Hello, International Relations major here. I've been lurking this sub for a while but I know nothing about comics so I usually have nothing to contribute. This on the other hand, is basically what I spend all my time studying. I'm late to the thread so not sure anyone will see this but oh well.

R1: If we're really generous and ignore tons of realities about modern warfare like logistics and alliance systems, the strongest country they could overpower would be a large but weak nation like Congo, or a very small rich country like Denmark.

If you wanted to try and base this on reality and just assumed the various militias started in their present locations, agreed to merge, and then picked a country to attempt to invade, they would utterly fail.

Bonus: Probably none

Suggested reading:

Paths to Victory: Lessons from Modern Insurgencies

A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam

The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam

All the upvoted comments in this thread are massively over-hyping the criminal faction. The set up of the question pretty much nullifies all advantages these groups normally have. When the OP says "illegal faction" he's essentially referring to what we call non-state actors. A state is a sovereign government, so an NSA refers to a group that has no legal sovereignty and therefore no legal monopoly on violence in any given geographical space.

The perceived success of NSA's is due to the fact that they almost literally always fight with homefield advantage and against grossly incompetent states. Most (militant) NSA's exist in the power vacuums created by failed states such as Somalia, Syria, Yemen, parts of Africa, etc. Additionally, many of the NSA's that people here seem to perceive as successful are actually funded by states. The Houthis are only able to exist in Yemen because Iran funds them. The Viet Cong were only able to persist in Vietnam with the support of North Vietnam, Russia, and China. As soon as all violent NSAs worldwide united into some Extremist Supergroup and tried to invade a state, the other states who were previously supporting some of these NSAs would pull their support. Pakistan only supports the Afghani Taliban because it gives them influence in Afghanistan. If the Taliban merged with ISIS and fucked off to invade Brazil or some shit, the Pakistanis would have zero reason to keep supporting them.

1) The NSAs (criminal/terrorist supergroup faction) would lose a huge chunk of their funding immediately upon uniting

This brings us to the next fatal flaw. NSAs heavily depend on fighting irregular (guerrilla) warfare on their home turf. They are virtually always defending rough terrain that they are better adapted to then the invading force, and often hiding among civilians that support them. The Taliban can't fight effectively in the terrain that the Colombian drug cartels or FARC can, and same with ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Hezbollah, AQ, etc. None of those groups are particularly experienced at urban warfare either. The Mahdi Army was but Sadr disbanded them. As soon as the NSAs united and tried to invade some third country they would not only lose the terrain advantage, the defending conventional military would have a terrain advantage. The NSAs would also lose the ability to hide among civilians and the ability to avoid direct combat. Some special forces groups can wage irregular warfare in terrain they don't live in, but the NSA's don't have SF.

2) NSAs trying to attack a random third country would lose all of the tactical advantages that make them viable in the first place.

So now let's consider what would actually happen if this NSA military tried to invade a random country. This is basically impossible. Moving your military from your home to attack a foreign country requires what we call power projection. A country that can project power regionally is called a "regional power". A country that can project power to other regions but not necessarily globally is called a "great power". A country that can project power across the entire globe at will is called the United States of America. Ok sorry, it's called a superpower, but seriously there's only one right now and in the entire history of humanity there has been a MAXIMUM of three. The USSR during the Cold War, and arguably the British Empire before de-colonization. Currently, Russia is arguably only a regional power, and yet they're one of the strongest countries in the world. When France, Italy, and the UK intervened in Libya a few years ago, they essentially ran out of missiles and the US had to bail them out. These are three of the richest countries in the world with professional military forces that have existed for centuries.

So... could a blob of every NSA in the world supply an invasion force in a foreign country? Fuck no. Some of the drug cartels certainly have impressive logistics networks, but those took ages to set up, exist mostly in friendly territory, and can't supply enough material for a massive invasion force. Smuggling tons of cocaine into Miami or New York by dissolving it into paint and then separating it out afterwards (or whatever the fuck Escobar did) is indeed impressive... but you can't smuggle a tank like that.

3) The NSAs don't have the infrastructure for the insane complexity of a modern war in a foreign country. Even if they tried to merely occupy one of the countries a militia currently exists in, this would in practice still be a foreign country for all the other groups who have to get there in the first place AND remain supplied.

Also they don't have an air force

Also they don't have a navy

Also they don't have significant amounts of armor (tanks, APCs, etc)

Also they don't have a global communication network

Also they don't have a skilled intelligence service

Also they don't have consistent military training

etc.

When Saddam's army retreated from Kuwait while lacking air support in 1991, the allied air force bombed them into the ground so ruthlessly it became known as The Highway of Death. It was so brutal some people thought it was a war crime. In Afghanistan in 2001 (maybe early 2002), some US SF had a similar experience annihilating a convoy of supposedly 1000 Taliban fighters in pickup trucks just by using laser designated bombs.

In any scenario based on reality, the "illegal" groups (aka Non-State Actors) wouldn't even be able to group up and invade a single country, and even if they did they'd get fucking obliterated by the first moderately competent standing army they encountered.

That whole "I'm totally for equality!" bit at the start reminded me of [this article] (http://the-toast.net/2014/11/10/suck-queer-allyship-case-study/).

It's not that they're consciously anti-feminist (except the Skullboy and Juice Lawyer types) but that they're so sheltered from actual issues that they assume "I'm a good person so I can't be a misogynist. 'Cause I'm a good person."

Bit of a tangent: Stan Goff's memoir [Hideous Dream] (http://www.amazon.com/Hideous-Dream-Soldiers-Memoir-Invasion/dp/1887128638/) includes a chapter about how he came to understand his own reflexive racism while serving in Vietnam. As a nineteen year old kid with a head full of Ayn Rand, he assumed he was beyond all that prejudice stuff but through confronting how racism often reflects social power dynamics, he came to understand that it was much more than being consciously hateful of others. It's much more about disparate treatment of others based on skin color and the casual assumptions that go along with systemic inequality because, when you're living in it, it seems so normal.

I'm not explaining it as well as he did but the gist is this - Just because you think of yourself as a good person does not mean you are free of retrograde thinking on subjects like race or gender. To think otherwise is to display the narcissism of a spoiled adolescent.

