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Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Smith
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.52
You Save: $6.43 (43%)
New (29) Used (11) from $8.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 6893
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0312378262
Dewey Decimal Number: 356.1670973
EAN: 9780312378264
ASIN: 0312378262
Publication Date: March 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A top-secret U.S. Army Special Operations unit has been running covert missions all over the world, from leading death squads to the hideout of drug baron Pablo Escobar to assassinating key al Qaeda members, including Iraqi leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and, in one of their greatest missions, capturing Saddam Hussein. 'The Activity,” as it became known to insiders, has achieved near-mythical status, even among the world's Special Operations elite. Hidden from the politicians and the government bean counters, The Activity has been carrying out deniable operations, preparing the way for Delta and SEAL Team Six. Now journalist Michael Smith gets inside this clandestine military team to expose their explosive history and secrets. Smith has spoken to many former members of the Activity and reveals the incredible truth behind the world's most secret Special Operations organization, a unit that is at the forefront of the War on Terror.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 not very informative November 17, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is about a "secret" government agency called the Activity that has supposedly been involved with or behind a number of covert or clandestine missions for the past 40 years. Sounds interesting, but the author doesn't really provide a lot of new information. The Activity is mentioned as being involved, but the author also refers to the CIA, Delta, DevGru, DIA, SAS and other known groups who were known to have been involved. The Activity is supposed to have the toughest training of any special operations group, but they don't really seem to do much (according to this book). They're more on the intel side than the operations side. Which is fine, but again, not a lot of information on how they gather intel or use it.
 Misleading Title? October 6, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Interesting subject matter and worthy of a book, but the title gives the impression that these folks breath fire and are ruthless killers. Perhaps they are, but the content does not support that view. What the book does do in an excellent fashion is describe the backbone of a military intellegence organization that works quietly and efficiently behind the scenes to collect and process the operational intelligence critically needed by the front line commanders where the rubber meets the road. Those of us who know and understand the special operations community know that the bulk of intellegence gathering is the patient and "quiet" gathering of accurate information (humint and electronic)followed by the distribution and professional analysis of that information. Most of the time, it's not the fire-breathing "killer" with a knife in his mouth who is the real hero, but the folks who watched,listened and assembled the real picture of what's going on so the guy with the knife in his mouth can do his job and come home in one piece. The book's subjects certainly are the "elite", but "Killer Elite" is a stretch. There may be more to the story than the author has shared (and that's OK in my book) but the execution of the ops described in the book is often left to others (Delta, etc.) and to me that's OK too. I'm delighted to have some insight into what these pros are doing and have done, warts and all.
Killer Elite by michael smith August 19, 2008
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team
-The book written is basically a "compilation" of Articles and other Book's over the past 20yrs; some better than other's; some "much" worse. The "Intelligence Support Activity", Motto: "Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit", (with the words "Send Me" on the sword in it's "Formal" Crest). It was formed following the initial rescue attempt of American Hostage's on "holiday" at the pleasure of the Iranian's. This was after the "informal-Gov't Exchange Program," following the Shah's holiday, and "well-wisher's" becoming overly excited with their unabated access to the "US Embassy".
-With the failiure of "Eagle's-Claw", due to the lack of "Tactical-Intel" from "I.S.A.'s" predessor's, the "Foriegn Operating Group (F.O.G.)", and the subsequent mission, "Honey-Badger" was troubled with the "same" Intel problem's, the "Intelligence Support Activity" was formed. ("FOG" was by NO-way the only reason that the 1st OP failed. It HAD the capabilities that the 'Pentagon' had set for it. A member of the "Famous" Son Tay P.O.W. Camp Raid", only miles from Hanoi, was flown "INTO" the Iranian Desert, by a ONE(1) legged Pilot, in a one-engine Civilian aircraft, from a Remote staging site. His 'Mission', as there where "NO" OGA operative's, was to determine 'soil-consistancy' at proposed "Desert-ONE" to support the C-130's, re-fueling flights, HELOs, etc. And to Emplace Remotely-Activated "Landing Lights". There was plenty of Inter-Service in-fighting, as ALL branches wanted to be involed in the "Rescue", even when they were "incapable" of providing the Support they offered; (I would go into this, but then "I'd" be writing a Book in it's self). Not only was the Pentagon hurdle for those that were doing the Planning, and would ultimately carry-out the "OP"(SFOD/D), but "OGAs",with NO in-country "asset's", also wanted their piece of the "Pie"; and with, Thank's to their Cmdr, very LITTLE. However, the 'best' they could do was "Bio-Data" on some player's, and useless "Strategic-Intel", when "Tactical-Intel" was required, e.g blueprint's of the Embassy, which was needed to inable the "conducting" Operator's to have the knowledge as to which way door's-opened, type's of lock's employed, material used in the "fabrication" of the facility, "precise" floor-plan's that were critical to ANY "dynamic-entrance". But to looker more closely, it was not "entirely" the neglect of the above, but their Butchering that crippled them, the mentioned "OGAs", from being to be able to conduct what was an EXTREMELY important mission they were "tasked" with: That being the exploitation of "HUMINT", a major element of their's, and being the "2d" oldest-Profession, from prior to Genhgis Khan, or the Roman Legion's, a primary asset.
-This was acknowledged at the time, and even prior to it. Our, then Pres., "Mr.Peanut", had appointed Adm. Stans-Field Turner, (even-though He was ill-prepared and far-out of his Element of Expertise, with "little to NO experience" in the task he was undertaking), as "D.C.I.(Director of Central Intelligence)". His "mind-set" beginning his new-appointment was to discard what He called "Dead-Wood" at the Agency and to move-it into the "21st Century". He did this by "sacking" personnel, mainly from the "Directorate of Operations" to start, and then rid-the Old-Timer's particularly "HUMINT" Handler's and Analyst's. This caused WIDE frustration!
