Best intelligence & espionage history books according to redditors
We found 187 Reddit comments discussing the best intelligence & espionage history books. We ranked the 86 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Just some basic things can making them getting to you too difficult to continue. Basically make them go a different way.
Some books to learn from (I haven't finished them all yet). Some of these are just to understand modern warfare or conventional warfare which is important to understanding how to get around it.
Hopefully I'm still alive when this type of detail is released about the Jimmy Carter :)
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I also highly recommend looking into the Covert Shores book. It's an awesome read & I can't count how many guests of mine have picked it up & read the entire thing.
Quicksand, by Geoffry Wawro
Power, Faith, and Fantasy by Michael Oren
The Coming Anarchy by Robert Kaplan
The Revenge of Geography by Robert Kaplan
The Shia Revival by Vali Nasr (although to be honest I found this one a little dull)
Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Little America by Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Soldiers of God by Robert Kaplan
Sleeping with the Devil by Baer
Dirty Wars by Jeremey Scahill
Ghost Wars by Steve Coll
Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile
The Way of the Knife by Mark Mazzetti
Eastward to Tartary by Robert Kaplan (I actually haven't read this one yet but it's definitely on my to do list and I'm a huge fan of Kaplan's writing, observation, and analysis.)
The Ends of the Earth by Robert Kaplan
This is a partial list of some books I've read in the past couple of years. I put stars next to the ones that I think are the really really excellent ones. Some of them aren't entirely about the Middle East but the concepts in them are really important if you want to understand the region. I hope you look through the list and at the very least look at some of the books that Amazon recommends to go along with these books.
Oh, you should also check out this essay. I like to think it's decent reading if you want to understand what motivated Bin Laden and the context surrounding his life.
If you manage to read just a few of these, and also keep up with the news (I recommend a subscription to the Economist and to the New York Times) you will be a phenomenally well educated person about the Middle East.
As far as the domestic use of parametric speakers, as the above link suggests, it can be used in advertising.
As for the military applications, the purpose was a "voice of God weapon." The hope was that it could be used, in conjunction with a holographic light show to influence an enemy population, to convince them to lay down their arms and listen to whatever deity was being projected to them.
There are conspiracy theories surrounding this technology, which I would like to make it a point I do not necessarily believe, that suggest the government is planning on faking an alien invasion, or the return of Jesus, using this technology to manipulate the masses into doing their bidding.
EDIT: There is a good book, THE PENTAGON'S BRAIN, that details a lot of the strange weapons DARPA has developed over the years, along with the history of the group.
A serious hobby I'd say. I have done freelance defense analysis etc and a website at www.hisutton.com. And a book on naval special forces history at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1533114870/
Only a few US Navy ships deployed for Operation Urgent Fury, and I don't think they did a whole lot. The ships involved are listed on the Navy's historical .mil site, and you can read a bit about their actions during the operation here. A good account of what was happening on the island itself, from one Ranger's perspective, is a memoir written by Stephen Trujillo. The Soviets published a claim that US forces used chemical weapons during the operation, mentioned briefly here, but it's so obviously false. As u/Batmack8989 says, your best bet is probably to locate someone from the ship your uncle deployed on.
This. And Afghanistan has been the SEALs playground for awhile.
2 great books by Delta Os, BTW:
Kill Bin Laden: A Delta Force Commander's Account of the Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man
The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander
Their primary recruitment pools are Rangers and Army SF (Green Berets). Recommended reading is Charlie Beckwith's book and Eric Haney's book.
Delta is a fascinating subject and it gets next to no press.
I have no advice to give you about chemicals because I think the timing, lack of privacy and the level of scrutiny would make it a nightmare to be on a cycle.
Don't know about the pellets though...wouldn't the be a literal pain when you have to drag your body across stuff (crawling, jumping over walls, etc)?
I have read a ton of books, and one I really enjoyed was "Suffer in Silence", not because of the ficcional story, but m ore so because the author was in BUD/S and it almost sounds like a first person account.
http://www.amazon.com/Suffer-Silence-Novel-Navy-Training/dp/B00A19ZGWM
Also, you can´t go wrong with the books written by Dick Couch...Thw Warrior Elite is awesome:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/431898.The_Warrior_Elite
http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Soldier-Making-Special-Warrior/dp/0307339394
On running, rucks and shin splints:
Start with low mileage, and low weights (when Rucking)...I don't quite remember where they are but there are some protocols that you can search with recommended training.
