Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces

Rating:
Summary: Mistress of Chaos
Review: A superficial treatment of a complex subject. Why didn't Robinson talk to anyone outside of Special Forces? What about the often questionable deployment of these units? What about all the unecessary death and destruction they frequently leave behind? Why didn't the author investigate the military's reckless disregard for the health and safety of these dedicated soldiers when abundant examples can be found in their training and during and after combat? I'd have given this book zero stars but that wasn't one of the choices.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, the unfortunate title notwithstanding.
Review: After reading a number of rush to print books on the Iraqi War, mostly written by embedded reporters, I have been waiting for this book. None of the earlier works included the war we knew was going on in the west, north and northeast while our conventional forces drove north to Baghdad. Indeed, during the buildup and the first few months after the invasion started, I only came across one or two news accounts that even mentioned SOFs being in the area. Having read Robin Moore's, "The Hunt for Bin Laden", I knew that SOFs had to be active behind the lines in those areas.

The author, Linda Robinson, having covered numerous guerrilla conflicts and Special Forces operations before, was one of the few journalists allowed to cover the Special Forces as an embedded reporter during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She accompanied the SFs from Umm Qasr to Basra, from Nassiriya to Kut and on to the Iranian border. This fact is revealed only in the introduction as she wisely and selflessly avoids the first person in the telling of the soldiers' unique story.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the book begins with a brief but informative history of Special Forces including their formation, their training, Nam, the Balkans and ends with Afghanistan and Iraq. The larger portion of the book deals with Afghanistan and Iraq. As for the Afghanistan War, a truly remarkable story, greater depth is required and this reviewer recommends the Robin Moore book above.

Before the official Iraq invasion date, 1st Battalion of 5th Group launched the first operations of Iraqi Freedom. They were in country the day before the early "decapitation strike" of March 20th. It was their job to search an area the size of New Jersey and locate potential Scud missile sites that could reach Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. In so doing, they engaged in the war's first big fight: the taking of the airfield designated H3 and the nearby city of Ar Rutba. Unlike SOFs elsewhere in Iraq, these teams did not have limited air support.

In the south other members of 5th Group moved north on Pave Low helicopters and MC-130s Combat Talon planes to conduct reconnaissance on the vital Karbala Gap. This dangerous mission, hundreds of miles behind enemy lines, was briefed on CNN two hours before it began by a retired U. S. general. Iraqi TV, apparently picking up the CNN story, broadcast the possibility of their presence to our enemy. Well done gentlemen.

In the north 10th group, with 50 teams and limited air and a force of lightly armed Kurdish militias, performed the impossible. Under Lt. Col. Waltemeyer they took on Ansar al-Islam of Zarqawi fame and racked up unprecedented victories. A Special Forces Battalion along with 26,00 pesh merga captured Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, defeated six enemy divisions, captured 600 and killed 859 enemy soldiers and seized 6,000 square kilometer's of territory. Two hundred Kurds died and only four of Waltemeyer's men were wounded.

The SOF teams performed outstanding accomplishments and deserve an entire book detailing their efforts. But this fine book will more than do until that other book comes along.


Rating:
Summary: An Update Since Viet Nam
Review: As I listened to the Presidential debates, Kerry says that he intends, if elected, to double the size of the special forces. John Edwards in another debate was critizing the administration for using Afgan Warlords to go into the Tora Bora mountains rather than American troops. This would indeed be interesting news to the Special Forces teams that went in with the Afgan troups. It is clear that the history of the Army's Special Forces is just beginning.

A lot was written about the Special Forces during the Viet Nam era. Even down to songs and movies. Since then, they've been around, they were in Panama, Desert Storm, Somalia, the Balkans. Lately the center of their activities have been in Afghanistan (Yes, even at Tora Bora) and Iraq. It's clear that they are going to be around for a long time to come.