A relevant good book broadly on the subject: Hideous Dream: A Soldier's Memoir of the U.S. Invasion of Haiti.

If you are interested in learning more about Novichok I highly recommend tht you read "State Secrets: An Insider's Chronicle of the Russian Chemical Weapons Program" by the same guy.

Reading a bunch of books like Across the Fence, special forces weren't the guys who can run triathlons in a plate carrier and live at the range like they are today. They were tough as hell and insane enough to volunteer for the most dangerous shit MACV could devise.

That book I mentioned, the dude only describes one aimed shot he took with his CAR-15. The rest is getting contact and just going cyclic with 20 round magazines until they could call in air and get the hell out.

Wouldn't be surprised if most of those guys weren't expert pistol shots.

That being said, I think Hopper was probably just a regular grunt.

I'm currently reading What It Is Like To Go To War, and the authors sentiment towards the matter almost perfectly matches what Woody said. The author served in the Marine Corp. during the Vietnam war, and during his R&R he went to Australia. He decided to steal a car because, well, he could. He would give it back anyway.

It sounds like the IDF is very disciplined, and maybe that reflects how the United States military is now, but it isn't always like that.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Unbroken

And for a 'fiction' work that is all too true...

A Fine Balance

Mitt was the one who wrote No Easy Day under the pseudonym Mark Owen (obviously because Mark/Mitt, and you owe him more money), and picked Matt Bissonette as his scapegoat! It all makes sense!

You're nervous. Good. That means that you care about getting this right.

Management can be intimidating in the beginning. My greatest fear was to become Dilbert's Point-haired boss -- disconnected from reality and being laughed at for just-not-getting-it.

You've had a taste of it, so I assume that you've started to figure out your weak spots. Since you "work your ass off", maybe one of them is to conflate getting things done (by delegation) and doing them yourself? Or lack of trust? In my experience, your ideal is far from being stressed out as a manager. Instead, you hope to have sufficient slack to notice when things go awry and to have time to (spontaneously) come up with better ways of doing things, rather than spending every free brain cycle on gritty details.

As a manager, you have two functions. First, you multiply your directs. If you hold them back, your factor will be less than one, if you're a good manager it will be more. Your job is to make them better, in particular by making their lives easier. I've found that the best things happen when smart, driven men and women who know what we're hoping to achieve and enjoy doing what they do best, are being allowed to follow their instincts. Eyes on the outcome, not on the output. (This applies in particular to the Cynefin context "Complex problems", but I would guess it applies also to "Complicated" ones).

Your second function is that you set the cap. Your employees will never be better than you allow them. As a manager, your job is not to be the best at what they do. Your job is to make the most of their skills, within the context of your company's strategy and goals. Listen more than you talk. Them being frustrated means that something (you?) is in their way of getting the job done. Figure out what that thing is and work to remove it; they're obviously unable to do so themselves -- otherwise they would instead of being angry.

I'd listen to The Manager Tools Basic podcast, and in particular adopt the One-on-ones for at least five or ten sessions with your new directs. Here's a list of questions (from the book Turn the Ship Around) you can lean on to get the first few awkward meetings going. Take notes.

However it is true for the Pacific campaign. Mainland Japan was largely destroyed by fire bombings. Here is a page that shows the comparison to territory burned in American city equivalents. For example, Tokyo was 51% destroyed by fire bombing alone and that is equivalent to New York City.

Obviously the nuclear capabilities that the allies possessed finally broke the will of the Japanese to keep fighting. But fire bombing was devastating and likely could have achieved the same results over a bit more time.

A great book that tells of the fire bombing campaign and US aviators in general during World War II is Flyboys - By James Bradley.

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand

If you want to understand the nature of the war and the strategy used to fight it from the surge (2007) onward I recommend David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War by Fred Kaplan. This book will describe all the big names and texts that helped formulate modern counterinsurgency doctrine and will give you plenty of authors and publications to further explore. To further understand counterinsurgency, I recommend The Accidental Guerilla by David Kilcullen (this link downloads the file, it does not open it a new window) that has a great chapter on Iraq since he was the senior COIN advisor for a few months into the surge. You can also read FM3-24 the original 2006 version, but its a dense read and I recommend you familiarize yourself with the doctrine through other publications before tackling the field manual itself.

Fiasco by Thomas Ricks is a decent history of the run up to the Iraq war and the first years, I would say 2002-2005 is where it is strongest although it does discuss important history prior to 9/11 in the containment of Iraq and some detail into 2006.

From the Surge onward I recommend Ricks' follow on book The Gamble, and The Surge by Peter Mansoor. These books will detail the important changes and in strategy and operational practices that characterized the Surge and the post 2006 war effort.

These are the books I have personally read that best address your questions. Books that are more tactically oriented instead of focusing on the big picture include The Forever War by Dexter Filkins, which is a morbid book that does justice to the horror of the Iraq's sectarian civil war. Thunder Run by David Zucchino is worthy of being a masterpiece in terms of how well the author constructed an incredible narrative on the tank forays into the heart of Baghdad in the early weeks of the war. My Share of the Task by Stanley McChrystal is a great read on McChrystal fomented a significant evolution in JSOC's intelligence culture and operational tempo. This book is of value specifically to what you asked because his men were the ones that were tracking Abu Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and was the first iteration of what is now known as ISIS. McChrystal describes the structure of Al Qaeda in Iraq, and much of ISIS's organization and methods can be traced back to Zarqawi's leadership.

I don't think you will find any books that will do justice to your interest in terms of recent events however I have some advice that I feel will help you immensely. Simply type in (topic of interest) and end it with pdf into google. This cuts out brief news articles and wikipedia entries and leaves you with top notch reports published by peer reviewed journals and think tanks. This is all free, and its very well researched work.

A report I'm currently reading that I'm sure you will find interesting is Iraq in Crisis by CSIS. It's of course long for a think tank report, but it has a lot of information and great statistics and charts that help the reader better understand Iraq's trends in violence and other challenges. Here are two more interesting reports by well known think tanks that pertinent to what you are looking for.