If you can, buy the same boots that you are going to be issued in school and train with those (running too, after you get used to them).
I got BAD shin splints from running with a pair of boots that felt great, but had the heels a bit too high... I try to stick to flatter soles and use a gel insole.
I actually went to a whole course geared towards millitary/tactical fitness training, and was advised on planning ahead so that I only had to add 10% to my weekly mileage everyweek....with that in mind, I wouldn't choose to train for a full marathon:
On the mental strenght aspect, one think I have to say is that, in several schools, the body-builders and athletes are the first ones to mentally quit...some reasons:
So, for advice, here's some food for thought:
Also: don't quit :)
Bro there is an abundance of resources for information on the officer route:
Current as of May of this year
Couple years old, but still pretty good
Trimhopp went to SOAS and was offered an officer slot a while ago. Dig through this thread and his comments for some insight. He's not active on the sub anymore but I'm sure he'd be willing to answer questions. He's chill.
Breaking BUD/S: Nothing in here we haven't heard, but the author lays out the process pretty well. I'm sure some things have changed since the book came out, but it's a good resource.
u/77dude has a son who went through BUD/S as an officer. Maybe he would also be willing to answer questions. But inform yourself first OP so you don't have to ask anything you can Google. (Not being an asshole, just encouraging the "ask three before you ask me" rule I learned growing up)
Yeah, all due respect Laesyvan, but I've heard and read the direct opposite. All the guys I've known in group have said that SOPC/SFPC does a terrific job of preparing X Rays for SFAS, and they tend to fair a lot better than their reg army counterparts on average during selection...check out Chosen Warrior by Dick Couch. He echoes that sentiment. Plus X rays aren't really hated for their background, if a guy works hard and gets after it, he'll be respected (or at least that's what I've been told).
None the less, if you're really interested in becoming an Officer /u/TheRadSpaceman then all of this is moot anyway. You'll apply to SFAS as either a first LT or Captain, and will have to spend a few years in the regular army before applying - not unless you apply for RASP 2.
Lol, Calm down Kamala Harris. Yes, this is something that is a problem when people are prepared to do something like this.
You want I should link you to homemade firearms and body armor?
Lets start with explosives.
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Technology-Explosives-Paul-Cooper/dp/047118635X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-3
https://www.amazon.com/Explosives-Engineering-Paul-W-Cooper/dp/0471186368/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-2
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Explosives-Demolitions-Handbook-Survival/dp/1616080086/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-4
https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Explosives-RSC-Paperbacks/dp/1849733309/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-5
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Explosives-Prakash-Agrawal/dp/0470029676/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-6
http://www.armchairpatriot.com/Home%20Defense/Homemade%20Guns/Home%20Expedient%20Firearms%20-%209mm%20SMG.pdf
Here's your 9mm machine gun.
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/07/07/simple-compact-low-cost-submachine-gun-prototype/
Heres another
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/07/07/simple-compact-low-cost-submachine-gun-prototype/
A literal pipe and grease-gun gun. hahaha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-aaX4oHpMQ
Video on a homemade win 300 rifle, which WILL pen L3 plate armor, unlike 5.56, whether thats 5.56 Varmint/store carts or 5.56 M855 military.
https://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Body-Armor/
https://www.survivalpunk.com/how-to-build-a-diy-ballistics-plate-body-armor/
https://professionalprepper.org/homemade-body-armor/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Making-DIY-Ballistic-Plate-Body-Armor/
http://www.thehomegunsmith.com/pdf/Poor_Mans_Bullet_Proof_Vest.pdf
Disclaimer: No one should attempt in any circumstances to use this information for illegal purposes.
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So now that I have your attention, you going to bleat your little head off about how "something has to be done!"?
