Rogue Force Books

Dick Marcinko is a rare individual, who is not only strong in his combat delivery, but smart and has quite the work ethic. are and thank God he is a standup warrior.

This particular book is a little too close to similar to reality today (to what he has known for a very long time) for comfort. I pray that God continues to use him and others like him in the protection of our Armed Forces and Americans in general. If I had a son, I would want him to serve and learn from the best, Dick Marcinko. (Although, I believe that the only way a person of Mr. Marcinko's magnitude, must have a strange personal life.)

This is great fun, and I find the story quite interesting. Not just in battle, but the complex background and history is interesting as well. Proving things are not always what they seem.

This was the third...and last Rogue Warrior book for me. After being blown away by the first one, I eagerly awaited Red Cell. After being somewhat disappointed by Red Cell, I still awaited the third book, "Green Team." I did find Green Team readable and Im a big fan of the SEALs. But it was nothing that great either. It certainly did not pack the drama of the first book. Its basically more of the original book...more bashing the regular Navy, more bashing non JSOC SEALs who couldnt make the cut of SEAL Team Six or Red Cell back in the eighties, more bashing of civilian politicians who Marcinko perceives as "weenies" or even as traitors. I dont disagree with Marcinko's assessments of these individuals, but after a while his moaning and complaining gets old. Thats why I decided to call it quits after Green Team.

If I want to listen to some bitter old man complain about the sorry state of the world, I will go listen to my dad or my grandpa complain. Marcinko comes across like a whiner in Green Team. I havent read a Marcinko book since.

Marcinko's original book is a mini-education and a great book. The rest of his books are redundant, moaning and groaning.

I'll admit to this guilty pleasure: I love the Rogue Warrior books. Not because they're great literature, but because they're just plain fun. I'm a Marine combat vet, so I can usually detect the (very) fuzzy line between military fact and fiction, but with Marcinko's books I throw up my hands in the amphibious salute and just go with it. Demo Dick's literary swagger is intoxicating, and his larger than life character is THE male archetype. All of us guys want to pump iron at Rogue Manor, throw down the double Bombays, and go shooting and looting with the SEALs' best.

It's not "the best book I've ever read," nor is it the SPECWAR primer that Rogue Warrior is. But for some unadulterated macho fun, Green Team (like the others in the series) can't be beat.

One thing that you can say about one of Marcinko's books is that they are not at all boring. He is able to call upon his SEAL training and experience to put together an interesting story.Some of his dealings in this book are close to what you read in the newspapers today. His knowledge of weapons and their use also add to his ability to spin an action packed story. His action team is also made up of some interesting characters. You would also have to commend his portrayal of villains. As can be said many times over the action in this book is nonstop. Buy this book and read it. It certainly is not boring.

This is easily the best Demo Dick has written. Right from page 1, it grabs you and never lets go. You're there for every shot, you're there when the idiots who think they know how to run a military op try their best(and sometimes succeed)to screw things up, and you'll get the urge yourself to beat the living shinola out of said idiots. You'll be dodging bullets as well as shrapnel alongside Demo Dick and his merry band of marauders, and returning fire along with them. Just read the book! It's well worth the money, and you'll want to reread it over and over.

Peter F. Stevens does an outstanding job in bringing to life the issues that permeated and greatly harmed the American armies of General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott from 1846 to 1848. At the core was American nativism, hatred and fear of newly arrived Catholic immigrants mainly from Ireland and Germany. Recruited nearly at the pier, these soldiers had no loyalty nor a real investment in their future as Americans. What loyalty they had was toward their Catholic faith. Meeting them in the army was a cadre of immigrant hating junior officers who often imposed discipline more severe than found in European armies. The result was the highest desertion rate of any war the United States ever fought. More important, the Mexicans took advantage of immigrant soldiers' unhappiness and formed the St. Patrick's Battalion, led by John Reily, that distinguished itself in battle against former comrades and messmates until their defeat and capture. The author shows how severe the courts martial were that resulted in the execution of fifty deserters and the lashing and branding of others including John Reily. That this series of events became a downside of Manifest Destiny and a forerunner of the Civil War becomes prominent in the text. This worthy book is a fine read, well researched, militarily and historically sound, and serves as a real contribution to the field of military and social American history.

