Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14450 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-04
• Released on: 2008-03-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Former British intelligence officer Smith (The Emperor's Codes) shines a light on one of the U.S. Army's blackest agencies and best-kept secrets, the Intelligence Support Activity—aka the Activity—in this extensively researched and crisply written exposé. The Activity was established, after the failed attempt to rescue the American hostages in Iran in 1980, as "a dedicated special operations intelligence unit" to provide signals, imagery and human intelligence to other black units: e.g., the army's Delta Force. Although opposed by army traditionalists, the Activity proved itself in operations from El Salvador to Iraq, playing important roles in tracking down Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar, Somali warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed and several prominent Bosnian war criminals. Since 9/11 and Operation Iraqi Freedom have exposed the shortcomings of U.S. intelligence, the size and scope of the Activity has, according to the author, "dramatically increased." Drawing on recently declassified documents and confidential interviews with key participants, Smith has produced an important primer for anyone hoping to understand the (usually quiet) successes and the (well-documented) failures of U.S. intelligence in the last 25 years. 16 pages color photo insert. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
A British journalist specializing in defense topics offers a readable, useful addition to the literature on American special operations forces. During the expansion of special operations forces in the 1980s, a secret group given the code name Intelligence Support Activity was charged with the primary function of gathering intelligence. It has played a valuable though unpublicized role in both Iraq wars, in antiterrorist operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and in the war on drugs. Its operatives can also fight--very well--as and when necessary. This book is finally a portrait of the unit's founder, Jerry Ryan, who had the usual spec-ops specialist's trouble with the brass. But his unit, now expanded to regimental strength, seems likely to remain on U.S. Army rolls, and military buffs and authorities may some day rank Ryan with Charles Beckwith, the founder of Delta Force. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“[An] extensively researched and crisply written exposé….An important primer for anyone hoping to understand the successes and failures of U.S. intelligence in the last 25 years.” --Publishers Weekly

"Well written and authoritatively sourced, Killer Elite is the first detailed account of a Special Operations unit that Smith regards as America's most effective."--Sunday Telegraph

Customer Reviews

Killer Elite by michael smith
Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team

