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Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan: Afganistan 2001-2007 (Elite) | 
 enlarge | Author: Leigh Neville
Creator: Ramiro Bujeiro
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $11.66
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Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 40438
Media: Paperback
Pages: 64
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 7.2 x 0.2
MPN: OSPELI163
ISBN: 1846033101
Dewey Decimal Number: 958.1046
EAN: 9781846033100
ASIN: 1846033101
Publication Date: July 22, 2008
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Product Description
Special Forces Ops, Afghanistan
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| Customer Reviews:
 Decent, but comes with limited shelf-life September 24, 2008
R. A Forczyk (Laurel, MD USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Osprey has always been keen to get books out quickly on on-going conflicts and this carries with it the advantage of immediate relevancy but the disadvantage of limited data available. One of the latest volumes in the Elite Series, Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan by Australian researcher Leigh Neville, is typical of this trend. It is an attractive volume, with numerous color photos, that offers an appealing subject for a fairly wide audience. However, like Osprey's earlier volumes on the Soviet War in Afghanistan or the Modern Soviet Army Today, this is the kind of volume that has a limited shelf-life of approximately 2-3 years before it is OBE. I have a number of similar earlier Osprey volumes on my shelves, on Panama and Grenada, that now seem rather trite. In any case, this volume does offer some nice photos and information to readers today, even though it is likely to seem rather thin in a few years. Furthermore, the volume is heavily focused on operations in 2001-2002, with only brief coverage of later years.
The volume begins with a brief discussion of the American decision to intervene in Afghanistan in 2001, the nature of the Taliban and the initial organization of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). General readers should beware that this volume is loaded with so much special forces acronyms and jargon (the author does provide a short glossary on page 2 - keep that handy) that it becomes unpleasant to read at times. The author then moves into a 9-page section on initial operations in October-December 2001 and a 5-page section on Operation Anaconda in 2002. After that, the author provides a 4-page sub-section on UK Special Forces (SAS and SBS) and a 5-page section providing capsule descriptions on other coalition special forces (incl. Australia, Canada, Czech, France, Germany, Italy, etc). Final sections cover special operations since Anaconda (6 pages) and weapons and other equipment. There is also a brief nod to private security contractors. The color plates in the center include four pages of `uniforms' (rather an oxymoron with special forces), two battle scenes and one plate depicting vehicles.
On the positive side, the author has approached this subject earnestly and he has attempted to provide as comprehensive a picture of SOF (Special Operations Forces) in Afghanistan as possible in a 64-page format. However, the focus seems to rest heavier on the `sexy' aspects of SOF: Direct Action and Surveillance by `operators' with only a nod given to training Afghan militias, civil affairs and psyops (all part of special operations). There is virtually no mention of SOF logistics or C3I in this volume, but a great deal on every different variant of the M4 that is carried. Hence, the volume is a bit weighted toward `action' content. The author does provide a number of comments from anonymous SOF troops in the field (I think a number of non-anonymous interviews are available, if he had bothered to check US Army publications or lessons learned), which add a nice-folksey touch, but which don't add much. There is virtually no attempt at analyzing SOF operations or looking at how SOF has adapted over time, or lessons learned. As such, this volume was written at the very low tactical end of SOF operations, rather than trying to size up how they really contributed to Coalition strategic objectives in Afghanistan.
The volume is also a bit too rosey and uncritical of its discussion of SOF operations. Anaconda is described as merely a `partial-success' rather than as the poorly executed operation that it really was (issues like poorly-coordinated C2, lack of artillery support, Afghan intell leaks not even mentioned). Some of the photos also raise questions: for example, a photo on page 4 depicts SF armed troops in civilian clothes but standing next to a HUMVEE with a Confederate flag - what is the purpose of attempting to be covert but driving around in a US military vehicle with a Rebel flag? While it is clear that some SOF troops need to be covert and blend in (growing beards and wearing Afghan clothes), it is far from clear what SOF troops gain by wearing jeans, Harley Davidson T-shirts and a New York Yankees cap instead of wearing standard battle-dress. This attire doesn't seem to contribute to any tactical necessities but appears more due to distance from normal military environments; I've served with some troops who if left unsupervised for a few days would quickly start dressing like a biker gang. Several vehicle photos raised the same issue: why did SOF troops choose to use a cherry red Toyota pickup instead of a camouflaged HUMVEE. There may be good reasons for some of these choices, but none of it is explained here. Interestingly, I don't see any photos in this volume of the non-US SOF troops pulling this (they're all in proper uniform and military vehicles) and it somehow makes some of our troops seem less professional in comparison. I suspect that some of these individuals were actually contractors, even though the author has identified them as US troops.
NOT VERY ACCURATE September 21, 2008
MOLON LAVE (GREECE)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Good book in general but not very accurate in details about SOF orgnisations and TOE. Artwork is nothing to talk home about.
 A survey of the Western response to terrorist attacks on the U.S. September 12, 2008
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Military libraries strong in modern operations need Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan: it's a survey of the Western response to terrorist attacks on the U.S. and describes the results achieved by specific units operating in Afghanistan. From successes to failures, chapters cover strategy, include many rare private photos and use the author's SOF contacts for unusual embellishment.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
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