiction and non-fiction, but it's obvious he phoned this one in. Too bad.

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The Son Tay Raid: American POWs in Vietnam Were Not Forgotten (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I met Col John Gargus at a Son Tay Symposium and his book is an incredible description of a multi-level and complicated rescue of dozens of Vietnam POWs! The level of detail described by Col Gargus make the reader feel as if they were participating in the raid themselves! Despite the detail, which can get technical, the book is still easy to read. This is not a story written by someone who researched the raid. This is a story written by someone who was there! The heros described in this book defined what it means to be an Airman before the Airman's Creed was developed! A MUST READ!

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In May 1970, aerial photographs revealed what U.S. military intelligence believed was a POW camp near the town of Son Tay, twenty-three miles west of North Vietnam's capital city. When American officials decided the prisoners were attempting to send signals, they set in motion a daring plan to rescue the more than sixty airmen thought to be held captive.On November 20, a joint group of volunteers from Army Green Berets and Air Force Special Operations Forces perfectly executed the raid, only to find the prisoners' quarters empty; the POWs had been moved to a different location. Initially, the Son Tay raid was a devastating disappointment to the men who risked their lives to carry it out. Many vocal critics labeled it as a spectacular failure of our nation's intelligence network. However, subsequent events proved that the audacity of the rescue attempt stunned the North Vietnamese, who implemented immediate changes in the treatment of their captives. They consolidated all Americans from their incarceration in camps to a single downtown Hanoi location where prisoners could take better care of each other. The operation also restored the prisoners' faith that their nation had not forgotten them.John Gargus not only participated in the planning phase of the Son Tay rescue, but also flew as a lead navigator for the strike force. In the last few years, he has immersed himself in relevant documents that have been declassified. He has also conducted extensive interviews with others involved in the secret mission. The Son Tay Raid incorporates this wealth of unpublished material--air operations planning and training, ground preparation, interviews, and even North Vietnamese perspectives--with Gargus's own experience. No previous account of this top-secret action has given so many details or such insight into both the execution and results of Son Tay. This book will be an invaluable addition to the history and historiography of the Vietnam War.

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Prodigal Soldiers: How the Generation of Officers Born of Vietnam Revolutionized the American Style of War (An Ausa Institute of Land Warfare Book) Review

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(More customer reviews)When you read a book like this and have seen the Army at its best and worst. That and have seen the gradual improvement to where the Army is today, i.e. one of the most trusted institutions and one of the greatest killing machines since the Roman Legions under the early Caesars. I just feel better and safer. That and I want to thank all those who did not turn tail and run away from the wreck of the post Vietnam War Military but stayed and fixed it. God Bless you all!

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David's Tool Kit: A Citizen's Guide to Taking Out Big Brother's Heavy Weapons Review

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(More customer reviews)Toward the beginning of Chapter one Benson reminds us that those who do not read and heed history are doomed to repeat it. Then he goes on to give a few historical examples where outnumbered citizens and soldiers were able to repel invaders and inflict serious damage as well, aided at least, by low tech weapons. Using the battle of Verdun and a few others as examples, he also reminds us that if you have a lot of heart, using archaic methods against superior weapons will do you no good at all. That isn't pie in the sky advice at all or contrary to the premise of the book either. Right up front he tells you that you need weapons. Then he goes on to tell you what weapons are useful and either how to make them or where to find the informtion so you can. Along the way, Benson gives examples of skirmishes here and there or situations that arose in his own experience and what was done there. Perhaps not the history we read about in school, but nevertheless, the kind of thing we should pay attention to. He goes on to describe some of the fine points re Molotov cocktails and makes sure the reader knows there is far more to it than what can be said in a few pages. He also covers flame throwers, claymore mines, how to generate smoke, using two-way radios and a wealth of other obscure information to the fledgling. Essential how to on self defense. This is a very informative book, and the information is given in a thought provoking manner. The Loompanics site has many surprising books or you can order from 8003802230.