-The book written is basically a "compilation" of Articles and other Book's over the past 20yrs; some better than other's; some "much" worse. The "Intelligence Support Activity", Motto: "Veritas Omnia Vincula Vincit", (with the words "Send Me" on the sword in it's "Formal" Crest). It was formed following the initial rescue attempt of American Hostage's on "holiday" at the pleasure of the Iranian's. This was after the "informal-Gov't Exchange Program," following the Shah's holiday, and "well-wisher's" becoming overly excited with their unabated access to the "US Embassy".
-With the failiure of "Eagle's-Claw", due to the lack of "Tactical-Intel" from "I.S.A.'s" predessor's, the "Foriegn Operating Group (F.O.G.)", and the subsequent mission, "Honey-Badger" was troubled with the "same" Intel problem's, the "Intelligence Support Activity" was formed. ("FOG" was by NO-way the only reason that the 1st OP failed. It HAD the capabilities that the 'Pentagon' had set for it. A member of the "Famous" Son Tay P.O.W. Camp Raid", only miles from Hanoi, was flown "INTO" the Iranian Desert, by a ONE(1) legged Pilot, in a one-engine Civilian aircraft, from a Remote staging site. His 'Mission', as there where "NO" OGA operative's, was to determine 'soil-consistancy' at proposed "Desert-ONE" to support the C-130's, re-fueling flights, HELOs, etc. And to Emplace Remotely-Activated "Landing Lights". There was plenty of Inter-Service in-fighting, as ALL branches wanted to be involed in the "Rescue", even when they were "incapable" of providing the Support they offered; (I would go into this, but then "I'd" be writing a Book in it's self). Not only was the Pentagon hurdle for those that were doing the Planning, and would ultimately carry-out the "OP"(SFOD/D), but "OGAs",with NO in-country "asset's", also wanted their piece of the "Pie"; and with, Thank's to their Cmdr, very LITTLE. However, the 'best' they could do was "Bio-Data" on some player's, and useless "Strategic-Intel", when "Tactical-Intel" was required, e.g blueprint's of the Embassy, which was needed to inable the "conducting" Operator's to have the knowledge as to which way door's-opened, type's of lock's employed, material used in the "fabrication" of the facility, "precise" floor-plan's that were critical to ANY "dynamic-entrance". But to looker more closely, it was not "entirely" the neglect of the above, but their Butchering that crippled them, the mentioned "OGAs", from being to be able to conduct what was an EXTREMELY important mission they were "tasked" with: That being the exploitation of "HUMINT", a major element of their's, and being the "2d" oldest-Profession, from prior to Genhgis Khan, or the Roman Legion's, a primary asset.
-This was acknowledged at the time, and even prior to it. Our, then Pres., "Mr.Peanut", had appointed Adm. Stans-Field Turner, (even-though He was ill-prepared and far-out of his Element of Expertise, with "little to NO experience" in the task he was undertaking), as "D.C.I.(Director of Central Intelligence)". His "mind-set" beginning his new-appointment was to discard what He called "Dead-Wood" at the Agency and to move-it into the "21st Century". He did this by "sacking" personnel, mainly from the "Directorate of Operations" to start, and then rid-the Old-Timer's particularly "HUMINT" Handler's and Analyst's. This caused WIDE frustration!
-He, incorrectly, was under the "impression", from his background, that "SATINT, SIGINT and ELINT" could produce the same, if not BETTER intelligence than human's, due to the fact that they would provide ONLY the Intel required and wasn't not Open to the interpertation of Operative's collecting it. It would be "handled-ONLY by Analysts" skilled in their particular discipline. He attempted to use other Countries, for one Britain and it's "GCHQ".
-However, he never mentioned that during the same time-frame, it had increased of it's "MI-5(Internal)" and, especially, "MI-6(External)", to "still" maintain what it percieved as it's most important asset, "HUMINT(Human-Intel)." Even during this time, The New Scotland Yard had "activated" C-13, for the collection of HUMINT to fight "Terrorism" in Britain propper, and especially N.Ireland. At this time, even the UK Military, had established "Det.-14(Detachment-14)", using many "22 SAS" Intel Specialists(for elctronic colection, using Technical Mean's, such as Laser-Mike's,Parobollic-Mike's,IR & Thermal Imagery; plus, "Covert-Entry Tm's" to emplace them; and a compliment of "Shooter's", to act immediately on "their Intel". As they Operated out-side of the "normal chain-of-command", they functioned with a "HQ section" made-up of Officer's with an "SoF/Intel" Back-ground, authorized to make decisions based on the "SIGINT,ELINT,HUMINT, etcetera", of their "own" Intel collection "wizzard's", i.e. analysts. They could then "immediately" utilize their own "Direct Action" Tm.'s to best handle what the Intel had produced. This could be done "with-out" the months, week's, day's or hour's that would "normally" be the case, and make the Intel-useless; in those former "case's", most frequently when the "hostile's" were gagged & bagged for "de-briefing's", what Intel they had 'access' to was: 1) OBE(over-come-by-event's); 2)the 'Suspected-Terrorists'had lost their surveilant's and disapeared; or 3)the "Action" they had knowledge of, or a Role in had already Occurred. "Det.-14" solved this problem with the "Ability" and "Authorization" to NEGATE their ability to "carry-out" planned impending "atrocities"; "Snatch-OPs" that would lead to the interrogation, and possible "turning" of a Target, i.e. "Dble-Agnt". These "person's/agent's" could then be used to "ID" key personnel or alerting their "handler" to the planning of future OPs against military/police or civilian "targets". This "Operation" with "Det. 14" was "Extremely" valuable, and effective, from it's inception until it's "Deactivation". Member's of it were lost, however, that was seldom Public knowledge. As is the case with Unit's of this type, One does not join for accolade's. It is often only "said" that the death occurred during Training, when in fact you could have "died" with only your Comrades knowing the Trueth, and Their Respect for your sacrifice. THIS is as TRUE in the U.S. Military, as the British or any other. This is ONE place where "Honor" among Comrade's mean's more than your OWN life.
The recent Death of U.S.Navy SEAL, MA2 Michael Mansoor, 25yrs. old was killed by an Insurgent grenade he dove on, to "protect" his Tm-Mate's. How many "civi" friend's would make that sacrifice for "you"? Or of the MoH's awarded during the "GWOT", how many NAME's can YOU recall? NOT all were in SoF Unit's. An MP's family was given his, for using a .50cal MG (M2) to ward off a P.O.W. rebellion, killing over 150+, until being shot in the head. Why? To allow the REST of HIS Platoon to get to Defensive position's to return fire from.
-As a "Security Contractor", operating from W.Africa to the Pac-Rim, conducting "Personal Security Details(PSDs)" with my Tm., or "K&R"(Kidnap & Ransom) negotiation's that turn into "Kidnap Rescue's".
Alot of time is spent with current U.S. Military member's, and because I'm "Mil./Ret.with 21yrs. Service, most in SoF unit's. I spend time talking with current member's of some of my "old unit's". And the "average" troop I talk to, no matter his "job", in Afghanistan, or a mumber of other countries ask's why "OUR" country think's SO little of "them"? I won't repeat MY answer in this Forum, out of Respect. But I often wonder that also. Most of them haven't had the training the Team's
I've worked with have, our ability to "Ignore" comment's that someone "shouldn't" make to/or about a "PERSON" that is willing to give their life, "So they are ABLE to say whatever they want to!" When I hear someone making a joke about "standing BEHIND our Troop's", I usually say, "Then you should try standing IN-FRONT of Them." People seem to think that something like "9/11" could not happen again; if you believe that, you've beat the Osterich to the hole!
People can Watch their Talk Show's, and Debate's! But Until you've looked into the eye's of a Taliban "martyr", and seen the burning hatred in His eye's, or the eye's of an "al-Qaeda", that you captured, after he's killed five(5) of your best friend's Protecting NGO Personnel in the Sudan, YOU WILL never believe the hatred they have for us. Findly a Buddist Monk, who's been beheaded in S.Thailand. His crime was not being a Muslem.
For what our Troop's go through for the "safety" of America, was for me an "honor", as it for those serving NOW. Please show them the Respect they Deserve!

God Bless America.

P.S.
My appologies for leaving the "original" subject; I just learned of the death of a close friend in the Army, stationed in Iraq.

Killer Elite
Once again I make the mistake of thinking that, a book about the forces will be intertesting, yes only if you are into politics!!!! There is no actual action stories here, just all the hurdles that, was put up againest, the setting up of a Force like this, very disappointing

just gave up
I could not agree more with "B"s review. I actually gave up on this book after about 3/4 of the way through. It contains lots of "could have done it if we were allowed" stories. Simply boring.