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In this book, two national-security experts put the exploits of America’s special operation forces in historical and strategic context. David Tucker and Christopher J. Lamb offer an incisive overview of America’s turbulent experience with special operations. Starting with in-depth interviews with special operators, the authors illustrate the diversity of modern special operations forces and the strategic value of their unique attributes.
Despite longstanding and growing public fascination with special operators, these forces and their contribution to national security are poorly understood. With this book, Tucker and Lamb dispel common misconceptions and offer a penetrating analysis of how these unique and valuable forces can be employed to even better effect in the future. The book builds toward a comprehensive assessment of the strategic utility of special operations forces, which it then considers in light of the demands of future warfare. This second edition of United States Special Operations Forces, revised throughout to account for lessons learned in the twelve years since its first publication, includes two new case studies, one on High Value Target Teams and another on Village Stability Operations, and two new appendixes charting the evolution of special operation missions and the best literature on all aspects of U.S. special operation forces.
David Tucker is senior fellow at the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. He taught in the Special Operations/Irregular Warfare curriculum at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School for many years and before that served in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. His most recent book is Revolution and Resistance: Moral Revolution, Military Might, and the End of Empire (2016).
Christopher J. Lamb retired as a distinguished research fellow at the National Defense University. His previous positions in the Departments of Defense and State include deputy assistant secretary of defense for resources and plans, deputy director of the State Department’s interagency task force for military stabilization in the Balkans, and director of policy planning in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. His most recent book is The Mayaguez Crisis, Mission Command, and Civil-Military Relations (2018).
Introduction: American Special Operations Forces
Part I: The American Experience with Special Operations Forces
1. Special Operations Forces and Modern Warfare
2. History
Part II: Selected Case Studies
3. Somalia
4. High-Value Target Teams
5. Village Stability Operations
Part III: Special Operations Forces and U.S. National Security Policy
6. Special Operations Forces Roles and Missions
7. Special Operations Forces and the Future of Warfare
Conclusion: The Strategic Utility of American Special Operations Forces
Appendix 1: The Evolution of Special Operations Forces Roles and Missions
Appendix 2: Bibliographic Essay for U.S. Special Operations Forces
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index