a los martires irlandeses, nuestros hermanos de Hibernia ue sublevandose ante una injusta guerra, impuesta a un vecino debil y dividido, se unieron a este, luchando con coraje allado de los mexicanos, por cierto, hermanos de religion; la mayor parte de estos, los que sobrevivieron, aun marcados en el rostro por el vencedor, unos marcharon a Yucatan donde prosperaron, otros al istmo de tehuantepec en donde encontraron oficio y los demas por diversos rumbos de la geografia mexicano en donde dejaron su simiento, prueba de ello, son os numerosos apellidos irlandeses que encontramos a lo largo y ancho de nuestra patria...¡Gloria eterna a los martires irlandeses!

Throughout Mexico, one can hear of the legend of the SanPatricios, a battalion of soldiers in the U.S.-Mexico War that wasmade up almost entirely of deserters from the U.S. Army. Predominately Irish and/or Catholic, the San Patricios fought well for the Mexicans -- and they suffered for it significantly when the U.S. finally won the war.

Stevens does an excellent job of telling the story of the battalion, the history behind its foundation, and the punishment its members faced after the war. Adding to the interest of the story is the role that many of those in the U.S. Army during the U.S.-Mexico War went on to play pivotal roles in the U.S. and CSA armies during the Civil War.

An engaging history lesson of both the Mexican-American War and the Anti-Catholic/Immigrant prejudice of Nativists and West Pointers who would later be made famous by the American Civil War. This is as much a story of persecution by bigoted officers as it is an Order of Battle for the conflict. All the major battles of the war are covered with maps and detailed first hand accounts of what happened.

Well-educated and brilliant officers were of differing opinions about the legitimacy of the war, the treatment of German and Irish Catholics, and the tactics used on the field. It was surprising to me to read the correspondence of figures such as Grant, Lee, Sherman, Taylor, Scott, Bragg, and a host of others, illuminating their personal feelings on both sides of those issues and how the experience of the war changed the sentiments and conduct of many of those same officers. This would be reflected in the Civil War some 20 years later.

An intriguing example of the use of "flying batteries" as an innovative use of Artillery showed one of the reasons an outnumbered, and arguably out classed, military was able to defeat an enemy on foreign soil so far away from home.

The story revolves around the main character, the leader of the "San Patricos" and as a counterpoint, an established Irishman settled in the country and the Army. They both faced the same insults and persecutions, and the same offers and temptations to change sides and ironically, both men end up being promoted from enlisted men to commissioned officers in the two opposing armies.

I imagined at first that this would be a story of a man's internal conflict of having to choose loyalty to church over country; though a powerful theme of the book, this was not so much the case. The stronger case was made that the largest desertion rate in the history of the US Army occurred at a time when because of their nationality and religion, men were treated as less deserving of respect and dignity resulting in harsher treatment than "native born Americans". Punishments for identical infractions were much more degrading and humiliating for "foreigners" than for "Americans" in the same unit. A lesson in the effects of fair and equal treatment could not be stronger given to the American Army and indeed this did change. The disturbing part of this history is the undeniable cover up by first the Army and then the Government of the United States for over 120 years. This book should be on the required professional development reading list for Officers and NCOs alike.

Mr. Stevens writing puts emotion and personality to the characters and events described by using copious amounts of official Courts-Martial transcripts, Government Archives records of Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, and the United States. In addition he draws from the personal diaries, journals, and letters, of the men and women involved. He also cites official war correspondence from the officers of both sides, and newspaper articles of the day.

A must read for the student of Irish-American and Vietnam history. Goes into detail of the anti-Catholic/anti-emmigrant climate of America in the the 1840's. A story of America's first war of agresssion against another independent nation, shows the beggings of Americas imperialistic wars.A good companion text for istorians of America's involvement in South East Asia,"if we do not learn from history we are cursed to repeat it."

This book was recommended by a friend, who lives in Australia. It was history to him, as it was to my husband. My husband enjoyed it, said it was hard to put down. He was in the British Forces.

The book was in excellent condition, clean - looked new!

Fast service.

This book is an exciting roller coaster ride throught the life of Marcinko. It was hard to put down.