On the evolution of Al Qaeda and other salafi jihadists by RAND

Iraqi politics, governance and human rights by the Congressional Research Service

Well, for one, Americans typically associate all German soldiers as Nazis. Very few were, in fact Heer members (the German Army) were not allowed to belong to ANY political party, and after 1943 even the Waffen SS conscripted (the old pope was an SS member). There were French SS regiments, Dutch, Norwegian, Serbian, Belgian, Russian, Danish, Irish, Indian, and even British. Don't confuse the Waffen SS for the SS as whole, especially Allgemeine-SS, and SS-Totenkopfverbände (which were the real evil bastards). Many of the Waffen SS were just German soldiers who volunteered to fight Bolshevism (General Patton believed the west should ally with German to fight the Soviets). That's not to say there weren't war crimes, there were (on both sides, and especially the Russians), but it's too easy to categorize the whole as this or that, without understanding nuance.

I would really recommend this book:

http://www.amazon.ca/Black-Edelweiss-Conscience-Soldier-Waffen-SS-ebook/dp/B00ECGP2Z6/ref=pd_sim_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JHS4QNEN7RCHGV2RG9K

The British government and was ambivalent/sympathetic towards the confederacy, but lots of British people, particularly in the middle and lower classes, were strongly in favor of the Union. Britain was the home of the abolitionist movement, and liberal (19th century liberal) British people had no doubt about which side to take.

As for who wrote the history, the dominant narrative about the civil war up into the mid-20th century was the lost cause idea, that the confederates were the good guys and it's sad that they lost. Supporters of the Lost Cause idea, including ex-confederate leaders directly after the war, minimized the importance of slavery to try and justify the Confederacy's existence. It's only the in the last 60 years that this has changed, since historians restored slavery to its proper place in the story.

The most popular book on the war is The Battle Cry of Freedom, which gives a long history of the period before the war and is usually considered pretty balanced. 1864: Lincoln at the gates of History is good, but more detailed. The Lincoln-Douglas debates give some interesting context, and there's an audiobook with people performing the speeches that's good. Also, Frederick Douglass' autobiography is an interesting way to learn about slavery. This is already long enough, but if you want more suggestions I have lots...

I know I'm late to the party but I wanted to say Thank You to your Grandfather for his service and for doing this AMA. The question I would have asked is if he has read "You're Stepping On My Cloak And Dagger" from Roger Hall and if so how close is it to his experience?

The Mission, the Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander by Pete Blaber

>As a commander of Delta Force-the most elite counter-terrorist organization in the world-Pete Blaber took part in some of the most dangerous, controversial, and significant military and political events of our time. Now he takes his intimate knowledge of warfare-and the heart, mind, and spirit it takes to win-and moves his focus from the combat zone to civilian life.

>As the smoke clears from exciting stories about neverbefore-revealed top-secret missions that were executed all over the globe, readers will emerge wiser, more capable, and more ready for life's personal victories than they ever thought possible.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0425236579/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=81L6TNMLAXFN&coliid=IBUHZCVGIWB98

Critical thinking, small unit leadership,

That's just based off of a highly regarded book I enjoyed:


The Mission, the Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander

Did no one read No Easy Day? It was damn near required reading among 80% of the guys I know the first month it was released. It goes over all this shit in incredible detail.
I'll leave the moral judgement to his community; the book is fantastic.
Clarification: the book was not written by O'Neill, but describes, in great detail, the team's perspective on the operations listed by OP.

Name: David Optional

Age: 55

Current location: Upstate NY

Where were you living in 1969?: Same friggin' place.

What did you think about the war in 1969?

Didn't know much about it, apart from the fact that it was going on, and it was bad because "peace & love and stuff". I was a bit into WWII history, so at one point, had a map of Vietnam with push pins of the battles, trying to make sense of it (which, of course, there was no doing.)

Why did you have this opinion?

Too young to have really formed opinions of my own.

What did you think of President Nixon in 1969? Why did you have this opinion?

Didn't have much opinion of him apart from the negatives I heard from those around me.

What is your opinion of the Vietnam War today?

Horrible waste of lives and money, in the name of hubris.

Have you changed your opinion since then?

No, my opinion has only deepened.

Why or why not?

I read this and a good bit of history since.


What were some things or events going on in your life during that time?

Bikes, frisbee, books.

Has the Vietnam War affected you in any way?

Unlike our leadership since, I learned the folly of getting involved in the internal affairs of other countries - especially without a clear picture of what's really going on

Did you have children during the war?

No, girls were still "icky".

I'm going to throw out something that is not typical for this sub. Check out the book Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet.

Basically it's a book anybody in here who is in a leadership role could benefit from. I've been using the principles in my marriage and raising kids. Basic tenet is the best captain (Marquet was a nuclear sub captain) is the one who is able to lead their team to think and act knowing they have the captain's support.

Being in charge doesn't mean being controlling and demanding. My wife would tell yo that my leadership empowers her, and she appreciates my support. That's because she trusts and respects me, so when I show her she can be trusted with making decisions, she doesn't have to worry about my support.

Think of it this way: how do you treat her when she does go out on her own limb? They need our encouragement and guidance, not fear of failure and directives (except when necessary).

Ok, this is kind of frustrating. You're just going point-by-point on everything I retort with and it's getting exhausting. So let me use some energy for the last time and just draw it out for you:

1. OP said that no one else has the capabilities of manufacturing/possessing novochok besides Russia
   
   
2. I point out that in fact it's possible (note the word possible) that other countries/actors have these nerve agents because the recipes for various nerve agents in this category were released in Vil Mirzayanov's 2008 book that, as he explained in 1995, consist of "ordinary organophosphates that can be made at commercial chemical companies that manufacture such products as fertilizers and pesticides." Porton Down has an openly reported history of creating nerve agents and using them on British citizens during the Cold War.
   
   All of these are points made and referenced in the article, if you'd bother to read it instead of just reflexively claiming it's all heresay on a blog. It's also been reported throughout the years (and for example, just a few days ago, by Reuters) that it cannot be ruled out that the nerve agent was sold on the black market during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
   
   Having said all of that, I still believe that Russia is guilty for this crime and the evidence for this will become more conclusive with time.
   
   Satisfied?

He was UDT, not SEALs. Seals were formed in 1961 by order of JFK and commissioned in 1962. UDT merged with SEALs for insertion and extraction in the 1980's.