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Force Recon Command Review

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(More customer reviews)Sir, Your accounting of the abilities of our teams brought back so many memories. The price we had to pay is still so unknown to so many. I carry the memory of my friend and teammate Sgt.A.Garcia with me every day. I am proud that I had the honor to serve under you and with men like him. For those who fought for it freedom has a taste the protected will never know.
Doc Parrish 3rd. Force Recon 1969-1970

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THE A SHAU VALLEYWHERE THE NVA WAS KING . . . In order to prevent surprise attacks on U.S. forces as they were pulling out of Vietnam, someone had to be able to pinpoint the NVA's movements. That dangerous job was the assignment of then-major Alex Lee and the Marines of the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company when he assumed command in late 1969. They became the tip of the spear for Lt. Gen. Herman Nickerson's III MAF. And each time one of Lee's small, well-motivated, well-led, and wildly outnumbered teams was airlifted into the field, the men never knew if the day would end violently.But whether tracking NVA movements, recovering downed air crews, or making bomb-damage assessments after B-52 strikes, Major Lee's Few Good Men never forgot who they were: Each of them was in Vietnam to live like a Marine, win like a Marine, and, if need be, die like a Marine.Forthright and unabashed, Lieutenant Colonel Lee leaves no controversy untouched and no awe-inspiring tale untold in this gripping account of 3rd Force Recon's self-sacrifice and heroic achievement in the face of overwhelming odds.

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Marine: A Guided Tour of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Tom Clancy's Military Reference) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoyed reading this book and view this as a prized addition to my military book collection. Also as a Marine (77-81) I'd recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the Marine Corps or the U.S. military in general. While I've been a long time fan of Clancy's "techno thriller" fiction work. I feel that in reading some of his other informative nonfiction books of this series like Armored Cav, Submarine & Fighter Wing - he seems to focus more on the equipment & tactics. But in Marine (as Clancy himself points out) that while the equipment is no less sophisticated (in some cases coming off of the same procurement shelves) the Corps effectiveness has always been the result of the quality of it's People. Along with an in-depth view of the MEU (SOC), Marine gives a good overview of the development of the individual. I feel that this book truly captured the essence of what it means to be a Marine. Semper Fi!

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On Patrol with the SAS: Sleeping with Your Ears Open Review

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(More customer reviews)As the author states in the beginning of this book, it is not a historical account or individual memoir. Instead, it is a journey into the nucleus of the SAS. The PATROL is the tool used to propel this account, which is the basic SAS fighting element. This book takes you through selection and training of patrol members, preparation and execution of patrols in Borneo, New Guinea, and Vietnam. This book spares no detail of operational patrols, from the warning order to mission debrief, it is all covered here. The book reads more like a how-to book highlighted with actual accounts of mission debriefs, this is just a treasure of lessons learned, that still apply today. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Special Air Service (SAS), or anyone that is in the military field of Reconnaissance, scouting, sniping or special operations.

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Offeringa unique glimpse intothe heart and soul of the military, this account explores the men of the Australian Army's Special Air Services regiment.The chaptersprovidea clear insight into the rigors of the SAS selection process andtraining.In raw and brutal detail, thenarrative concludeswith a graphic depiction ofcombat behind enemy lines in Borneo and South Vietnam.

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Pathfinder: First In, Last Out Review

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(More customer reviews)I was a Pathfinder in the 101st Airborne after Burns and served two consecutive tours. Although I did not know him, I recognized many names from the book including Torch, the dog. I was rivetted by this factual recounting which was eerily real. With few exceptions, this could have been my diary. I am ordering two more copies for my family so they can better understand a very significant part of my experience. Airborne... all the way!

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December 1967: Richard Burns had just arrived in Vietnam as part of the fourteen-man 101st Pathfinder Detachment. Within just one month, during a holiday called Tet, the Communists would launch the largest single attack of the war--and he would be right in the thick of it. . . .In Vietnam, Richard Burns operated in live-or-die situations, risking his life so that other men could keep theirs. As a Pathfinder--all too often alone in the middle of a hot LZ--he guided in helicopters disembarking troops, directed medevacs to retrieve the wounded, and organized extractions. As well as parachuting into areas and supervising the clearing of landing zones, Pathfinders acted as air-traffic controllers, keeping call signs, frequencies, and aircraft locations in their heads as they orchestrated takeoffs and landings, often under heavy enemy fire.From Bien Hoa to Song Be to the deadly A Shau Valley, Burns recounts the battles that won him the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and numerous other decorations. This is the first and only book by a Pathfinder in Vietnam . . . or anywhere else.

