Elite Forces

Since the siege at London's Iranian Embassy in 1980, the reputation of special military units such as the SAS has grown steadily. It is now taken for granted that special forces are ideal for a world of small, balkanised conflicts and terrorist activity: with a tactical focus that minimises casualties, they can also be viewed as 'election-friendly' for democratic governments. In a compellingly written but easy-to-use reference format, this book examines the international history of Special Forces from inception to deployment. It looks at all aspects of the overlap between elite forces and the worlds of intelligence and counterterrorism, also taking an objective look at the controversial role of Special Forces and 'freelancers' in covert operations such as assassination. Fully up-to-date, it looks at the relevance of Special Forces to the global fallout of September 11, their role in Afghhanistan, the former Yugoslavia, the Middle East and a potential second invasion of Iraq. Importantly, it separates the reality from the macho myths to make for a authoritative, often frightening read.
Key Selling Points
- Global in scope: every major International Special Forces unit is covered, from the Delta Force to SAS
- Fully up-to-date
- Packed with tales of daring and heroism - but also debunks the macho myths
- By the author of the critically acclaimed Espionage
- The air of mystery surrounding Special Forces ensures frequent media coverage
- Author will promote, is well connected within the media, and writes for the Daily Mail and the Daily Express