Roy Boehm was the first OIC (Officer In Charge) of the SEALs, having built them from the ground up. If you are interested in SEAL history told in a no-bullshit manner, I highly recommend his book First Seal

Read this.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Read Extreme Ownership.

I've had to remove some links from the main post. Added here:

General works - more advanced material

You should read at least one book from the preceding section before looking at books here. They are a more advanced treatment on the topic that may include viewpoints that are not commonly held.

• The Legacy of the Great War: Ninety years on (link) ed. Jay Winter (2009)
  
  This book discusses the war in general through transcripts of live discussions between leading historians. An unconventional look at the war which ranges widely while avoiding the academic tone of most books - highly recommended.
  
  
• Forgotten Victory: The first world war - myths and realities (link) by Gary Sheffield (2002)
  
  Sheffield reinterprets the war, debunking the myths of 'lions led by donkeys' and futility which arose from popular culture and powerfully arguing that the war had to be fought, and was won by a British Army which by 1918 was the most effective fighting force in the world.
  
  
• To End All Wars: a story of loyalty and rebellion 1914-1918 (link) by Adam Hochschild (2012)
  
  This book is a narrative of the war that takes a detailed look at the conscientious objectors and the rise of the socialist movement in the context of the greater war. It is highly focused on British people and events.
  
  
• The Sleepwalkers: How Europe went to war in 1914 (link) by Christopher Clark (2013)
  
  An in depth look at the origins of World War I with particular focus on Balkans politics and events such as the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
  
  
• The White War: life and death on the Italian front 1915-1919 (link) by Mark Thompson (2010)
  
  Seems to be the only recent English language work on the Italian front that I and it brings to light a long forgotten front that had some of the most extreme fighting in the war.
  
  
  

  General works - personal accounts
  

  
  

• Forgotten Voices of the Great War: A new history of WWI in the words of the men and women who were there (link) by Max Arthur (2003)
  
  
• Voices From the Trenches: Letters to home (link) by Noel Carthew (2002)
  
  
  

  Online resources
  

  
  

• Trench maps
  
  
• [Military mapping of Austria-Hungary and nearby regions from 1910[(http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/3felmeres.htm)
  
  
• Australian official history of World War I incl war diaries
  
  
• Dynamics of Doctrine by Timothy T Lupher
  
  This is also a description of how German stormtroop tactics evolved, but much shorter. It is worth to mention because it is available as a free PDF, and good enough that you will find it quoted in books now and then. Gudmundsson's book is a more comprehensive resource but this one has the benefit of being online and free.
  
  
  

  Fiction
  

  
  

• All Quiet on the Western Front (link by Erich Maria Remarque (1996 reprint)
  
  The classic novel of WWI experiences
  
  
• A Farewell to Arms (link) by Ernest Hemmingway (1956)
  
  Loosely based on his own experiences, this novel helps bring the war "up close & personal".

Check out the Commandant's Reading list recommendations for Officer Candidates. I'd add One Bullet Away and What it's Like to go to War to that list as well.

How is your general knowledge? Do you know all of your Troop Leading Steps, Leadership Traits, General Orders, and Operational Order sub-paragraphs?

Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECGP2Z6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GJJSCbJCTS4KC

That was a good one as well. Its a view from the other side, interesting read.

History repeats A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam

Looked at this one, might have to pick it up.

Low Level Hell

Is another great read written by a scout pilot from a hunter/killer squadron (?) Basically his job was to fly around in a Loach / Cayuse low and slow and look for signs of enemy, usually by getting shot at. Then they'd have the Cobra attack helicopter come in to attack it.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/24636312@N07/4723028104

Seal Team 6 founder's autobiography

SAS team captured by Iraqi forces

Autobiography of the founder of the Navy Seals

Rescue of an American couple kidnapped by Islamic terrorists

Also chiming in that this is well worth listening to. Also the guy’s book (or one of them) is only 3 bucks on Amazon on kindle.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004XMOISG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525962826&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=across+the+fence+by+john+stryker+meyer&dpPl=1&dpID=51-aa2HrNNL&ref=plSrch

It's not a culinary book, but I am almost finished with Exctreme Ownership which gives some great insight on team building and leadership.

Extreme Ownership - Navy SEAL officers who led a special operations unit demonstrate how to apply war-related leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life

People interested in what DC was like during WWII may enjoy Roger Hall's You're Stepping on My Cloak and Dagger, his memoir of work with the OSS. Much of his training was conducted in DC and Baltimore, including stints learning to cross the ostensibly hostile terrain of Rock Creek and the Congressional Golf Club. He deployed in the European theater toward the end of the war without seeing much action, but the book is engaging and quite funny, although his employers in what became the CIA didn't approve.

How are you marketing your business currently?

Here's some good books to read although they're geared more towards managing and motivating a workforce. Others may have better recommendations for books on growing as a startup or small business. Ultimately, you need to focus on marketing your company and targeting your ideal customer.

Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Ship-Around-Turning-Followers/dp/1591846404

How to Become a Great Boss by Jeffrey Fox
https://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Great-Boss-Employees/dp/0786868236/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484506909&sr=1-2&keywords=how+to+a+great+boss

How to Be a Great Boss by Gino Wickman
https://www.amazon.com/How-Great-Boss-Gino-Wickman/dp/1942952848/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484506909&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+a+great+boss

Good to Great by Jim Collins (I just started this)
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484507074&sr=1-1&keywords=good+to+great

EDIT: Here's another one.

Traction. Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman. I haven't read this but the CEO did and we use the structure and methods from this book to run our company. https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

I just read What It's Like to go to War by Karl Marlantes, the guy who wrote Matterhorn. It made me feel the same way.

This whole situation was documented in the book Fly Boys! I read this book before the movie came out and was extremely disappointed to find out that the movie was about WWI pilots and not this amazing true story! https://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-Story-Courage-James-Bradley/dp/031610728X

If you like news articles and primary sources, Reporting Vietnam by Milton J. Bates is a good start. It is basically a collection of newspaper and magazine articles throughout different points of the war.

For a broader portrayal mixed in with some very strong emotional sentiments, I'd recommend "A Bright and Shining Lie" by Niel Sheehan.