I'm amazed that Marcinko as able to reach the rank and levels of authority he did. He was truly a "rogue" warrior. Amazing man, but clearly one who operated outside the norms of the military.

My only exposure to SEALs was during 3 weeks of Airborne training over 25 years ago. A team was in my class and in many ways they fit the image portrayed in this book. They were extremely close knit non-conformist who could do so many push-ups that the drill sergeants (black hats) had to take turns yelling at them because their voices would go out before they even broke a sweat.

To paraphrase a familiar quote - these are the "rough men" who allow us to sleep soundly in our beds because they are ready to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

I really enjoyed this book Marcinko was one of the last of a dying breed in the military. I have spent most of my adult life in the armed forces and can definitely relate. Oddly enough his story ring true when now more then ever our military is so riddled with political correctness and politics you can't even do your job.

An old pants crapping hippy from the 60s will probably tell you about tripping on LSD for the first time, well Richard Marcinko tripped on Cobra venom in Cambodia. Yes he eats an entire Cobra piece by piece, eats the venom sacs and starts seeing bizarre checkerboard patterns in black n white.
Wearing tire tread sandals on his feet dressed in black gym shorts Marcinko hunts down VC, shoots, dismembers, blows away and cusses out anyone in his path. Inbetween that he drinks a lot and screws a ton of women.

This book rules, thats about all I can say. I read it in a day, passed it to some friends who also finished in one day. A classic, if you have any desire to check it out, check it out, its like used for 1 cent.

For those looking for info or accounts of escapades and adventures a la The Unit, look no further. Richard Marcinko lived the life, lead the life, and ultimately had to deal with that life. From it all he is able to capture an image and accurately convey this to us, and to it is a style all his own.

Right from the first page you are drawn into Marcinko's life and you want to cheer for him. He is fighting for our country and protecting us. Of course there is the gruesome side of the necessity of killing, of the almost joy of killing that underlies Marcinko's writing, not only within himself but within his fellow Seals as well. Alas, to those not in the field this may be hard to understand, but putting yourself in their shoes with enemies all around you, the only course of action is to shoot to kill, and who better to have do this than those that live on that thrill? Gruesome? Yes. Necessary? Yes, in real life and in Marcinko's writing of his life.

We follow him from when he was a Frogman to joining the Seals and going to Vietnam. His personality is very strong and this flared to life in Vietnam and ultimately started his move up the ranks. Then there is the creation of Seal Team Six, which to the laymen is only fathomable on the television, so to hear Marcinko describe what he and his men were up to was absolutely fascinating. Further on his deployment to test the nation's most "secure" facilities... This was a hoot and I loved reading about this. Granted, I don't want to see that our tax paid facilities are as vulnerable as they were, but I would rather have our experts discover these flaws than some other bad guy.

All in all, a great read. We are able to see Marcinko's life with a flare of writing to accurately convey his personality. I would recommend this to anyone.

5 stars.

A couple parts seemed like a stretch, but it was still a great book. I read the whole thing in two sittings, It was just too interesting to put down.

it arrived in a timely manner and my husband loves it of course, we tried barnes and nobles and could not find it there, so this was a good option.

thanks,

margie shurts

Marcinko knows his stuff. There's no doubt he's from the old school of stick it in your face and make you like it leadership.
Great action sequences and real enough to admit even the highest trained Spec warriors make mistakes or s%#t just sometimes happens.(i.e. Murphy's Law always rules)
The story moves along swiftly with just the right amounts of shooting, profanity, techno jargon, humor, and drinking to keep it interesting.
Yes, the violence level is high but, so is the fun. Bravo Zulu.

Cheesey writing, but excellent action. I'm not much for fiction, but this was a blast.

If you have read all of Cmdr Marcinko's books, and I have, you know that some of the 'asides' he gives in these books are true. Red Cell did do a security exercise where they simulated 'blowing up' Air Force One. Marcinko did lead a team of shooters into Libya where they waxed over 30 people in a terrorist camp. Now the main story, which in Red Cell is about the smuggling of nuclear material to Japanese Rightists by traitors in the U.S., (as far as I know), that's fiction.
For those in the know, it's fun reading Marcinko's books and seeing where he's taken the real stuff and blended it in with the fiction. Of all his books, this is the one I still enjoy reading the most.

