(Not) The Art of Intelligence
Hank Crumpton's explanation of espionage and covert action. Crumpton was a long-time member of the Former Directorate of Operations at CIA. Thinking about working the book into one of my intel courses.
His tactical descriptions of HUMINT ops is pretty graphic. I'm a little surprised they got cleared.
His description of the initial deployment into Afgh is also very interesting. I recommend coupling it w/Gary Schroen's First In, Gary Berntsen's Jawbreaker rant and Bob Woodward's Bush at War. Maybe by comparing multiple sources you might get a clearer picture of the action. I'm still looking for a good military book on the same op.
To my way of thinking, there are some loose ends that never quite get tied up, but the book still deserves critical reading.
Donovan, welcome from the dinosaur den
You caused me to download the Amazon and Kindle apps to my Android tablet - previously used to read pdf files. The funny thing is that I couldn't order the e-book directly using the Android (it wouldn't place the order). But, adaptation being in order, I ordered it on my desktop and it was automatically delivered to the Android. :)
Warrior King was an excellent book.
Regards
Mike
A messy war: simply gripping
I have finally finished reading Carter Malkasian's slim book 'War Comes to Garmsir: Thirty Years of Conflict on the Afghan Frontier'. Read on the train commuting to London and Oxford and finally at home.
There are a number of other SWC reviews of the book in this thread and his name appears in nearly a dozen threads.
His style and the content are simply gripping. Human terrain at it's best, context, details and insight.
I have not read many of the books on the contemporary Afghan conflict, it is for this "armchair" observer too sad. This book is different, it is about the Afghan people, their leaders, institutions and their visiting foreign guests.
The last chapter, the conclusion 'The End or the Intermission', is excellent. I expect those who have served anywhere in Afghanistan, outside the wire, will agree with his reflections and so taken from his final paragraph:
Quote:
What I think I can say is that Afghanistan surely will not be the last of America's interventions in messy wars in developing states - our history is too full to think otherwise......Garmser offers no answers as to whether such conflicts are worth it. It merely suggest they are likely to be troublesome, murky, messy and grey.
Link:http://www.amazon.com/War-Comes-Garm...rter+malkasian
If you now intend to buy a copy there is a SWJ link, so we get a commission.
Executive Outcomes: pointer
In part:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Biggus
I'm currently reading (and enjoying) Four Ball, One Tracer by Roelf van Heerden and Andrew Hudson. It's a great book, well written and edited. I get a little bit uncomfortable when an author badmouths other individuals (deservedly or not - I find it a little cringeworthy when the other parties have no recourse to defend themselves) but it's an important element in understanding the dynamics of EO at the pointy end of the spear. I'm not yet finished, but right now I'd recommend it. I'd really like to read Eeben Barlow's EO book, but it doesn't appear to be available on Kindle and the actual books are somewhat out of my price range.
Are you aware of Eeben Barlow's blogsite:http://eebenbarlowsmilitaryandsecuri....blogspot.com/
He is a SWC member too, so may notice your post.