If you like documentaries there's "Hearts and Minds" (1974) which is seminal work in and of itself as a documentary but there's lots of others, "Fog of War" was mentioned earlier and that's really good too and covers a lot more than just Vietnam. Recently I saw "Oh Saigon" which follows how the war tore apart a Vietnamese family.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Voices of the Great War. I think that would fit your needs quite well! For younger readers it provides first hand accounts woven into a loose chronological order/ topical order that are completely accessible.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Voices-Great-War-History/dp/0091888875

In general the Voices books are pretty decent.

I read about it in the autobiography First SEAL by Roy Boehm.

http://www.amazon.com/First-SEAL-Roy-Boehm/dp/0671536265

James McPherson authored the best single-volume work on the U.S. Civil War, his Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom.

He's got many others on specific aspects of the Civil War including great works on the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, which he's visited and explored countless times.

After loads of reading on the bus to work every day, here follows my reading list for military aviation:

Modern

• Viper Pilot - memoir of an F-16 Wild Weasel pilot who flew in both Iraq Wars
  
• A Nightmare's Prayer - memoir of a Marine Harrier Pilot flying out of Bagram.
  
• Warthog - Story of the A-10C pilots and their many varied missions in Desert Storm
  
• Hornets over Kuwait - Memoir of a Marine F/A-18 pilot during Desert Storm
  
• Strike Eagle - Story of the brand new F-15C Strike Eagle pilots and their time in Desert Storm
  
  

  Vietnam
  

• The Hunter Killers - look at the very first Wild Weasels, their inception, early development, successes, and failures
  
• Low Level Hell - memoir of an OH-6 Air Cav pilot
  
  

  WWII
  

• Unsung Eagles - various snapshots of the less well-known but arguably more impactful pilots and their missions during WWII (pilot who flew channel rescue in a P-47, morale demonstration pilot, etc.)
  
• Stuka Pilot - memoir of the most prolific aviator of Nazi Germany (and an unapologetic Nazi) who killed hundreds of tanks with his cannon-armed Stuka
  
• The First Team - more academic historical look at the first US Naval Aviators in WWII
  
  
  

  Overall/Other
  

• Skunk Works - memoir of Ben Rich, head of Lockeed's top secret internal firm and his time working on the U-2, SR-71, and F-117 including anecdotes from pilots of all 3 and accounts of these remarkable planes' exploits.
  
• Lords of the Sky - ambitious attempt to chronicle the rise and evolution of the "fighter pilot" from WWI to the modern day
  
• Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs - the story of the long-top secret group of pilots who evaluated and flew captured Soviet aircraft against US pilots to train them against these unknown foes.
  
• Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage - story of the US submarine fleet starting at the outbreak of the Cold War and their exploits
  
  
  
  

  Bonus non-military aviation
  

  I highly second the recommendations of Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and Diamond Age. I would also recommend:
  
  

• Neuromancer - defined the cyberpunk genre
  
• Ghost in the Wires - memoir of prolific hacker Kevin Mitnick
  
• Starship Troopers - nothing like the movie
  
• The Martian - fantastic read
  
• Heir to the Empire - first of the Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy and the book that arguably sparked the growth of the Extended Universe of Star Wars
  
• Devil in the White City - semi-fictional (mostly non-fiction) account of a serial killer who created an entire palace to capture and kill his prey during the Chicago World's Fair
  
• Good Omens - dark comedy story of a demon and an angel trying to stop the end of the world because they like us too much
  
• American Gods - fantastic story about how the old gods still walk among us
  
• Dune - just read it
  

I read A Rumor of War in high school, it was pretty good. Check it out if you're into Vietnam-era books. Caputo was both a Marine and a journalist.

http://www.amazon.com/Rumor-War-Philip-Caputo/dp/080504695X

It's one of the best books I have ever read.

The Japanese had "doctors" trained to be butchers. They would lash you to a tree and harvest the meat of your lower body and not hit the arteries. You would last a day or so. The next day they would come back and finish you. American and Ausie troops came up on men then half harvested and had to shoot them. They were sworn to secrecy. It was pretty much brought out by the author of Flags of Our Fathers. It's an amazing terribly awful thing to read. The first three chapters are the best short history primer you will find leading up to the war.

https://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-Story-Courage-James-Bradley/dp/031610728X

Since you asked, I read a book on the raid, and I recommend you read up too before spouting bullshit. It's public information, that's how I know.

The bestselling book: http://www.amazon.com/No-Easy-Day-Autobiography-Firsthand/dp/0525953728/ref=la_B0099F6QS2_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395642062&sr=1-1

I find it hilarious that your only rebuttal to my arguments is that I am employed by the government; even if I was, your arguments have no merit, and my points have yet to be refuted.

The Mission, The Men, and Me -Pete Blaber

Yeah, sorry. It's Robert Coram...autocorrect got me on that one.

Boyd:The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War for $9.99 on Kindle, $12 paperback.

http://www.amazon.com/What-It-Is-Like-War/dp/0802145922

Крім того, щоб звертатись за кваліфікованою допомогою, ще обов'язково слід читати цю книгу.

Залишається мріяти, що її колись буде додано до обов'язкових навчальних програм, як шкільних, так і військової(!) підготовки.

Graves gives a good account of a personal experience of the the war from a British subaltern's point of view. Others giving the bottom up look are from the French soldier's perspective in the trenches 1915-1916 Under Fire: The Story of a Squad by Henri Barbusse free here, another from a German perspective Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger. More graphically violent than All Quiet, but more a memoir than a novel. And unlike Remarque, Jünger was a combat soldier wounded 14 times, Iron Cross 1st Class, youngest recipient of Pour le Mérite (The Blue Max) and when he died in 1998, he was last living Blue Max recipient. From the American Doughboy's perspective, there's Toward the Flame a memoir by Hervey Allen who served in the "bucket of blood" the 28th Keystone Div in the Aisne - Marne offensive and leaves you contemplating being on the receiving end of a flamethrower attack. A harrowing compilation of vignettes running chronologically through each month of the war on the Western Front is The Hazy Red Hell Tom Donovan ed. It has been described as terrifying. I'll not dispute that. A more balanced view of the experiences of the fighting men is Forgotten Voices of the Great War: A New History of WWI in the Words of the Men and Women Who Were There I'm reading that right now.