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Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (FAA Handbooks) Review

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(More customer reviews)Way too many pilots are making it through "professional" flight schools, a few years of instructing, into the commuters and finally into the cockpit of large jets with very little rigorous study of aerodynamics. With the emphasis on conservative training, electronic gadgets and such something is shortchanged and that is fundamentals of aerodynamics. This book is the answer as a text, instructor's aide and desk reference.
The product review infers that this is an FAA publication. Thankfully it is not. Rather it is the text that has lead generations of young Naval Aviation officers from diverse backgrounds into the cockpits of jet fighters operating off of carriers and many other forms of aviation. The preface and title page clearly indicate that it was written by Hugh Hurt (University of Southern California); Hurt notes "The purpose of this textbook is to present the elements of applied aerodynamics and aeronautical engineering which relate directly to the problem of flying operations." In this case the client was the Naval Air Systems Command and the book's mission was to provide the aeronautical knowledge required to transition from a liberal arts major to the deck of a carrier.
When I first bought this book I had been flying for several decades. My regret was that I had not read it earlier. Students who use the book in aviation courses will have a significant advantage in their training. It is a great resource book on all things having to do with how airplanes ( and helos) fly and sometimes do not fly.
Considering that the feedstock of Navy aviation is a diverse group with backgrounds from aero to poly sci and that the demands placed on the graduates are huge, it is not surprising that this book was produced. It does a fantastic job of discussing concepts and then providing the math (most of it far beyond my ability) and graphs. However, the lack of a background in calculus does not prevent the reader from gaining priceless insights into the physics and practice of flying.
Yes the photographs are dated and of planes long sent to the boneyard but the physics of flying have not changed since the earth cooled. In fact, with the current crop of flight instructors so affixed to their digital displays, most civilian students will need to study aerodynamics on their own. Want to understand why Mooney aircraft have so many bent props on the 231/252 series, just spend a few minutes wiht the applied problems in aero and some of the basics.
For me the goal was not to understand every topic covered, but to add to my knowledge base, especially as it relates to the type of flying I normally do, and to have an excellent reference. With that goal this book is great. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The author's success is evident in many ways but perhaps most in the fact that after more than four decades it is still the text of choice in many rigorous academic and professional training programs. If I had to pick two books to give a student pilot it would be Richard Bach's Stranger To The Ground and this book. I have also recommended this book to several of my instructor friends as an aid to understanding what they are teaching.

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This series of textbooks and supplements for pilots, student pilots, aviation instructors, and aviation specialists provides information on every topic needed to qualify for and excel in the field of aviation. Most FAA Knowledge Exams' questions are taken directly from the information presented in these texts.This textbook presents the elements of applied aerodynamics and aeronautical engineering that directly relate to the flight training and general flight operations of naval aviators.

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Armored Cav (Tom Clancy's Military Reference) Review

