Rating: 
Summary: A Compelling Read
Review: Eric Haney has written the definitive insider's account of Delta Force, this country's tactical counterterrorist unit. A founding member of this remarkable organization, Haney first takes the reader through a carefully detailed, richly anecdotal description of the group's months-long, highly-selective and rigorous training regimen. This remarkable section, which comprises the first half of the book, is followed by narrative accounts of some of Delta's early, not always succesfull missions, such as "Desert One," the failed rescue mission designed to free American hostages held captive in the captured American embassy in Tehran, and less well-publicized missions to Beruit, Central America, and Grenada. Through it all, Haney presents the reality, not the romance of the frequently grim, sometimes morally ambiguous world of the dedicated anti-terrrorist. This is a painfully honest, clearsighted book written by a true patriot.
Rating: 
Summary: Factual and entertaining but a bit thin
Review: Inside Delta Force is a strong and fast read. Author Eric Haney gives a first-person account of his ten years as a Delta Force candidate, operator and cadre. The first half of the book covers the intense selection and training process; this didn't come across as tough as I was expecting, probably because Haney describes it in such matter-of-fact passages rather than embellishing the events. The second half of the book focuses on a half dozen real-world operations, such as Iran, Lebanon, Panama and Grenada, but Haney whips past each with such brevity that you don't get a chance to absorb the events. Consequently the first 150 pages covers a single year while the next 150 pages covers nine years.What struck me most about Haney's account is that he and his fellow operators were kept largely in the dark about the nature of their missions. His depiction of the handling of Delta Force was much more like that of a standard infantry unit than that of a super-anti-terrorist unit, which is probably due to the influence of Hollywood. I have no reason to doubt Haney's narrative and I respect that his affiliation/status with Delta Force kept the finer details out of the book. I bought this book as part of a research project on the world's special operations capabilities and hoped to get insight on actual Delta Force operations. Sadly, this isn't described with any more detail than you might get from a newspaper article - facts, but no real details. NOTE: The events of this book end prior to the Gulf War.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Though the book is short on details of actual missions, the details of Haney's training to become a Delta operator is compelling and vivid. I know a lot of people are disapointed by the lack of mission details but it has to be acknowledged that the Delta force isn't even officially/publically recognized by the government due to its sensitive and top secret nature. Undertsandably this makes details of missions not appropriate for public consumption. But for anyone who ever wanted to know more about Delta operators, how they are trained and what the force is SUPPOSED to be used for (counter-terrorism), this book is a must read. It really puts you in awe as you read the skills and concentration and dedication these guys have to be able to do the things they do. I read it in 2 nights, easy. Couldn't put it down. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: Haney is perhaps the best of the best!
Review: Inside delta force was a fascinating look at the world from the perspective of a delta force operator. I am now reading Delta Force by Charles Beckwith, written in 1983. Beckwith, I believe refers to Haney by the pseudonym "Allen" in his book. He says "Allen" never made an operational or training mistake to his knowledge. That is quite a complement from Colonel Beckwith considering the level of training and skill Delta Force required and the company they kept. Haney does an excellent job of explaining the training rigors and operational preparations needed to succeed as an Elite Delta operator. He also at times shows his frustration at the bureaucratic squabbling and occasional incomprehensible decisions made which left operator lives in the balance. I could'nt help but feel at the end that Mr. Haney had given his country 100% and perhaps simply felt spent and ready to call it a career. He has my complete admiration for his thorough devotion to duty even when he felt his expertise may have on occasion been misused. Read his book and get a better understanding of what our best soldiers give and often give up in service of our country.
Rating:
Summary: Insights into America's Secret History
Review: "Inside Delta Force" is a well-written book of interest to people who want to know about the military men who achieve national objectives for the US Government, and the ways they do it. Of course, the author has left out or obscured many details of his story - if he hadn't, he might be in jail or dead. For a student of the "secret" history of the US, two parts of the book stand out: * Haney claims that prisoners of war were deliberately left in Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War, and that a planned Delta operation to rescue them in Laos was aborted after Bo Gritz's grandstanding in the early 1980's. He attributes this to unnamed politicians and bureaucrats who wanted to avoid embarassment and forget everything (and everyone) about Vietnam. * Haney says that he believes a "guerrilla leader" that he killed in Honduras was actually working for the US government, and identifies him as a fellow soldier who participated in Delta Force selection with him. He also makes allusions to the CIA's supposed involvement in drug smuggling in Central America during the 1980's. It's clear that these experiences and others have affected his perception of the US government, and the book benefits from his skeptical perspective. Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Great look at the secret units in the US Army
Review: When I first picked this book up, I could not put it down. Mr. Haney is a talented writer and he keeps the reader interested with his tales of what he did as a member of the Delta teams. Understandably, there are things he could not tell us, or he had to gloss over, and to me that added to the book because it allowed you to imagine what really happened. It would be cool to see Mr. Haney write fiction books based on his military experience, becuase he knows his stuff and is such a talented writer.
