The war in Afghanistan has given the public an unprecedented look at what America's special forces can do--their extraordinary skill and stamina and the sacrifices they are willing to make. Now, Tom Clancy and Carl Stiner--the second commander of SOCOM, the U.S. Special Operations Command--take readers deep inside the history, training, resourcefulness, and creativity of the Special Forces soldier. These are first-hand accounts of soldiers fighting outside the lines: counterterrorism, raids, hostage rescues, reconnaissance, counter-insurgency, and psychological operations-from Vietnam and Laos to Lebanon, from Panama to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, to the new wars of today.

Originally published: New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2002.

Monday, October 7, 1985 -- Pioneers -- Warriors' warrior -- Country Carl -- Few are called, fewer are chosen -- Vietnam -- Between the wars -- The Lebanon tragedy -- The Achille Lauro strike -- Panama: Operation Blue Spoon -- Panama: Operation Just Cause -- Shadows in the storm -- Bulldog and his pack: an incident in the war -- The face of the future -- Tuesday, September 11, 2001.