-He, incorrectly, was under the "impression", from his background, that "SATINT, SIGINT and ELINT" could produce the same, if not BETTER intelligence than human's, due to the fact that they would provide ONLY the Intel required and wasn't not Open to the interpertation of Operative's collecting it. It would be "handled-ONLY by Analysts" skilled in their particular discipline. He attempted to use other Countries, for one Britain and it's "GCHQ".
-However, he never mentioned that during the same time-frame, it had increased of it's "MI-5(Internal)" and, especially, "MI-6(External)", to "still" maintain what it percieved as it's most important asset, "HUMINT(Human-Intel)." Even during this time, The New Scotland Yard had "activated" C-13, for the collection of HUMINT to fight "Terrorism" in Britain propper, and especially N.Ireland. At this time, even the UK Military, had established "Det.-14(Detachment-14)", using many "22 SAS" Intel Specialists(for elctronic colection, using Technical Mean's, such as Laser-Mike's,Parobollic-Mike's,IR & Thermal Imagery; plus, "Covert-Entry Tm's" to emplace them; and a compliment of "Shooter's", to act immediately on "their Intel". As they Operated out-side of the "normal chain-of-command", they functioned with a "HQ section" made-up of Officer's with an "SoF/Intel" Back-ground, authorized to make decisions based on the "SIGINT,ELINT,HUMINT, etcetera", of their "own" Intel collection "wizzard's", i.e. analysts. They could then "immediately" utilize their own "Direct Action" Tm.'s to best handle what the Intel had produced. This could be done "with-out" the months, week's, day's or hour's that would "normally" be the case, and make the Intel-useless; in those former "case's", most frequently when the "hostile's" were gagged & bagged for "de-briefing's", what Intel they had 'access' to was: 1) OBE(over-come-by-event's); 2)the 'Suspected-Terrorists'had lost their surveilant's and disapeared; or 3)the "Action" they had knowledge of, or a Role in had already Occurred. "Det.-14" solved this problem with the "Ability" and "Authorization" to NEGATE their ability to "carry-out" planned impending "atrocities"; "Snatch-OPs" that would lead to the interrogation, and possible "turning" of a Target, i.e. "Dble-Agnt". These "person's/agent's" could then be used to "ID" key personnel or alerting their "handler" to the planning of future OPs against military/police or civilian "targets". This "Operation" with "Det. 14" was "Extremely" valuable, and effective, from it's inception until it's "Deactivation". Member's of it were lost, however, that was seldom Public knowledge. As is the case with Unit's of this type, One does not join for accolade's. It is often only "said" that the death occurred during Training, when in fact you could have "died" with only your Comrades knowing the Trueth, and Their Respect for your sacrifice. THIS is as TRUE in the U.S. Military, as the British or any other. This is ONE place where "Honor" among Comrade's mean's more than your OWN life.
The recent Death of U.S.Navy SEAL, MA2 Michael Mansoor, 25yrs. old was killed by an Insurgent grenade he dove on, to "protect" his Tm-Mate's. How many "civi" friend's would make that sacrifice for "you"? Or of the MoH's awarded during the "GWOT", how many NAME's can YOU recall? NOT all were in SoF Unit's. An MP's family was given his, for using a .50cal MG (M2) to ward off a P.O.W. rebellion, killing over 150+, until being shot in the head. Why? To allow the REST of HIS Platoon to get to Defensive position's to return fire from.
-As a "Security Contractor", operating from W.Africa to the Pac-Rim, conducting "Personal Security Details(PSDs)" with my Tm., or "K&R"(Kidnap & Ransom) negotiation's that turn into "Kidnap Rescue's".
Alot of time is spent with current U.S. Military member's, and because I'm "Mil./Ret.with 21yrs. Service, most in SoF unit's. I spend time talking with current member's of some of my "old unit's". And the "average" troop I talk to, no matter his "job", in Afghanistan, or a mumber of other countries ask's why "OUR" country think's SO little of "them"? I won't repeat MY answer in this Forum, out of Respect. But I often wonder that also. Most of them haven't had the training the Team's
I've worked with have, our ability to "Ignore" comment's that someone "shouldn't" make to/or about a "PERSON" that is willing to give their life, "So they are ABLE to say whatever they want to!" When I hear someone making a joke about "standing BEHIND our Troop's", I usually say, "Then you should try standing IN-FRONT of Them." People seem to think that something like "9/11" could not happen again; if you believe that, you've beat the Osterich to the hole!
People can Watch their Talk Show's, and Debate's! But Until you've looked into the eye's of a Taliban "martyr", and seen the burning hatred in His eye's, or the eye's of an "al-Qaeda", that you captured, after he's killed five(5) of your best friend's Protecting NGO Personnel in the Sudan, YOU WILL never believe the hatred they have for us. Findly a Buddist Monk, who's been beheaded in S.Thailand. His crime was not being a Muslem.
For what our Troop's go through for the "safety" of America, was for me an "honor", as it for those serving NOW. Please show them the Respect they Deserve!
God Bless America.
P.S.
My appologies for leaving the "original" subject; I just learned of the death of a close friend in the Army, stationed in Iraq.
 Killer Elite July 1, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Once again I make the mistake of thinking that, a book about the forces will be intertesting, yes only if you are into politics!!!! There is no actual action stories here, just all the hurdles that, was put up againest, the setting up of a Force like this, very disappointing
just gave up May 30, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I could not agree more with "B"s review. I actually gave up on this book after about 3/4 of the way through. It contains lots of "could have done it if we were allowed" stories. Simply boring.
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