I waited for this book to come out after enthusiastically reading the original "Rogue Warrior." I thought Red Cell was good...well you might say it was "OK." But it certainly didnt have the drama of the very first Rogue Warrior book.

As a sidenote which might interest other readers, I was told by one of the characters of the first Rogue Warrior that "Red Cell was more true than the original Rogue Warrior." I was told this by Jim Watson when I was visiting the UDT/SEAL museum in Fort Pierce, FL in 1994. He didnt go into any specific details and I didnt ask. After hearing Jim Watson make this comment to me in his office, I have since wondered how much (or how little) is really true in ANY of the Rogue Warrior series of books.

Honestly, my advice is after youve read the first Rogue Warrior book, youve basically read them all.

I enjoyed this book dearly and liked it a lot. Readin' Option Delta and good so far!

Seal Force Alpha is a great book with a colorful front. Hard to miss. You follow dick to China to fight. He and his merry band of maurders help him over come Mr. Murphy and win the day! It is a great book and a great read

Hmm, the #%*?$@% has a great way of telling a story! Typical Demo Dick fasion - lots of action and color. A truly entertaining book. Thank you Cpt. for your service to our country.

Demo Dick Vietnam Sharkman, is a lousy writer. True he has lived the life and even in this book, you get a few juicy bits of how covert operations are carried out. Lets face it, Demo Dick is a has been, who constantly anchors down on Bombay Gin. A few years ago, I saw him on NBC news mouthing off about how he could poison Saddam Hussein. Well Dickey, Saddam is still alive. If you are the real man you claim to be, Daniel Boone, sobber up and go get him!

I've read a lot of Marcinko's books and I have to admit they're starting to bore me. It's the same formula every time; Dick discovers a dirty politician or evil tycoon, has a verbal confrontation with him, goes away, comes back, kills the bad guy's ex-special ops bodyguards, and finally kills the bad guy. Somewhere in there he stops to talk about the size of his unit (and I don't mean the number of guys on his team). What makes Seal Force Alpha a little different from the norm is the amount of effort Marcinko has spent on setting up the enemy this time. The "ex-special ops bodyguards" that he usually chews through without much trouble are actually fearsome in this book! They're the Chinese equivalent of SEALs and Marcinko & Weissman really make them seem like they could give Marcinko trouble. The way Marcinko describes his fight in the river and his encounters with the Chinese commander are quite interesting and he manages to throw in some real surprises. The inclusion of obscure tradecraft details also makes these sequences quite thrilling. It's a good thing they're here, too--the rest of the book ranges from mildly intriguing to downright sloppy (the ending is very rushed). An average Marcinko book with slightly above average action scenes.

This book is packed with information regarding everything from Saddam Hussein to NAFTA. Haiti, Cuba, Laos, the former Soviet bloc states, the EU, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Vietnam, Israel, East Timor... Chomsky seems to touch on everything, but with good reason. He articulates U.S. foriegn policy and its affects on numerous countries around the world, the effects these policies have on governments, citizens, and corporations.

Chomsky demonstrates points he tries to convey by breaking down and analyzing past events between the U.S. Federal- and other governments, the effects of their actions on a variety of things, and how these events fit Chomsky's description of why the U.S. chooses the policies it does. His perspectives are thought-provoking.

At some points in the book the literature tends to lose its smooth transitions from one point to the next by jumping from one event to an entirely different event. For instance, some pages will make mention of U.S. policies and effects among the former Soviet bloc states, relationships with Israel, and cause and effects in Latin America all on the same page. Though they are all related, it makes for difficult reading at times, especially for the laity.

Chomsky does a fine job of referencing his work at the end of the book allowing the reader to research further if s/he so chooses. Though some small parts of the book seem to border Area-51-type conspiracy, Chomsky does an excellent job of backing up his educated perspective. Convincing, thought-provoking, intelligent, and a bit frightening. A great book!