I read this book a while back. It's got a ton of information about being a good military leader. I highly recommend it if you are interesting in learning some leadership skills.

The Mission, The Men, and Me

> random youtube videos

Haven't seen one YouTube video on the subject. Did read Flyboys though.

>bigotted/ignorant dreck

And yet your comment sounds so balanced.

They path helicopters around artillery firing during Vietnam and you can only assume they still do it now for a reason...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QAP3JQ?btkr=1

Not so much an infantry memoir, but the men, the mission, and me is something every leader should read.

I can recommend some memoirs from frontline SS soldiers, over generic SS history books. They are generally more engaging, and you can picture yourself in some situations with them.

Some I own and can recommend;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1909384534/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497584502&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ss+memoirs&dpPl=1&dpID=51eFMA%2BAwdL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ECGP2Z6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1497584502&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ss+memoirs&dpPl=1&dpID=41NfzlY3rGL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OZ3HTES/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1497584502&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ss+memoirs&dpPl=1&dpID=51fOKlnVagL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OZ3HTES/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1497584502&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ss+memoirs&dpPl=1&dpID=51fOKlnVagL&ref=plSrch

I wouldn't recommend another survey book like Bryson's (as good as that is).
Vietnam: A Bright Shining Lie This biography on John Paul Vann is especially relevant in light of the current crop of wars.

WW2: William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is the seminal read. I'd also highly recommend his Berlin Diary, which he wrote as the war was unfolding. It's rare to find a book written from this kind of perspective, written so candidly and well.

I don't know of any exemplary non-fiction history of WW1: MacMillan's Versailles 1919 is certainly a rich vein if you're deeply familiar with the terrain, but it can be tough plodding otherwise.

Prior to WW1, some good studies are Rockefeller (Chernow's Titan: the Life of John D Rockefeller is excellent) and Teddy Roosevelt certainly straddles the new epoch in a phenomenal way.

Battle Cry of Freedom By James McPherson is a fantastic read on the civil war era. I had to read it for a class but it was actually very interesting and I enjoyed reading it.

It may cover a span of time too small and too in depth for you but I would highly recommend it.

Really recommending the Forgotten Voices of the Somme for a British perspective on the whole battle, including the first day. I think it's best to learn about the Somme from a soldiers' perspective and this book is a great starting point. There is a similar book called Forgotten Voices of the Great War which is a book of British solders' stories and extracts from letters regarding the whole of the war.

Also, contrary to popular belief, I really like the Pen and Sword Military books on snipers, artillery and horses as they are not as detailed as some of the books I've read but a nice bit of easy reading if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by some of the more advanced suggestions above.

Unbroken. One of my favorite non-fiction stories about a WWII POW, and his will to live through everything. It really is simply fantastic.

Hope you enjoy it! :)

And for another amusing war book, You're Stepping on My Cloak and Dagger by Roger Hall is quite hilarious as well. It's a non-fiction account of his time as an OSS officer.

Fullofshitguy: ^^original ^^link

I read this book a few years ago, it was pretty entertaining, you should check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/First-SEAL-Roy-Boehm/dp/0671536265

I read this book a few years ago, it was pretty entertaining, you should check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/First-SEAL-Roy-Boehm/dp/0671536265

Fair enough. I can concede to that. Poor choice of wording on my point.

There is a great book by Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn, called What It Is Like To Go To War where in one chapter he talks about different types of war crimes. I don't have it on hand but I believe he classifies them into three separate categories - White, Blue, and Red depending on whether they were done because the orders came down the chain of command to do so, whether they were done in a cold calculated manner on the whim of the individuals involved, or whether they were done as a result of outrage and hate due to losing a comrade in arms, e.t.c. He fought two tours in Vietnam and it is a really great read. I highly recommend it.

They didn't "come to America," but yes of course the conflict between the United States and the Islamic world started before the events you outlined. I'll outline the relevant points as summarily as I can. For brevity, I will include history only related to the United States and not broader Western civilization. The case of the United States is salient and representative.

History of Islam: Muhammad to 1776

Muhammad first began teaching among Pagan Arabs who were more or less friendly until he began to teach that there is only one God and all other religions' followers shall burn in hell. When they began to threaten him and his people, he fled to Mecca and Medina, subsequently taking over the western half of Saudi Arabia along with the eastern tip (Oman). Almost all secular scholars of the Qur'an agree that it is as much a political guidebook (how to run a society) as a religious text (how to be a good person). Upon his death in 632, his followers interpreted the book as they did, and a system of Caliphates began to rule the Islamic world. By 661, all of what we call the Middle East and northeastern Africa was under the Caliphate. By the 8th century, the Caliphate had extended to include land from Spain to Pakistan. This was unsustainable militarily (given few people liked being ruled under Islamic law), so it was pulled back. The Turkish peoples were to become the new military force of the Caliphate, and took Constantinople just before Columbus "found" the "New World." When the United States declared independence, Abdul Hamid I was sultan, with even Baghdad under his rule (that article makes him sound friendlier than he actually was -- he was compelled to sign treaties after military defeats).

Barbary Slaves and Pirating

Before the United States had first elected Washington as President, the Congress found itself at odds with the Caliphate controlled lands. At this time, the Muslim world was taking Europeans and Americans as slaves, estimates are that as many as 1.25 million slaves were taken from the Western world (source: Robert Davis). John Adams, America's London ambassador, was sent to the Tripoli ambassador to discuss the matter, and was met with a demand of money for various levels of peace. Terms were set for the release of slaves, short term peace, and even a price for long term peace. The United States argued that it was a new nation. If their military had previously quarreled with Europe, that was of no concern to the United States. Could not peace with a new nation be had?

When Jefferson took the Presidency in 1801, he was immediately met with a demand of $4,000,000 (adjusted for inflation but not %GDP or federal budget) to be paid to the Muslim lands. Jefferson demanded repeatedly to know by what right these demands were made. By what right did they capture Americans as slaves, seize her ships, take her property, and demand payment in exchange?

> The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners.