>Name one and I'll check if it's in print
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anarchist_Cookbook
https://www.amazon.com/Improvised-Explosives-How-Make-Your/dp/0873643208
https://www.amazon.com/Preparatory-Manual-Explosives-Jared-Ledgard/dp/0615142907/ref=pd_sim_14_22?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0615142907&pd_rd_r=YE3XPR6BNAJ7QPPPB79C&pd_rd_w=MaMUe&pd_rd_wg=WsPD2&psc=1&refRID=YE3XPR6BNAJ7QPPPB79C
https://www.amazon.com/Anarchist-Arsenal-Improvised-Incendiary-Explosives/dp/0873645804/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0873645804&pd_rd_r=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ&pd_rd_w=aSsXT&pd_rd_wg=b5kBM&psc=1&refRID=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ
https://www.amazon.com/Special-Forces-Guide-Unconventional-Warfare/dp/1616080094/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1616080094&pd_rd_r=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ&pd_rd_w=aSsXT&pd_rd_wg=b5kBM&psc=1&refRID=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ
https://www.amazon.com/Improvised-Land-Mines-Destructive-Capabilities/dp/0873646568/ref=pd_sim_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0873646568&pd_rd_r=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7&pd_rd_w=3UFeF&pd_rd_wg=uLQkh&psc=1&refRID=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7
https://www.amazon.com/Do-Yourself-Gunpowder-Cookbook/dp/0873646754/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0873646754&pd_rd_r=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7&pd_rd_w=3UFeF&pd_rd_wg=uLQkh&psc=1&refRID=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7
https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Powder-Explosives-Tenney-Davis/dp/0913022004/ref=pd_sim_14_6?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0913022004&pd_rd_r=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7&pd_rd_w=3UFeF&pd_rd_wg=uLQkh&psc=1&refRID=Q31YF3KDKYYMJMYQA0X7
https://www.amazon.com/Ragnars-Homemade-Detonators-Salvage-Detonate/dp/0873647378/ref=pd_sim_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0873647378&pd_rd_r=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ&pd_rd_w=aSsXT&pd_rd_wg=b5kBM&psc=1&refRID=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ
https://www.amazon.com/Improvised-Munitions-Handbook-US-Army/dp/1492144878/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1492144878&pd_rd_r=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ&pd_rd_w=aSsXT&pd_rd_wg=b5kBM&psc=1&refRID=7HQK9RPTCDPQC7F4Y9NZ
>Edit: also it would be gross negligence if the UK government still had these bomb making manuals in publicly funded libraries!?
Why?
Here is how to make napalm: Buy gasoline. Melt Styrofoam in it.
Ben Macintyre wrote a very indepth book about it (surprisingly called Operation Mincemeat. It shows how close it came to unravelling (IIRC mainly a lazy Spaniard Nazi supporter who didn't check the body properly), which if it had would then reveal the real location because why would they fake the real location.
Also goes into detail of some of the interesting characters from Britain's WW2 intelligence services.
Yeah, I read the entire article and seen that interview, along with multiple books on the topic, which go into far more depth than a couple of agenda driven articles/reporters.
And yes, I've read Scahill's Blackwater and Dirty Wars.
http://www.amazon.com/Blackwater-Rise-Worlds-Powerful-Mercenary-ebook/dp/B0097CYTYA
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-The-World-Battlefield-ebook/dp/B00B3M3TS4/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51dkyNcRAWL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL160_SR105%2C160_&refRID=1H586DVK9BET6N9HYRN7
Seen the documentary too, it doesn't cover everything...
I've also read Prince's book Civilian Warriors.
http://www.amazon.com/Civilian-Warriors-Inside-Blackwater-Unsung-ebook/dp/B00E5UJAG6/ref=pd_sim_351_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=517qP%2BPVBeL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=1H586DVK9BET6N9HYRN7
He's surprisingly open about the companies short comings.
I've also read the The Bremer Detail: Protecting the Most Threatened Man in the World
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bremer-Detail-Protecting-Threatened-ebook/dp/B00LUA02OI/ref=pd_sim_351_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51xoGU9WypL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=05HMC7F4FAZ3NG51NHDJ
I've also read what the military community says, those who actually served alongside Blackwater in the field, including articles and dialogue with the authors at SOFREP, and an interview with Eric Prince himself with the guys at SOFREP on their podcast, which is worth a listen.
https://sofrep.com/31444/founder-of-blackwater-erik-prince-civilian-warriors/
https://sofrep.com/sofrep-radio/episode-80-exclusive-erik-prince-former-seal-founder-blackwater/
https://sofrep.com/14189/the-next-mercenary-gold-rush-sub-saharan-africa-erik-prince/
You can read the 3 part series on the Rise of Private Military Security Companies here:
https://sofrep.com/44960/the-rise-of-private-military-security-companies/
https://sofrep.com/44961/rise-private-military-security-companies-pt-2/
https://sofrep.com/44963/rise-private-military-security-companies-pt-3/
I've also read Big Boy Rules by Steve Fainaru which is good starter book if are looking for more information. It's pretty even handed about the good and the bad regarding PMC's in Iraq.