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(More customer reviews)Its hard to compress more information in one small book than Clancy has done in Armored Cav, if you want to quibble with details write your own book and do better! Clancy has to take what he's been given and make an educated opinion of things to say what he has to say. He is wrong about the M551 Sheridan and the BFV for example, but that's ok, he has no direct personal experience.
This is a good REFERENCE book to quickly educate whoever it is you are teaching, which includes America's Soldiers who are still taught by rote memorization their specific tools and not the context of the modern battlefield--Clancy expresses the heavy fight here better than anyone so far. This is a fight with an armor versus firepower versus mobility struggle at its core, and its equipment driven. His biggest failing is not starting with the tracked tank in WWI and progressing through to Vietnam and giving us the historical context of Cavalry and how light tanks and tracked APCs in the jungles of Southeast Asia rumbled all over the countryside and trounced the enemy with light casualties. He avoids this controversy seeking instead to "plant the seeds" of a lighter, more rapidly deployable air-cavalry by describing the M8 "Buford" Armored Gun System as a replacement for the M551 Sheridan light tank, and conveniently not mentioning the latter was parachute airdropped into combat by the 3/73d Armor BN attached to the 82d Airborne Division for Panama. He then doesn't even mention the M8 in Airborne!, his other non-fiction U.S. Army book. This is a serious oversight. Clearly, Clancy knows the Armored Cav he is writing about is too heavy to rapidly deploy and he is trying to "nudge" it in the right direction without the 2-D tanker-mentality realizing it will have to fly in aircraft and parachute jump and have a negative knee-jerk reaction. But by not describing how U.S. armored vehicles were inferior in some ways to German tanks in WWII, Clancy fails to explain why we went overboard with the M1/M2-M3 families, creating the not-enough armor inferiority complex which drives many in Armor branch which has made the force too heavy to move and irrelevent in a world that moves by air.
However the "silver lining" in this "cloud", is that Clancy explains how the Armored Cav is a mini-combined arms team; with almost all the elements of combat power and if he had the history covered up front (easy to do---get Iron Chariots author Ralph Zumbro and add to the beginning) he could have shown that this combined-arms organization came out of WWII mechanized cavalry experiences when we had to fight for our reconnaissance. Clancy needs to mention briefly how the 1st Cavalry Division was once a helicopter Air Cavalry Division and what went wrong in Vietnam and why it reverted back to a heavy formation.
If you pay attention you will see that Major MacGregor was the S-3 for the Desert Storm armored fight described--he is now Colonel Douglas MacGregor whose book, "Breaking he Phalanx" enlightened the entire Army to the benefits of combining arms on a permanent basis--its his Cavalry mentality that is the inspiration behind the Army's current Brigade Combat Team "transformation" effort. Of course, it cost Colonel MacGregor his career for writing the book because he had a few ideas that were best not presented.
This book is a best-seller; I see no reason why it couldn't be updated with a history of mechanized cavalry to the present (pay attention to what the 11th ACR in Vietnam did), the portions on the M551 Sheridan/M8 AGS corrected and it taking on some new ideas and present the need for a lighter tracked AFV equipped "Global Cavalry" (not on road bound armored car wheels) that would be air-transportable in BOTH USAF fixed-wing aircraft and Army helicopters to effect decisive, 3-Dimensional maneuver capabilities. Such a 3-D force would be the ideal compliment to a heavier, 2-D force (not all of the force to conserve weight for strategic lift) composed of M1/M2s. The 3-D/2-D combination would make this force the force of choice for the 21st century.
Update this, book Mr. Clancy!!!
Airborne!

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Force Recon 2: Death Wind Review

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(More customer reviews)To write a book with the kind of action, conflict, dialogue and flow found in Death Wind is obviously a rare ability. You barely know that the clock is ticking as you keep reading, keep reading and keep reading until you end up with the kind of finish that makes you wish the next Force Recon book was on the shelves right now. Smith clearly knows a lot about the military, but he knows even more about how to tell a story. Great reading, great writing, great book.

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High-tech toys.Extreme action.Second in the thrilling new series!After taking out a meeting of international terrorists, the Force Recon team finds itself tracked by the one who got away."Bloody kills and high-tech novelties will appeal to fans."--Publishers Weekly 2nd in the explosive new military action series

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A History of Army Aviation: From Its Beginnings to the War on Terror Review

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(More customer reviews)The definitive history of Army Aviation from the beginning to present operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.If you like aviation history this is a wonderful resource. Should be in every library collection. A great gift for anyone interested in aviation.

