Secret Soldiers: Special Forces in the War Against Terrorism

My only complaint about this book is it should have been written as a series of 3 or 4 books. There's is a ton of info in the book, though sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming (especially in the first few chapters).Lots of information that I never knew, even though this is a subject I love to read up on. The author is able to keep all the info interesting and exciting to read. Lost a lot of sleep by staying up too lake on worknights reading this darned book. :)A great read for those just getting into terrorism / counterterrorism research, or for the old pros.

To dive right into it: this is a must-have space filling object in the already-read-and-want-to-read-again-department of your bookcase when you're the slightest bit interested in counterterrorism. This book provides a excellent overview of 30 years of terrorism and counterterrorism, worldwide. Although in my opinion too concise in certain points, and the chapters 1 to 3 are 'guilty' of this because of their dry summary of (practically) every terrorist act in these past 30 years (my advice: don't read these chapters consecutively in one day), the overview is detailed, extensive and complete. Especially the chapters regarding to some of the most important counterterrorist operations (for example the raid on Entebbe, and the assault of the Iranian Embassy in London, as well as thirty years of activities in Northern Ireland) are very interesting and may give some new information to the relative layman. These chapters also puts the motives for the terrorists and their acts in a historical point of view, which provides a better comprehension of these acts. And to top it all, I've learned about counterterrorist units I didn't know existed (for example the American ISA or the French 29SA)....... and I have read quite a few books on the subject.Beside chapters 1-3, the last minor downside in this book is the overextensive attention drawn to the invasion of Grenada by the US military in 1983. Although the counterterrorist units Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 were involved, this operation can not be considered a counterterrorist operation; the use of the word 'invasion' was deliberate. Even the author points this out after the story about the operation. These cost the book its fifth point, but just marginally so.Again, for any one interested in the suject: you must have this book as a referncebook, but better to read it; once you have started in this very good read, it's difficult to close it..... and you just get motivated to know more. The world feels just a bitter saver just for knowing the contents of this book.

To dive right into it: this is a must-have space filling object in the already-read-and-want-to-read-again-department of your bookcase when you're the slightest bit interested in counterterrorism. This book provides a excellent overview of 30 years of terrorism and counterterrorism, worldwide. Although in my opinion too concise in certain points, and the chapters 1 to 3 are 'guilty' of this because of their dry summary of (practically) every terrorist act in these past 30 years (my advice: don't read these chapters consecutively in one day), the overview is detailed, extensive and complete. Especially the chapters regarding to some of the most important counterterrorist operations (for example the raid on Entebbe, and the assault of the Iranian Embassy in London, as well as thirty years of activities in Northern Ireland) are very interesting and may give some new information to the relative layman. These chapters also puts the motives for the terrorists and their acts in a historical point of view, which provides a better comprehension of these acts. And to top it all, I've learned about counterterrorist units I didn't know existed (for example the American ISA or the French 29SA)....... and I have read quite a few books on the subject.Beside chapters 1-3, the last minor downside in this book is the overextensive attention drawn to the invasion of Grenada by the US military in 1983. Although the counterterrorist units Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 were involved, this operation can not be considered a counterterrorist operation; the use of the word 'invasion' was deliberate. Even the writer points this out after the story about the operation. These cost the book its fifth point, but just marginally so.Again, for any one interested in the suject: you must have this book as a referncebook, but better to read it; once you have started in this very good read, it's difficult to close it..... and you just get motivated to know more. The world feels just a bitter saver just for knowing the contents of this book.