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Boy-Rules-Americas-Mercenaries-ebook/dp/B001M5JV98/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1458860678&sr=1-1&keywords=big+boy+rules
Like everything, the truth is somewhere in the middle. I'm not defending everything the BW has done, and there are more reputable companies like Triple Canopy, but this idea that ALL Blackwater employees are blood thirsty lions devouring sheep everywhere they go is just laughable.
Unbelievably, Nicholas Slatten was convicted of first-degree murder, implying that the killing was both willful and premeditated. In order to believe this, one must believe that this was somehow all planned by Slatten, which is ridiculous.
Look, I’m not going to pretend that I know all of the details about this case, because I wasn’t there. But to throw these guys in the middle of a combat zone, and then expect perfection, is absurd. Because that’s what this is: Our government is asking them to be perfect, which is impossible in war.
So the U.S. State Department abandoned their contractors to be prosecuted. What about their supervisors at the state department? What about the Regional Security Officers? What about the people responsible for putting them in that situation to begin with? Where are the consequences for them? As usual, the shit sandwich rolls downhill and the guys at the bottom are the only ones who get to take a big bite.
Ironically, the same people, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton included, who were so critical of Blackwater, continued to push contracts to the company under a different name. This proves how much we’ve come to rely on the private and flexible services offered by modern-day PMCs and how effective they were at keeping US HVT's safe (including ambassadors, CIA agents, heads of state, etc).
One mistake in Baghdad in 2007 meant that you, your client, and everyone else in the car was dead. Say what you will about Blackwater: Under their watch, they never lost an American diplomat, which is more than we can say for the rest of the State Department.
Edit: You'll notice nothing ever came from this 2009 report by Scahill, or the Times or the Post. 7 years later and nothing. All were grasping at some very thin straws. Furthermore, the CIA has designated authorized teams that do this type of work, that receive complete top cover, including the Ground Branch teams in the Special Activities Division and the guys at JSOC. They have no need for Blackwater to do this kind of work. Or they can "rent" Delta or ST6, so the entire idea that they needed Blackwater to run kill missions is kind of ridiculous.
Get an AR15. If you can't afford the $400 to $500 get a good basic AR or they are banned in your state, then we can talk about other long arms, but if neither of those is a problem there is no reason to get any other type of rifle. Getting a pistol would be good too, but I don't consider myself qualified to recommend pistols, so I'll leave that subject to others.
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As for manuals, I'd recommend staying away from the classic leftist books on guerilla warfare, such as those my Mao and Che. Their interesting historical pieces but don't hold up in many ways. If you want a more theoretical overview of how asymmetric warfare works, I'd recommend David Kilcullen's book Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla. As for a more hands on approach, I found many of these videos helpful. The US Army manual and the Smartbooks manual on small unit tactics seem good from what I can tell, but I'm not an expert.
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Cybersecurity is very important, but something I'm not super knowledgeable in. At the very least I'd recommend using TOR, Signal, and Protonmail. Be careful of what kind of history you leave of yourself on social media accounts.
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Basic survival skills are a good thing to learn as well. How to start a fire, how to purify water, etc. Also, become familiar with concepts such as every day carry (EDC) kits, and being the Greyman. Learning how to pick locks probably wouldn't hurt either. Tactical driving is good to know as well. Learn basic first aid/emergency medicine. Skinnymedic on Youtube had good videos.
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Train train train with whatever weapon you have. Having more training is far more important than having a super nice/fancy gun.
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Make connections with your neighbors, community, comrades, etc. Having community to fall back on and to back you up is so important. Seriously, our success depends on community support the same way fish depend on water.
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Anyway, that's just a quick list of things off the top of my head.
There is no such thing as an unbiased account. The very act of declaring our government as functioning and sustainable is biased.
Better to shoot wide and form your own opinions.