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...spellbinding history..., the how, what, when, where and why...some never told and certainly not always understood. This is a story that has begged to be told, ...with sources and substance heretofore missing... Historians, military scholars, and aviators, ...will rely on this work for years.Carl H. McNair, Jr., Major General, U.S. Army (Retired)"This is worth a good read...a welcome and long overdue history of Army Aviation."Joseph L. Galloway, senior military correspondent, Knight Ridder Newspapers and co-author, We Were Soldiers Once...and YoungSoldiers, scholars, and aviation enthusiasts alike can learn much from this comprehensive examination.... ...successfully blends lively and insightful historical narrative with astute analysis. ...unfailingly honest assessment of...contributions to our national defense.Carol Reardon, Pennsylvania State University, author of LAUNCH THE INTRUDERS...tightly written and focused...traces the aviation branch from its inception through two world wars, the loss of a major portion to the new Air Force, ...up through its current role.... ...required reading for anyone who desires to understand...Army aviation.Darrel Whitcomb, author of The Rescue of Bat 21, and Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm...tells the whole story concisely by addressing seven key themes. ...crisp prose and well-chosen illustrations.... This old ground-pounder owes his life to...brave crews of Army birds.Henry Gole, Ph.D./Colonel (ret.), author of Soldiering

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LRRP Team Leader Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was a gift from a British researcher of (LRRP) Ranger operations of the Vietnam War. Thank you John, I will treasure it forever. I questioned how he knew so much about the details of a Long Range Reconnaissance Mission. That is until he sent my copy of the book "LRRP Team Leader." I was assigned to Company H, 75th Rangers in Vietnam 1970-1971. There are no words to describe just how violent an ambush or firefight can be. Particularly in a jungle environment where enemy contact is almost certain to be an up-close, in-your-face encounter. You would have to be there to experience the sound of bullets streaking past you; the exploding claymore mines and the concussion of artillery or rockets fired from a Cobra Gunship within mere yards of your position.Sgt. John Burford has performed an excellent job in authoring this book. He has succeeded in putting the reader right in the midst of the action. One can almost feel the fears, emotions and tragedies through the authors' own eyes and real life experience as a LRRP Ranger. Thanks Sgt. Burford for telling it the way it really was.

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Vietnam, 1968.All of Sergeant John Burford's missions with F Company, 58th Infantry were deep in hostile territory.As leader of a six-man LRRP team, he found the enemy, staged ambushes, called in precision strikes, and rescued downed pilots. The lives of the entire team depended on his leadership and their combined skill and guts.A single mistake--a moment of panic--could mean death for everyone.

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The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry Review

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Having served in the current counter-insurgency conflict in Afghanistan I have a natural curiosity about other tactics and theories on counterinsurgency warfare. The Saints" the Rhodesian Light Infantry" is a indepth biography of one of the most effective and truely light infnatry forces in the history of the world. Over 500 pages of indepth firsthand accounts and stunning photos of the RLI. While it is considered to be an "unpopular war" in the circles of historians, I have found much of the material pertinent as well as enligtening. It is well worth the investment and for any militray historian or buff of the COIN wars of southern africa this is a must have. The DVD that is included makes a wonderful Multimedia companion to the text.


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Very little about the RLI had been published; it was often underrated, but arguably one of the most effective counter-insurgency units of all time. This was the unit that brought the 'Fireforce' concept to the world s attention - the devastatingly ruthless airborne envelopment and annihilation of a guerrilla enemy. Dubbed 'The Killing Machine' by Charles D. Melson, chief historian of the US Marine Corps, the RLI was a veritable 'foreign legion' with over 20 diverse nationalities serving in her ranks. The RLI fought the bitter Zimbabwean 'bush war' for 15 years, against the overwhelming tide of communist-trained guerrillas. Kill rates don't win wars, but during its brief 19-year history, it is estimated that the RLI accounted for between 12,000 and 15,000 enemy guerrillas, for the loss of 135 men. RLI soldiers were recipients of four Silver Crosses and 42 Bronze Crosses of Rhodesia. An RLI trooper holds the world record for operational parachute descents - a staggering 73 op jumps - most under 500 feet! This is a glossy, coffee-table, pictorial format book with hundreds of color photos, maps, rolls, honours and awards. It is not intended as a definitive history but, with more of a classic 'scrapbook' feel, the presentation attempts to capture the essence of this fine unit - what it was like to be a troopie, one of the 'ouens'. We have accessed a host of unique, previously unpublished photos and illustrative material and many former RLI members have embraced the project, generously contributing photos, memorabilia and anecdotes. Ian Smith has written his tribute in the front and the foreword is by the last CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Aust.

