Here is an up-to-date subject for Osprey's Elite series, and it is on the current special ops forces in Iraq from the start of the war until the present time. This book looks mostly at the actual operations carried out by these forces rather than on the uniforms and equipment, as one finds in many of the other books of this series.

The introduction to the book covers the various forces from an organizational viewpoint as to which forces had responsibility for what missions in which part of the country. Then we get into some of the early operations during the first heady days of the invasion and how these forces were able to perform their mission.

Then it breaks down into some of the larger operations such as looking for weapons of mass destruction and hunting out high value targets, like Saddam Hussein and his brothers. Then there is a section on the weapons and equipment used by these men and a small section on the role of private security contractors.

Throughout there are photos of these forces in operation, most of them in color, with the faces of those involved being blanked or fuzzed out. This is further enhanced by the artwork of Richard Hook to give us an idea of how these people are equipped for the mission they have to undertake. It makes a fascinating read for those interested in the subject or modern warfare. It was one from which I learned quite a few things and I think that you will also find this one to be of great interest.

March 2009

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