I recommend Dirty Wars by Jeremy Scahill and not a book, but still very good - the movie 'The War You Don't See'.
There's no question there, they have. But they said they stopped.
https://www.amazon.com/Pentagons-Brain-Uncensored-Americas-Top-Secret/dp/0316371661
Do you not know how to google?
https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Soldier-Making-Special-Warrior/dp/0307339394
https://www.amazon.com/Get-Selected-Special-Forces-Successfully/dp/0975355279
https://www.shadowspear.com - mentor program
WWIII was dangerously close during the Cuban Missile Crisis thanks to nuclear torpedos:
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/25/you-and-almost-everyone-you-know-owe-your-life-to-this-man/
https://www.amazon.com/Red-November-Inside-U-S-Soviet-Submarine/dp/0061806773
This is covered in The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA which is a really good book. Licklier came up with the decentralized architecture at the meeting where he pitched the idea for funding. Someone pointed out that connecting many computers would cause a crash to take down the whole network and he said "No problem, we're planning an architecture where information is routed along multiple pathways, and spontaneously bypasses damaged nodes", even though he hadn't thought of that until that moment.
A bit farther back in history, during the Cold War, the United States employed Russian tactics of using guerrilla factional disputes to their advantage by training and arming said factions. The primary principle was to create a buffer zone for weak war fronts.
The US used this strategy (to EXCELLENT effect) against Russia throughout the Cold War arming extremist muslim guerilla factions...most notably to Afghanistan when the USSR invaded in an attempt to "break the line" so-to-speak. The Afghani guerillas maintained a strong defense and managed to contain the USSR and it's communist agenda within it's borders.
Once the conflict was over, the US basically just packed up and went home, leaving a miserable amount of discontent, war-ridden guerrilla fighters in their poor, desperate desert country to fend for themselves...many of whom were exiled for their extremist views. This left quite a bitter taste in the newly trained and armed, however scattered, populous of Afghanistan. The threads of Al Qaeda slowly starting to weave together from this point on.
Edit: America's Secret War by George Friedman, founder and CEO of STRATFOR, can do a much better job delving into the specifics if you're interested. It's a fantastic read by a man with a wonderful and unique perspective on the geopolitical game of chess America has been playing for the past half-century.
Project Soul Catcher
Inside Track
Pentagon's Brain
Trance:Formation of America
A very salient talking point, however such knowledge, while perhaps common place in the 1920s and 30's when dads taught kids about chemicals and explosives for fun, today even thinking of doing such a thing is irresponsible and evil, ergo people are woefully undereducated.
I used to think criminals were also pretty lazy which is why they preferred buying guns to making their own, but Ive been hearing about some homemade gun police hauls recently by criminals, so its possibly just a knowledge and tools block.
To the point that criminals dont even know they can make their own guns.
In a twist of irony, if this information became widely disseminated among the criminal class, it'd put the nail in the coffin of gun control forever.
https://www.amazon.com/Combat-Engineer-Department-Defense/dp/1601701306/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=combat+engineer&qid=1568070606&s=books&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Urban-Operations-Plus-Combat-Breaching/dp/1601709439/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=combat+engineer&qid=1568070606&s=books&sr=1-6
https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Technology-Explosives-Paul-Cooper/dp/047118635X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-3
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Explosives-Demolitions-Handbook-Survival/dp/1616080086/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-4
https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Explosives-RSC-Paperbacks/dp/1849733309/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-5
https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Explosives-Prakash-Agrawal/dp/0470029676/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=explosives+engineering&qid=1565833795&s=books&sr=1-6
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0471186368/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=homemade+body+armor&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
There's fantastic book on this Operation Mincemeat. There's also an older book and film (The Man Who Never Was), but given that it was written in the 50s, there's quite a lot left out (intercepts from Enigma, for one thing) and some stuff is an outright lie.
I might also suggest the following manuals. You can probably find digital downloads of them as well, but they are pretty cheap and I like paper:
U.S. Army First Aid Manual
U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook
U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare
There's a whole book about them if you're interested. Killer Elite - The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team.
There's even a comic series called The Activity.
Honestly, the fact that these exist is a bit disheartening in regards to their secretive image.
http://www.amazon.com/Red-November-Inside-U-S--Soviet-Submarine/dp/0061806773/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344085323&sr=8-3&keywords=red+november
Fascinating book that talks about this in detail, as well as some of the other Soviet submarines that were patrolling around Cuba.