Rating:
Summary: An impressive book from an impressive man
Review: I was fortunate to meet Mr. Haney when he was promoting this book at a radio show I previously worked at (The Radio Chick). All I can say is that you can "just tell" Mr. Haney is exactly everything he claims to be. The first thing I noticed about Mr. Haney when I met him was his impeccable posture. Absolutely ramrod straight yet relaxed, the man has a certain poise similar to martial arts experts. The second impression I had was his manners. Born and bred in the South, this man had an ideal combination of the Southern and the Military Gentleman. As Mr. Haney was interviewed on the air about several topics ranging from September 11th, Bin Laden, Military Training, and his favorite military movie (Black Hawk Down, BTW), a third impression was formed: He was articulate, well-spoken, providing intelligent analyses and responses to every question posed. His knowledge of the military was truly in depth and eye-opening. The final impression I gathered, kind of subconsciously, was a level of violence in the man. I don't mean he was a psycho ready to snap. I simply felt this man was capable of, and has performed, actions that can kill or maim a man. But I equally felt at ease in his presence. Odd. As for the book? It is written with a level of pride in all that he and his comarades have achieved, (Defeating the monumentally difficult challenge of joining Delta Force, the Training, The Missions, etc.), but also an equal level of humility. Despite his elite military training, you feel as if Mr. Haney is just another guy who worked hard to achieve his success, but isn't too big for his britches that he can't admit when he made a mistake. He writes about his failures and successes with equal levels of candor. That alone proves to me his tales in here are the truth. One thing that I did not like about this book, but understandably so, is it can be incredibly bland at times. Once I finished the book, I knew everything he had written about was true, but I also felt there was PLENTY he left out. This is likely because he is not allowed to (or doesn't want to) discuss certain "Top Secret" aspects of his Delta Force days. But what IS in there is a great read. I love the little things in this book: The stories that put a human face on the special forces. The awful smell of a hijacked airplane. What happens when you shoot someone with a sniper rifle. His respect for soldiers in other branches of the military. The "Gorilla Mask" incident. The man who ran the soles of his feet off. How different spies use different colors of chalk. How the military wants prideful soldiers but will unhesitatingly smash the egos of arrogant grunts. And finally, his ability to criticize sveral aspects of how the country, particularly the military are run, but in the next breath demonstrate his absolute love and loyalty to both. Well done Mr. Haney. I salute you!
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book, I Want More!
Review: This is an amazing book for a guy like me, who hides behind a screen monitor all day long and never get out in the sun, because it makes me thankful for all the men out there doing their service. Can anyone tell me what the best book to read for the SAS would be? I'd like to read something with the same feel of honesty and accuracy as this book, but dealing with the SAS. I've heard that all the Navy SEALs book out there kinda sux, so I'd like to read up on the SAS instead. Or if you know of a great SEALs book, then please let me know. Response here in the review would be great.
Rating:
Summary: Best Delta book out!
Review: I have read about 30 books related to the topic of SEALS, Green Berets, Rangers, SAS and etc. This book is the best I have come across. There is not one point where the book drags. It gives never before seen insight into Delta that no other book has dared to do. Great detail and action packed. Excellent detail on Selection. Stories about Lebanon, Panama, Beruit, South America and more. The word is that alot of operaters past and present are pissed off Haney revealed so much. A must read if you are a military junky.
Rating:
Summary: The real deal
Review: Inside Delta Force reads like a highly captivating military novel from a first-person point of view. But ladies and gents, fiction this is not. Haney brings to the table the real deal - from learning how to highjack cars and pick locks to engaging in a grueling, gut-wrenching 40 mile hike through God's country. The first half of the book takes place at the venerable Fort Bragg. The initial Delta Force hopefuls that descended upon Fort Bragg were none other than the elite of the elite - NCO's from Special Forces units, Ranger units, and other elite units. Of these elite soldiers, only 7% would be so fortunate as to call themselves operators of the original Delta Force. Interestingly, that 7% acceptance rate of the Delta Force unit of which Eric Haney was a founding member still stands as the HIGHEST success rate in the history of Delta Force. That, if nothing else, puts the unfailing and unwavering tenacity, skill, and determination of Delta Force into perspective. Haney introduces us to Delta Force's eccentric, yet unmistakably brilliant founder, Col. Beckwith. Haney takes us through jaw-dropping exploits in training and later through his many harrowing field assignments in Beirut, The Sudan, Grenada, & Honduras among others. Undoubtedly, a truly fascinating and awe-inspiring book. As Command Sergeant Major Shumate would say, "Have a good 'un!" "We must continue to seek out and eradicate terrorist threats wherever they exist. Delta Force will be one of the principal weapons in that fight."
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