Chomsky is fabulous at pointing out stinging ironies in the American political landscape, not to mention the media landscape. Those are indeed his two main topics, and he makes you think about these things as you watch your local or national news, (which gets harder to do after reading Chomsky). For instance, if you watch CNN right now, you'll be watching a lengthy report and analysis on a woman from North Dakota who is missing and believed to have been kidnapped and furthermore believed to be dead. The images of this young woman splash across the screen, then there's a shot of the suspect, then a shot of a hundred people scouring a field looking for clues, then a shot of the local sheriff hugging the woman's dad, and finally another image of the woman followed by a picture of the parking lot where it is supposed she was kidnapped. It's a tragic story to be sure, and many people must find it interesting, but not by any definition can this be news. All of the cable news companies are doing this, and while it is simply a device to boost ratings and appeal to the lowest interests of the masses, it also creates a massive distraction from the huge tragedies and ironies in the world.

"The Republicans have a problem. The economic program of American Conservatives, if enacted in its entirety, would devastate the middle class while helping the American overclass [aka the ruling elite]. Income would be redistributed upward, while taxes would be redistributed downward.... How can conservatives expect to win votes for an economic program so inimical to the middle class? The answer is they cannot--and they know it. Therefore, most conservative ideologues... have done their best to change the subject from the economy to what they like to call, 'the culture'..."

"If further proof is needed for my contention that much of today's conservative political theory is merely Marxism with the substitution of `bourgeois' for `proletariat' and `culture' for `class,' it can be found in [the] call for enlisting art and literature in the service of Republican conservatism, a program that is indistinguishable, except in its content, from the aesthetic orthodoxy of American [communist] communities during the 1920's and 1930's..."

"American conservatism, then, is a countercommunism that replicates, down to rather precise details of organization and theory, the communism that it opposes..."

Michael Lind, UP FROM CONSERVATISM
From Chapter Three, "The Triangular Trade: How the Conservative Movement Works" and Chapter Ten, "Soaking the Middle: The Conservative Class War Against Wage-Earning Americans"

"Similar questions [to Woodrow Wilson's WW I writings that "most men are (now) servants of corporations" in an America "very different from the old"] are very much alive in the international arena today....A century ago, corporations were granted the rights of persons by radical judicial activism, an extreme violation of classical liberal principles. They were also freed from earlier obligations to keep to specific activities for which they were chartered. Furthermore...the courts shifted power upward from the stockholders in a partnership to the central management, which was identified with the immortal corporate person. Those of you familiar with the history of Communism will recognize that this is very similar to the process that was taking place at the time, very much as predicted, in fact, by left-Marxist and anarchist critics of Bolshevism. People like Rosa Luxemburg warned early on that the centralizing ideology would shift power from working people to the party, to the central committee, and then to the maximal leader, as happened very quickly after the conquest of state power in 1917, which at once destroyed every residue of socialist forms and principles..."

"It's quite natural that a dismantling of the post-[World War II] economic order should be accompanied by a significant attack on substantive democracy--freedom, popular sovereignty, and human rights--under the slogan TINA (There Is No Alternative). It's kind of a farcical mimicry of vulgar Marxism. The slogan, needless to say, is self-serving fraud. The particular socioeconomic order that's being imposed is the result of human decision in human institutions. The decisions can be modified; the institutions can be changed. If necessary, they can be dismantled and replaced, just as honest and courageous people have been doing throughout the course of history...

"The propagandists on both sides prefer a different story for self-serving reasons, but I think that's the more accurate one."

Noam Chomsky
ROGUE STATES
From essays "Power in the Domestic Arena"
and "Socioeconomic Sovereignty"

This Chomsky book, as another reviewer mentioned, may be best suited for those already familiar with his work. I still however recommend it highly to everyone, regardless of experience or educational level.

The deeply detailed and voluminously footnoted structure of Chomsky's seventy other books is a practice continued here religiously. (The sources of his findings, facts and opinions-much of which come from declassified files from our own government-are more disturbing than he is.) This is obviously done, in part, him knowing to what degree the very concept of evidentiary/factual truth must be defended by charlatans in intelligentsia in the modern world. However, despite the complexities of his subject matter and his research/source material, he writes in such a clear and intelligible way that anyone can be gradually educated on the specifics and profoundly enlightened on the true meaning of the general topics simultaneously. Noam is essentially riffing here. Much of ROGUE STATES consists of transcriptions of papers and speeches he has given over the past five to seven years. Make no mistake, however; we are still talking about Noam Chomsky (Scientific Linguistics icon of MIT). An intellectual jam session by him consisting of solo improvisations on paradigm-shifting themes is not only worth reading but seriously worth owning.