I own pretty much the entirety of that pile. ;)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TDTR5ZW/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1#
https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Bin-Laden-Commanders-Account-ebook/dp/B0017T09N6/ref=pd_sim_351_14?ie=UTF8&dpID=513yrUu%2BlcL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_OU01_AC_UL160_SR106%2C160_&refRID=1BQ6XPQT4RSA0Z9Y36YW
https://www.amazon.com/Sog-Secret-Americas-Commandos-Vietnam/dp/0451195086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466604388&sr=8-1&keywords=SOG+book
A few more good ones.
There's a really good book about this too by Ben Macintyre - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Mincemeat-Story-Changed-Course/dp/1408809214
It's mainly covered by the book Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre. Amazon UK link.
And thanks to a dead Welsh tramp, the Germans believed that the Allies would attack Greece and Sardinia instead of Sicily. Multiple divisions as well as Rommel were moved to Greece, including two Panzer divisions on the Eastern Front, which also helped the Soviets. One of the greatest deceptions in history.
Blackwater by Jeremy Scahill is a great look into OIF which is the most significant event to happen in the region in the 21st century.
His book Dirty Wars is also excellent.
Also, Legacy of Ashes
This is all super American centric, but there's a reason for that.
http://www.amazon.de/The-Secret-War-Against-Sweden/dp/0714682756 and
Not remotely short, but still very informative.
Read the book, it's very good. https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-Battlefield-Jeremy-Scahill/dp/156858671X
If you're serious and want to learn more about OCS by gobbling up every bit of information you can to get an edge.
I can give you a decent primary source.
Costs you 17 bucks, and you will only read around 20-30 pages from the book.
(Feel free to read the rest to see how we train our SEALs and what makes them one of the best SoF units in the world.)
Breaking B/UDS
This book as you can tell by the title is not exclusively about OCS, but the man who wrote it does write about how HE got into OCS with a SpecOp Billet for the SEALs.
Which obviously is light years more harder to get into SEAL contract for OCS. But the process is somewhat similar and in the book he focuses 3 chapters about how to get into OCS, what requirements are and what they look for, how to be competitive and what to expect life to be after becoming an officer instead of an enlisted.
Edit: Clarification
There is a history of data systems technician online, which explains how the Navy changed it's way of operations in tracking enemy ships and planes up to the modern aegis system. Gives you an idea of how the Navy transformed from guns to missiles.
http://ethw.org/First-Hand:No_Damned_Computer_is_Going_to_Tell_Me_What_to_DO_-_The_Story_of_the_Naval_Tactical_Data_System,_NTDS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Man%27s_Bluff:_The_Untold_Story_of_American_Submarine_Espionage
Hunt for Red October
https://www.amazon.com/Hunt-October-Jack-Ryan-Novel/dp/0425240339/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475178085&sr=8-3&keywords=hunt+for+red+october
Red Storm Rising
A book about a hypothetical war between the US and USSR, a lot of Navy stuff in this book.
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Storm-Rising-Tom-Clancy/dp/042510107X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475178124&sr=8-1&keywords=red+storm+rising
Red November
https://www.amazon.com/Red-November-Inside-U-S--Soviet-Submarine/dp/0061806773/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475178190&sr=8-2&keywords=Red+November
Ben MacIntyre wrote a great narrative history of the incident as well. A rollicking good read.
http://www.amazon.com/Sua-Sponte-Forging-Modern-American-ebook/dp/B0072O02XW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421627853&sr=1-1&keywords=sua+sponte
http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Soldier-Making-Special-Warrior/dp/0307339394/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
http://www.military.com/military-fitness/army-special-operations/army-green-beret-training?comp=1199451047853&rank=2
Spycatcher is a good read. I'd also recommend Silent Warfare by Abram Shulsky, which is a bit more of a history of modern intelligence, and less of a biography, but an interesting read nonetheless.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1574883453/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417453272&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
josieKM: ^^original ^^reddit ^^link
in the book dirty wars by jeremey scahill it is pretty clear that Al-Awlaki was forced to become an informant of some description. He is also used frequently as a person who allegedly motivates others such Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and others who face terror charges..