Thomas Jefferson to Congress and the State Department

Barbary Wars to Usama bin Laden

President Jefferson found himself in the fortunate position of having a capable Navy that he, ironically enough, had fought against funding before being elected. With it, he began the first conflict between the United States and the Caliphate. The second line of the Marine Anthem (To the shores of Tripoli) celebrates the result even today. Congress authorized Jefferson to use the full might of the United States Navy to suppress the military aggression, with permission to seize and destroy property as the Navy was able. The language was quite strong and general.

The modern Islamic revival that began in the 1970s has seen a large surge in the total Muslim population, which we must admit is in some sense responsible for the recent surge of the lower jihad as well (this being the military jihad as opposed to the higher jihad meaning an inner struggle). Al Qaeda's number one demand was restoration of the Caliphate. The crime for which America has been subject to the violence from the radical Islamists was committed after approval by the Saudi royal family to use American troops to free Kuwait from Iraq rather than using their own, limited resources and relying heavily on the local mujahidin. In other words, Usama bin Laden was angry with America because he thought that local insurgents could fight Saddam the same way they had in Afghanistan against the Soviets rather than relying on smart bombs to do the same. (He forgot, or perhaps never knew, that Afghanistan was liberated only through American assistance. People who assert the unsophisticated non-distinction between Al Qaeda and the Taliban forget this. America gave aid to the Taliban, not The Base.)

Also central to crimes committed by the United States in Bin Laden's mind was our admission that we had begun to support the right of East Timor to self determination of government. Here is one of his first speeches after the 2001 attacks.. Ctrl+f "east timor" to see that his complaint is that the Caliphate's maximum extent is no longer in effect, with the world recognizing that the military devastation committed by Indonesia was invalid.

Specific Points: Iran in WWII, The Taliban, Gulf War vs. bin Laden, and Diplomacy

So, yes, the Barbary wars happened before the Iranian coup. Keep in mind also that 1953 is also after 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered. At that time, Iran was already under the full control of Britain and Russia (mostly the British), essentially a colony like India was. This invasion was necessary because Reza Shah was attempting to play neutral while supplying the Nazi war machine with crude oil necessary for its logistical world domination. "Iran" in Persian means "The Land of the Aryans," which Persia abruptly changed its name to in 1935, just as it was becoming friendly toward the Germans. After the war was over, Britain had a number of privately owned fields, purchased legally from the owners of the land. When Iran elected Mosaddegh to nationalize the oilfields, they did so illegally. Their country or not, the heart of libertarianism is the right to free exchange and free markets. Unless you agree that the United States can simply seize the property of any foreign corporation who operates in any way through the United States, you cannot support the right of anyone, anywhere to loot by law. The course of action taken by the West was perhaps morally wrong. But it was in response to a moral wrong, not the initiation of one. I find that very few internet historians know the history of Iran before 1953. This has always seemed odd to me -- where are you all getting your similarly edited information?

The military bases in Islamic lands were widely supported at the time by both governments and peoples. They still celebrate it as a national day of pride. Again, bin Laden considers this the great evil of America because he wanted the local mujahidin to fight Saddam rather than bringing in any Western aid. You may freely be against the Gulf War, but you cannot rationalize that the intervention was innately immoral since the United States determined that losing control of the Kuwait and Saudi oilfields would have been damaging to her interests. In other words, the United States did not initiate force but responded to the initiation of force upon a friend.

The United States used the Taliban to fight the Soviet Empire. I fail to see this as a moral evil.

The United States necessarily has diplomatic relations with all countries who are willing, including bad guys. Egyptians and Tunisians far and away have more warm feelings for the United States than ill-feelings. Only with sources such as Russia Today can you attempt to support the notion that we stood between these leaders and their people. The West was crucial to their overthrow, including freezing of their foreign assets.

Recommended Reading

Islamic Radicalism and Global Jihad History of radical Islam and current resurgence. Takes a look at the old scholars and new.

The Looming Tower Everything leading up to 9/11

Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters Details the Barbary coast slave trade

The Trial of Henry Kissinger Outlines US war crimes

Qur'an My English translation.

Instructions for American Servicemen in Iran During World War II Self explanatory.

The Forever War Solidly good book.

The Rape of Kuwait Iraq war crimes in Kuwait


Edits

• Corrected a couple subject-verb agreements.
  
  
• Added section headers.
  
  
• Added recommended reading list.
  
  
• Reworked a paragraph in the last section.

I've been looking for a good series like this too.
The best option I've found so far was autobiographical books about real operators and their stories. The comic I link to below is pretty good too.

This is the comic, obviously it isn't a true novel, but it's still a good series.

https://www.amazon.com/Activity-1-Tp/dp/1607065614
The series focuses on the Intelligence Support Activity and their covert ops, but there's some joint Delta, SAS, CIA, etc stories in there too.

As for more proper novels, 'No Easy Day' has some good stories in it. It's an autobiography though.

https://www.amazon.com/No-Easy-Day-Autobiography-Firsthand/dp/0525953728

I'm currently reading Operation Paperclip. Its really interesting so far. It focuses more on after the war but still very interesting.

Unbroken is very good too if you treat it as a story and not a history book.

Phil Caputo - A Rumor of War for U.S. History

I loved A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo.

One major influence has been the work of John Boyd. He was orginally a Korean war fighter pilot, but went on to single-handly develop the idea of using math to predict the performance of fighter aircraft, his Energy–maneuverability theory, where he was able to predict ahead of time in which areas of combat the Mig-19(IIRC) would have an advantage over US aircraft, and in which areas it would be at a disadvantage. He was later proven correct when a Syrian pilot defected with one. Supposedly, all modern combat aircraft are designed according to the theories he developed. (I say "supposedly" because if someone found something even better, they're keeping it very quiet.)

He also pioneered an advanced theory of the idea of "getting in the other guy's decision loop," which he called OODA loop: Orientation, observation, decision, action.

One of the interesting things about Boyd is that he wasn't considered particularly bright. Supposedly his IQ tested out somewhere around 90. Yet he was able to imagine what might be possible, and even taught himself the calculus he needed to do his calculations of aircraft performance.

I've used a lot of wiki links here because I'm feeling lazy, but Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War is a great source for this and more information about him. Definitely worth reading.

i just read an interesting section in this book which showed that support for secession was high in counties where the slave population was high, and low where it was low, especially west virginia and parts of tennessee and kentucky.