ROGUE STATES is split up into fourteen essay chapters totaling approximately 215 pages of more truth about the real world than you are likely to find anywhere else. They are all built upon the introductory essay chapter from which the book's title is derived. Like a world master linguist can be expected to do, he devotes a considerable amount of the book to the deconstruction of recycled slogans in the media and political world. Slogans that, when looked at their actual world application, would make Orwell spin in his grave. "Rogue State" and "Humanitarian Intervention", for example, when deconstructed in the light of day by Chomsky--who again, always uses a slew of government, Pentagon paper and international sources to prove his point--reveal an entirely different meaning from the one you may think you know.

Using the basic principal of universality underlying both human language and law as a context for the definition of political terms and international socioeconomic realities (without which both language and law become irrelevant), what is a "rogue state", and what modern states actually qualify as one? Chomsky proves that our United States routinely fits the description of one better than our enemies--when looking at actual history, not propaganda. He shows, with brilliant clarity and detail, the principles of military and covert economic warfare practiced by strong countries against the resource-rich weak. And, how such structural principles of parasitism and force are used as the facilitators of neo-colonialism. Masquerading, via Information Society technology, as "globalization".

A shocking; infuriating...redemptive book.

Quite impressive as ussual. I suggest also to read The Bewildered Herd: Media Coverage of International Conflicts & Public Opinion.

So. You're angry. Here's someone who's just as angry and is willing to take on the causes of all the anger. Read up before you get read down.

I will order again from you. Great condition and i got it right away.

Let me say first off I am a 21 YO computer sci major, and this was one of the best books I have ever read. Richard Marcinko is such an admirable leader and he shares all his tactics with the reader. If only he ran for president. I immediately was sucked into the book, they way the book was written I really felt like I was along for the ride, and oh what a ride it was. Marcinko's books are so enthralling that it even makes me think about joining the milliatry, just so I could follow in his footsteps, and if I wasn't almost done with school, I just might've done it. Forget what you see in movies, or what you think you know about the millitary/SEALs, Marcinko is the real thing, and he'll set you straight.

A Literary Guild Selection and a Doubleday Book Club Selection. Author Richard Marcinko is retired from the Navy after more than 30 years of service. Author John Weisman specializes in espionage and military themes. A must read if you seek action, a fast moving plot and military operations.

In the way that karate movies are entertaining. Lots of cool action parts and a storyline that doesn't quite make it to good.

The writing style is very similar to all of his sequels to the original Rogue Warrior book. Not quite redundant in my opinion, but almost.

A decent enough story, really good slam-bang double-tap action, I'd only recommend this book only to fans of action-adventure books and fans of Richard Marcinko.

This is another thriller in the Rogue Warrior series. Through his experiences as a U.S. Navy Seal Marcinko has been enabled to write some very entertaining books. His vast knowledge of types of weapons and special operations manuevers make his books quite believable. In this book Marcinke and his troops are matched up against an evil ruthless billionaire. Despite the man's over- whelming wealth Marcinko is still able to prevail. As usual there is nonstop action. The ending of this book is also very unique. Be sure to read this book. You will be greatly entertained.Dick Marcinko has written another good book.

Designation Gold was not as good as Marcinko's other books. He contradicted some of his comments from earlier books. Also, it seems this was written by a different author...it just didn't read as well as earlier books. But it was still entertaining.

To readers of the Rogue Warrior series, Richard Marchinko is the undisputed King of SpecWar novels. This new book only reinforces that idea. Careful examination of the book as in the other titles gives you numerous nuggets of information. Not only is the novel exciting but those who can read between the lines find a treasure trove of information.

Demo-Dick is back in rare form with an indepth story and plenty of in-your-face action from the king of specwar adventures. Not for dip-dunks or technocrats, but Marcinko-ites will recognise it as his best work since the original Rogue Warrior

This book blows all other books about specwar out of the water. Richard Marcinko's Desegnation Gold is pure gold, another wam-bam-thankyou-mam book that blows the wanna-be's to high heaven. Richard Marcinko keep up the great work

King Richard again goes where Clancy and other "War Fiction" writers dare not tread. You will feel like you are on point with Dick looking for all the nasty tangoes and after obtaining your objective you can smell the Bombay Gin in the air. A read you will enjoy many times over

Simply put: If you are sick of hollywood's predictable, ridiculous, superhero action and you want the The Real Deal - Then Buy This Book.