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To Be a U.S. Air Force Pilot Review

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(More customer reviews)A great book for anyone interested in becoming a pilot. It tells you all the training you will need to go through and the difficulty of becoming a pilot. It has great pictures too.

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To Be A U.S. Air Force Pilot details every step of training for those with the skill and daring to "cross into the blue" as an elite U.S. Air Force pilot. The book traces the growth of aspiring young recruits, starting with grueling physical and mental tests, early flight training on high-tech flight simulators, moving onward and upward until they are finally ready to push the outer envelope to Mach II in state-of-the-art fighter aircraft. Thanks to the highly motivated, highly skilled, and dedicated men and women of the United States Air Force, America enters the uncertain landscape of the 21st century with the most powerful, swift, and flexible military force the world has ever seen.

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Fortune Favors the Brave Review

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(More customer reviews)This is not a horribly written novel, just not a very interesting one. Mr. Myers could have written a one chapter synopsis that covered the whole book and could have shared some operations that Recon were involved with at it's beginning. In fact, it is just the reverse. He spends the whole book describing the formation of test unit one and all the training that went into forming the Recon. (including equipment testing) Only the last chapter in the book gives some small snippetts about units in combat using the Fulton Skyhook and SPIE rigging extraction methods. All in all a very technical but boring book. Good for those who want to know what type of material that was selected for special forces parachutes or for spie rigging ropes....

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At the end of World War II, when daring marine reconnaissance units made a life-and-death difference in island warfare in the Pacific, a secret unit was formed inside the military. With courageous men risking their lives, Test Unit 1 experimented with new ways of inserting marines behind enemy lines-by sea and by land-and then getting them out again. As America barreled towards a confrontation in Indochina and a new era of warfare, First Force Recon was born...This is the untold, inside story of a super elite reconnaissance force-U.S. Special Operations Forces who practiced clandestine insertion and extraction by submarine, jet aircraft and helicopter, using tools and techniques that had never been tried before. Strapping you in the harness of a HALO parachute, launching from the torpedo room of a submerged submarine or climbing the extraction rig of a hovering marine chopper, Fortune Favors the Brave is a firsthand account of what it was like to build a new strike force from the ground up... to make sure that the next time America fought a war, Force Recon would be there.

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The Generals' War : The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf Review

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(More customer reviews)The authors provide interesting, behind-the-scenes accounts of the political and military players in this war, based on many interviews. What unfolds is far different from what was said publicly at the time.Occasionally, the New York Times reporter's and the retired Marine's apparent biases show through, detracting from an otherwise very good book. They seem to blame President Reagan's administration for not buying mine-clearing equipment for the Marines and the Navy, but then blame the Air Force--and not the administration--for using its money to buy items other than the latest survival radios for its aircrews. They also inaccurately claim that the Air Force developed a new doctrine for this war where they would be in charge of all theater airpower (a doctrinal concept developed by them during the North African campaign in World War II) and that the Strategic Air Command had controlled the B-52s deployed to Southeast Asia during the Viet Nam War (they actually were operationally controlled by the Theater), as well as a few other inaccurate items regarding the Air Force. It became rather apparent that all Services that were not Marines (and to a lesser extent, Navy) were denigrated. An example is their claim that the Air Force required that friendly aircraft obtain two means to verify an unknown aircraft's identification before firing on it in order to hold down the Navy's 'kill' rate (since the Navy had not invested in the systems to install two separate means of identification on each of their aircraft, they needed to contact the AWACS to obtain the second means). The Viet Nam War demonstrated this requirement and for whatever reason, the Navy had not addressed it in the interim--which the authors evidently refused to say. After summarizing what the politicians and military should do differently next time (after acknowledging that the media's outcry that the military had created killing zones north of Kuwait City partially caused the premature ending of the war), they also conveniently omitted a recommendation on what the media should do differently. Although the items cited above and a few similar ones throughout the book are distracting and cast some doubt on the entire book, their documented sources were sufficient (approximately one per page) to make them generally believable. I would recommend the book to anyone wanting to know what occurred behind the scenes, with a caution that it should be read critically and not be used as the reader's only source.

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