And they all seem to allegedly get their ideas from Inspire magazine which also has very doubtful origins (some journalists say CIA produce it). So its like when they want to prosecute someone they use Al-Awlaki + Inspire - I usually get suspect when I read those linked to someone.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/07/5-reasons-to-doubt-al-qaeda-magazines-authenticity/59035/
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-The-World-Battlefield/dp/156858671X
Fred Burton was a founding member of the United States' Diplomatic Security Service. He was the DSS's specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, over time he came to be the head of the Counter Terrorism division as well as the vice director of the DSS. His office predicted an Al Qaeda strike against the US but decide the threat wasnt valid enough. He was involved in the arrest Ramzi Yousef and brought up warrants for Imad Mugniyah. He wrote the book Ghost, which is very fun to read.
Edit: For must Reads:The Encyclopedia of the CIA, America's Secret War, and Spies Among Us. Also the aforementioned Ghost and Chasing Shadows
Chosen Soldier is a must read if you're curious.
Actually, it is the reverse. Saudi Arabia is acting on the behalf of the US. The US supplies all arms, targets, intelligence, logistical support, etc. Bush initiated covert operations in Yemen, using drones, special forces and agents. Obama continued these operations but determined that operations needed to be escalated to traditional bombing campaigns. President Obama felt that direct action by the US was not politically feasible so assigned Saudi Arabia to carry out the US's goals.
The book, Dirty Wars, covers this well and in depth.
What most reminded me of Watch Dogs was the ability of Stuxnet to listen in on cell phone calls using Bluetooth technology. The article goes into more detail, but you forget how connected everything has become.
Thanks for the references. A book on the CIA I plan to read soon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Way-Knife-Secret-Earth/dp/1594204802
I work in computer security and have met several folks that have worked for the CIA or NSA. I was recommended 2 books which are "the most accurate" descriptions. One book is very much like a text book and I didn't like it very much: http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Warfare-Understanding-World-Intelligence/dp/1574883453
The other book was really really good. I highly recommend it: http://www.amazon.com/Short-Course-Secret-War/dp/1568331797
Whether the State Department is or isn't assassinating people isn't really up for debate. There has been ample reporting on the issue by both the human rights organizations and the U.S. press; hell, Diane Sawyer covered the issue of the drone assassinations on World News a few weeks ago, the ACLU is embroiled in a prominent lawsuit against the State Dept. over it, etc. A respected journalist has just released a well-documented book that will bring you up to speed on this, if you're interested, but at any rate, again, as pkwrig alludes, the State Department is assassinating people left and right, in several countries, several of the victims by now have been Americans, and that really isn't debatable.
I recommended he read them so what do you think they are? Google is your friend.
http://www.amazon.com/Get-Selected-Special-Forces-Successfully/dp/0975355279
http://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Soldier-Making-Special-Warrior/dp/0307339394/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463092494&sr=1-1&keywords=chosen+soldier
While not specifically oriented around WW2, I would recommend "Blind Man's Bluff" - which is the a great read with respect to the ridiculous situations the (primarily US) Navy found itself in in the post-WW2 world. It deals a great deal with the Cold War, and the US/USSR espionage efforts of NSA/CIA, and in the case of some situations, it becomes clear why Tom Clancy was questioned about his research for his novels.
Also - "Red November" - which is very similar in many respects, it's also a fair bit more up to date, and covers at least a little bit of the very quiet deployment of 30+ Chinese nuclear submarines over the last 10 years. What is a little clear here is that while the authors of Blind Man's Bluff were very thorough with their research and accreditation, this book is less thorough and oftentimes cites Wikipedia rather than Janes or the USN or NSA/CIA something more credible in matters of submarine war and espionage (or so we're told).
No U
I don't have any fitness advice, but since you're considering joining BUD/S I thought I'd point out a book for you to read about the training.
The book is called Breaking BUD/S: How Regular Guys Can Become Navy SEALs by DH Xavier.
It's a very informative book about BUD/S, what happens during training, what to do before training, the different jobs there are, the difference between officers and enlisted, etc. It's also mixed with humor so it's even more enjoyable to read.
I thought I'd point it out because from the outside looking in, it seems like all SEALs are gods and they do things you never could. This book can really help you understand that they were once in your position and they're actually pretty normal guys. It doesn't matter if you are an accountant or mechanic, you can still be a SEAL.