I also highly reccomend reading "Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior : A Commando's Guide to Success."

Those of us who are fans of the Weisman/Marcinko collaboration know what to expect, and we usually get it. Purple prose, riveting technical realism, and a refreshingly honest look at great men who overcome great odds in spite of malfunctioning equipment, fumbled flash-bang grenades, mashed noses and other Murphy factors. What can I say, I love this stuff. Reading Tom Clancy is like watching a video football game, while Weisman's work is like standing at the 50-yard line with the coach. Weisman understands that great men rise to greatness in spite of their occasional acts of bone-headedness! That's what separates the Rogue Warrior from the rest.

Hello to all of you Rogue Warrior fans! This is a [great] if you haven't read this book already. I'm not saying that all of them aren't good either, but just to say that this is one of my all time favorites! This story is about the one and only Richard Marckinko and his merry band of hunters, only this time he is in more [situations] than he can stuff in his big old roguish mouth of his. Dick is here in Azerbaijan on some "secret" mission to observe the opposition and to train the Azerbaijanians how to shoot& loot. But that all goes out the window when some professional tangos come in and hijack an oil rig run by some hostile crew. After all the shooting & looting Dick finally realizes he is in deep [trouble]. On top of that, the ambassador is on his case about how he should not be in the country and how it was against the "book" that he could not train the Azerbainians...so all in all this was a good book no matter what others say, despite the language and violence this is absolutely the best series ever!

I confess! Richard Marcinko's semi-autobiographical Rogue Warrior
series is one of my peculiar pleasures. "Red Cell" is still, far and
away, my favoite. But "Echo Platoon" is a treat with a new twist.
...It seems the old Rogue Warrior is starting to feel his age these
days. Even though he spends every free moment at Rogue Manor pumping
massive amounts of iron and honing his fighting and sharpshooting
skills, by his own admission he's having difficulty keeping up with
his young hunters. Sometimes enough to FUBAR the missions he leads.
And he's mellowing in other ways too, such as permitting a female
Marine to accompany the team this time out. But he can still kick that tango butt!
You might have caught the author on TV recently, describing SEAL
tactics in Afghanistan. Anyone else notice his splendid physical
condition? You have little trouble believing him quite capable of his
fictionalized exploits. You know he's intimately familiar with all
the weapons and gear he namedrops throughout his narrative. Despite
his ongoing love-hate relationship with the Navy, you can't help
admiring the Rogue for his swaggering patriotism, his fatherly
affection toward his young shooters, and his bantering, even bullying,
camaraderie with his readers. And then there's his trademark "Ten
Commandments of SPECWAR", which can be equally effective in whatever
non-lethal endeavor you might undertake, be it business to
bodybuilding. Credit also goes to John Weisman, Marcinko's co-author,
for the fast-reading, non-stop excitement and often laugh-out-loud
humor of this series. Sure, Dickie's getting greyer, but don't count
him out of the action yet! You know the old Rogue's got a few more
adventures to come!

Echo Platoon is just like those before it. Lots of blood, guts, cussing and thrill. Nothing here is new except the people who get killed. People should read this book if 1) they want to know more about the capabilities of the military, 2) they want to learn a little more about what happens around the world, 3) the just enjoy plain old action adventures. Stay away from the book if fair writing and extreme use of foul language bothers you. I would prefer Marcinko to quit making asides to his editor during the story. It only seems to help fill up pages. I would also prefer he stay within the action once it starts and identifies people and past events within another part of the book. Once the the hunter is after the prey and the killing begins, stay there. I find myself jumping through some passages just to stay on track with what is happening.
Marcinko will give you a slight sense of the fast-paced action of war and will give you an appreciation for those who still wish to make men of war within our military instead of trying to make the military a social club. I think future books will be even better based on the current status of our country and President Bush's attack attitude favored by Marcinko.