Forgotten Voices of The Great War and Forgotten Voices of World War 2 by Max Hastings are exactly what you are looking for.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Voices-Great-War-History/dp/0091888875


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Voices-Second-World-War/dp/0091897351

Here's the Kindle version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECGP2Z6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qGHYAbED089T3

If those were the only two things America had ever done overseas, and you always brought up one, and never mentioned the other, the problem wouldn't be with America, it would be with your reporting. CNN are godawful suckass reporters.

By the way, Stan Goff's Hideous Dream discusses the 93-94 invasion of Haiti and, while written by someone in Special Forces, rather than a professional writer, is pretty cool. Very critical of the idea we did any good there, that time.

This changed the way we think about leadership in the sub force. I recommend it to everyone.

They could easily make an OH-6 to match early huey, I'd love to reenact some moments from Low Level Hell.

But as much as I would love a littlebird, DCS would have to improve much more to actually have it play a role in the game, better inf. AI, animations etc

I just want the AH-64 :/

This one or this one?

There were definitely boots on the ground in Cambodia. This is quite a good memoir that describes what happened on the ground. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Across-Fence-John-Stryker-Meyer-ebook/dp/B004XMOISG/ref

grey non-fiction book rec:

Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War

=== info about the book and John Boyd follows ===

https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Fighter-Pilot-Who-Changed-ebook/dp/B000FA5UEG

John Boyd quote:
"Do You Want to Be Someone or Do Something?"

Innovator of the OODA loop:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OODA_loop

"""

The OODA loop is the cycle observe–orient–decide–act, developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd. Boyd applied the concept to the combat operations process, often at the operational level during military campaigns. It is now also often applied to understand commercial operations and learning processes. The approach explains how agility can overcome raw power in dealing with human opponents. It is especially applicable to cyber security and cyberwarfare

"""


""" blurb about the book:

John Boyd may be the most remarkable unsung hero in all of American military history. Some remember him as the greatest U.S. fighter pilot ever -- the man who, in simulated air-to-air combat, defeated every challenger in less than forty seconds. Some recall him as the father of our country's most legendary fighter aircraft -- the F-15 and F-16. Still others think of Boyd as the most influential military theorist since Sun Tzu. They know only half the story. Boyd, more than any other person, saved fighter aviation from the predations of the Strategic Air Command. His manual of fighter tactics changed the way every air force in the world flies and fights. He discovered a physical theory that forever altered the way fighter planes were designed.
Later in life, he developed a theory of military strategy that has been adopted throughout the world and even applied to business models for maximizing efficiency. And in one of the most startling and unknown stories of modern military history, the Air Force fighter pilot taught the U.S. Marine Corps how to fight war on the ground. His ideas led to America's swift and decisive victory in the Gulf War and foretold the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. On a personal level, Boyd rarely met a general he couldn't offend. He was loud, abrasive, and profane. A man of daring, ferocious passion and intractable stubbornness, he was that most American of heroes -- a rebel who cared not for his reputation or fortune but for his country. He was a true patriot, a man who made a career of challenging the shortsighted and self-serving Pentagon bureaucracy. America owes Boyd and his disciples -- the six men known as the "Acolytes" -- a great debt. Robert Coram finally brings to light the remarkable story of a man who polarized all who knew him, but who left a legacy that will influence the military -- and all of America -- for decades to come.

"""

Hideous Dream by Stan Goff. This might be what you are looking for.

http://www.amazon.com/Hideous-Dream-Soldiers-Memoir-Invasion/dp/1887128638

One of the more interesting factlets I heard about it was that the Japanese Navy was much more 'decent' and respectful of international conventions and the Law of the Sea, than the Japanese Army.

The Japanese army has been called the most brutal in the history of war. I doubt this could be true or verified, but say, in recent history.

Here's one I've read... gives a good history of Japan's perspective and reasons for going to war, and tells of some coverup of some of Japan's horrific atrocities -- because they were deemed too upsetting to the families of the victims. http://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-A-True-Story-Courage/dp/031610728X

https://www.amazon.com/State-Secrets-Insiders-Chronicle-Chemical-ebook/dp/B001U3YUU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522098170&sr=8-1&keywords=Mirzayanov

Hérna er bókin

OK- Here is the crash course for learning what SOG was, what they did, and how they did it, written by the few men who actually survived!

There is a FANTASTIC new book called wE few just came out and is fantastic. Manages to intertwine constant humor with suicidal missions. author is legit hilarious at the right times, and somber when things went wrong, 100% top recommend.

And you can never go wrong with Secret Commandos, and

Across the Fence

on the ground

SOG

The Dying Place

By Honor Bound: Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage The SEAL Tom Norris was a part of MacvSOG, and his feats are the most amazing from the entire war

whiskey tango foxtrot) RT Alabama had 12 men facing off against over 3000 NVA for an entire day

SOG Chronicles: Volume One

Stryker, Black, Plaster, and Norris have been active in telling the story of SOG for a few decades after it was all declassified in the 90's.

Start with these two:
https://www.amazon.com/Afghanistan-Graveyard-Empires-History-Borderland/dp/1605981893/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1496177236&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Dexter-Filkins/dp/0307279448/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496177260&sr=8-3

Read this one to understand America's behavior: https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Great-Power-Politics-Updated/dp/0393349276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496177330&sr=8-1

Update with a simple read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2015%E2%80%93present)

End with this: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Latest-Longest-War-Afghanistan/dp/022626565X (on my kindle TBR list, but it's gotten good reviews from reputable publications, which is key when reading any sort of history, unless you're interested in becoming one of those looney right-wingers or bat-shit lefties).

Don't forget Iran making it to add it to the OPCW's database. A dedicated chemistry graduate student could make the stuff with this book you can just buy on Amazon, they'd just also be smart enough to know it's a terrible idea, given you can easily kill yourself making it.

I remember the book was popular on this subreddit as it showed how dangerous this chemical was. Only lasted a few days until different experts had to be found to explain how they weren't dead.

She did cry though. What Happened -- $14.99 on Amazon.

Complainers don't make effective leaders, by the way. Extreme Ownership -- also $14.99 on Amazon.