Dick Couch also wrote a book called The Warrior Elite which was also very informative. Breaking BUD/S however was more enjoyable to read because it was so straight forward and had a lot of humor and funny analogies.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-War-Against-Sweden/dp/0714682756 is the only english book.
US Army Small Unit Tactics Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/0989551342/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ujFnzb5R36D36
http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-War-Against-Sweden/dp/0714682756
Any thoughts on this? I wonder what boat they have trapped.
You can get a lot more info on these 2 killings and many other horrific operations the US government is carrying out around the world by reading "Dirty Wars" by Jeremy Scahill. I am almost finished with it and it has been an eye-opening read.
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-world-battlefield-ebook/dp/B00B3M3TS4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374162524&sr=1-1&keywords=dirty+wars
Very difficult I think for liberals to disagree on Trump.
I mean, I think I was wrong when I said that Trump would be no worse than Bush. I now realize that Bush likely had a sense of his own ineptitude, and the absurdity that this bumbling dolt of a nobody would be elevated to the most powerful position in the world. It's a bit funny that the Iraq war fiasco of his creation seems like a fairly small thing right now.
I am reading this amazing book right now, The Pentagon's Brain -- an uncensored history of DARPA, Anerica's top secret research agency, the first chapter, on the detonation of the first hydrogen bomb in 1954, will almost literally make you shit your pants. (mini-spoiler: the top scientists in the land didn't know if they were setting the world on fire -- the military were completely unfazed, they had to have it, or the Russians would have it and blow the world up anyway.)
Group is cool, but I was thinking WAY cooler. Lol. More along the lines of Orange.
There's a memoir that was recently written and released by a 2/75 medic as a Kindle book. Perhaps your father is in it.
https://www.amazon.com/Tale-Grenada-Raiders-Memories-Rangers/dp/1979096244
He post on socnet frequently.
I am born and raised in America.
>It's not offense on countries with resources we deem valuable that's just a stupid talking point that has no merit.
Has no merit? http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Economic-Hit-John-Perkins/dp/0452287081
>Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign "aid" organizations into the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet's natural resources. Their tools included fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as empire, but one that has taken on new and terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization.
>I was initially recruited while I was in business school back in the late sixties by the National Security Agency, the nation’s largest and least understood spy organization; but ultimately I worked for private corporations. The first real economic hit man was back in the early 1950s, Kermit Roosevelt, Jr., the grandson of Teddy, who overthrew the government of Iran, a democratically elected government, Mossadegh’s government who was Time‘s magazine person of the year; and he was so successful at doing this without any bloodshed—well, there was a little bloodshed, but no military intervention, just spending millions of dollars and replaced Mossadegh with the Shah of Iran. At that point, we understood that this idea of economic hit man was an extremely good one. We didn’t have to worry about the threat of war with Russia when we did it this way. The problem with that was that Roosevelt was a C.I.A. agent. He was a government employee. Had he been caught, we would have been in a lot of trouble. It would have been very embarrassing. So, at that point, the decision was made to use organizations like the C.I.A. and the N.S.A. to recruit potential economic hit men like me and then send us to work for private consulting companies, engineering firms, construction companies, so that if we were caught, there would be no connection with the government.
Or how about this book? http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Wars-The-World-Battlefield/dp/156858671X
>America's hand is exposed in this sprawling investigation of autonomous US military operations and the abuse of executive privilege that escalated global war. New York Times bestselling author Scahill (Blackwater) pulls no punches from right or left in his exposure of governments that passively authorized the use of torture in interrogation, marked an American citizen for death without due process, and empowered a military branch to conduct warfare on their terms, turning at least four countries into warzones. Interviews with U.S. army colonels, former CIA officers, Somali warlords, and a Yemeni sheik are only a few focal points in Scahill's narrative prism. Years of ground investigation are chronicled in stock terms, creating an accessible and shuddering effect: congress "asleep at the wheel;" an enemy of the state "on a collision course with history;" government officials who "cut their teeth" in the White House. Even in Scahill's most frustrated moments fact supplants editorial, adding valiancy and devastation to his brutal portrayals.
Your view of America is unrealistic.. or you haven't been paying attention.
Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:
Amazon Smile Link: this book
|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|
|China|amazon.cn|
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