This book kind of brings us up to date on what these forces have been doing for the past 15 years. It's well researche, well written and a very interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: ????
Review: I HATED THE BOOK. I ADMIRED THE HEOICS THE SF's have and show during each operation but mixing it with the politics is just wrong. As a soldier it is not their job to comment on freeing individual or any country but when they do that the whole story came apart.



Rating:
Summary: Gripping Stuff
Review: I like reading non fiction more than fiction and even more so after this book. I admire the US Army Special Forces - because of what they do, and I thank Linda Robinson for presenting these stories of the inspiring men who make up all of the US Army Special Forces. One fella who I admire is discussed in this book "Rawhide" - I won't bother you with the details but he is truly inspirational. But regardless of what people think of the war in Iraq and against terror, the men and women who fight it deserve our eternal respect and thanks.

Rating:
Summary: Publicity for those who don't seek it, but deserve it....
Review: I picked this book up at my local library, I went in with no certain expectations but came away very impressed. If you're interested in an in depth historical account of the forming of Special Operations Forces in general, I'd reccomend "Shadow Warriors" by Tom Clancy.

This book deals more with the individials and missions they have been apart of (With Iraq and Afghanistan receiving the most attention due to their larger role).

From training to implementation of their skills in the field Robinson keeps you interested and puts names and faces to the anonymous warriors who put themselves in amazing danger often at the mercy of local guerilla forces who allegiances shift as often as the winds.

A very quick, interesting read for anyone with an interest in special forces, or secondarily guerilla warfare from Vietnam, to Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central America, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: The first half of the book is a brief light history lesson on SF. While Robinson has done some research there's nothing new or enlightning there. I was more interested in the Operation Freedom missions which she covers in the second half. Even though the book is rather sanitized it's a worthy read for those interested in the subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: A surprisingly good read
Review: This is a book that anyone with an interest in Special Forces can read. Easy to follow and understand ( not too technical) I am very pleased with her accounts and discriptions of her "cast of charactures". Having been embedded with some of these men and her interviews with them, you can tell she got to know the men, not just as soliders, but as people. And she did them justice. Most people have the impression of "green berets" as a Rambo type He-man, but not only did the book portray what highly skilled soldiers these men are, but gave them depth and you got to see other sides that the media often fails to show. It is incredible what a 12 man ODA can do, and never take credit for their accomplishments. This is why they are called "The quiet Profesionals", but I have to thank Linda Robinson for giving them a voice. This isn't your typical "war" book, but it offers great insite that both men and woman can appreciate. Would be a nice gift in your husband's stocking for Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling
Review: This is one of the first books to give detailed insights into the actions of the Army Special Forces (Green Berets) during the most recent conflict in Iraq, and the author writes with a keen attention to detail. Her account is exciting in places, intriguing and instructive - the lessons drawn from the incidents illustrate how the SF can be used to greatest advantage.
The final chapter provides a concise analysis from the perspective of the SF of what went wrong on the ground in Iraq.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in how these brave and honorable men operate, the lengths they go to to protect civilians, and the discipline and skill with which they approach their tasks.


Rating:
Summary: Not just blowing stuff up
Review: When we think of Special Forces, the images that leap into mind are usually high-energy gun battles, explosions all around, and a massive body count. We think of Rambo. These images of holiday are largely misleading, and this book will show the reader how the Special Forces are a lot more powerful than we thought.

The first thing I learned from this book is that brains are much more valuable than brawn. Although it doesn't go into much detail on training, members of the Special Forces work on learning diverse languages and cultures to best fit the environment they are going into. Being prepared to fight anywhere at anytime is part of it, but knowing how to get things done and how to work with and understand the locale are much more important. I have a newfound respect for these men.

The book primarily discusses their work in and around Iraq, during both wars, but it also discusses Panama, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Somalia. Each location brought its own concerns, and the soldiers of the Special Forces rose to the challenge. The author allows the reader to meet key characters, which allows the reader to better follow the narrative.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand the Green Berets.