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One Hundred Victories: Special Ops and the Future of American Warfare
One Hundred Victories is a portrait of how—after a decade of intensive combat operations—special operations forces have become the go-to force for US military endeavors worldwide.
Linda Robinson follows the evolution of special ops in Afghanistan, their longest deployment since Vietnam. She has lived in mud-walled compounds in the mountains and deserts of insurgent-dominated regions, and uses those experiences to show the gritty reality of the challenges the SOF face and the constant danger in which they operate.
She witnessed special operators befriending villagers to help them secure their homes, and fighting off insurgents in the most dangerous safe havens even as they navigated a constant series of conflicts, crises, and other “meteors” from conventional forces, the CIA, and the Pakistanis—not to mention weak links within their own ranks. They showed what a tiny band of warriors could do, and could not do, out on the wild frontiers of the next-generation wars.
One Hundred Victories also includes the inside story of the dramatic November 2011 cross-border firefight with Pakistan, which sent the US commander into a fury and provoked an international crisis. It describes the murky world of armed factions operating along the world’s longest disputed border, and the chaos and casualties that result when commanders with competing agendas cannot resolve their differences.
Linda Robinson follows the evolution of special ops in Afghanistan, their longest deployment since Vietnam. She has lived in mud-walled compounds in the mountains and deserts of insurgent-dominated regions, and uses those experiences to show the gritty reality of the challenges the SOF face and the constant danger in which they operate.
She witnessed special operators befriending villagers to help them secure their homes, and fighting off insurgents in the most dangerous safe havens even as they navigated a constant series of conflicts, crises, and other “meteors” from conventional forces, the CIA, and the Pakistanis—not to mention weak links within their own ranks. They showed what a tiny band of warriors could do, and could not do, out on the wild frontiers of the next-generation wars.
One Hundred Victories also includes the inside story of the dramatic November 2011 cross-border firefight with Pakistan, which sent the US commander into a fury and provoked an international crisis. It describes the murky world of armed factions operating along the world’s longest disputed border, and the chaos and casualties that result when commanders with competing agendas cannot resolve their differences.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
22 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 15, 2021
Linda Robinson provided a good overview of American and Coalition Special Forces interactions in Afghanistan. Each chapter covered a different region of the country and the challenges it presented in the late 2000s up to 2012. The book primarily explained US Army Green Beret (numbered Operational Detachment Alpha, or A-Teams) and US Navy SEALs in their role of building, training, and mentoring Afghan foreign internal defense. The American mission was to transform a militia force into the official Afghan Local Police and perpetuate Village Stability Operations.
Minus the good intentions, the problems presented included corrupt leaders, tribal conflict, ethnic and language barriers (Pashto, Tajik, Dari), and problems starting a competent fighting force from nothing. Per Special Forces doctrine and experience four conditions correlate with successful civil defense (pg. 255):
• A charismatic, strong local leader
• A scheme that connects a village to a larger cluster or area, so the Afghan Local Police can provide quick-reaction forces to support each other
• A district police chief or other entity able to ensure ongoing support
• Communities not riven by severe intratribal or ethnic strife
The author ended in an optimistic note in hopes the Afghans take charge of their country and wanting a better future. She gave examples where the synergy gained traction to produce hopeful results in El Salvador and Colombia. I would recommend this to anyone interested in Special Forces history. Thanks!
Minus the good intentions, the problems presented included corrupt leaders, tribal conflict, ethnic and language barriers (Pashto, Tajik, Dari), and problems starting a competent fighting force from nothing. Per Special Forces doctrine and experience four conditions correlate with successful civil defense (pg. 255):
• A charismatic, strong local leader
• A scheme that connects a village to a larger cluster or area, so the Afghan Local Police can provide quick-reaction forces to support each other
• A district police chief or other entity able to ensure ongoing support
• Communities not riven by severe intratribal or ethnic strife
The author ended in an optimistic note in hopes the Afghans take charge of their country and wanting a better future. She gave examples where the synergy gained traction to produce hopeful results in El Salvador and Colombia. I would recommend this to anyone interested in Special Forces history. Thanks!
January 27, 2014
Q: What is this book?
A: A rich source of information providing a clear and concise overview of Special Forces/Special Operations in the Afghan theater. This reads like a captivating lecture or briefing. The focus of this book is accurate information. It is not entertainment or fodder for action movies or bar stories.
This book is engaging and thorough. I was fascinated. I became increasingly curious why the information in this book wasn't common knowledge. I wanted to understand why the world news media wasn't showing this side of the war effort. But of course news isn't really about information any more, it's about spin, selling you and me a story that paints a light in a predetermined manner to evoke a feeling or thought. It's unfortunate. Now before you roll your eyes and push away from your desk or handheld device, hold on. I'm not blaming the media, government, political partisanship, or even the American education system. I'm simply stating that the information in this book should be in the forefront of our social consciousness. The fact that it is not is a tragedy.
Kirsten Potter narrates the audiobook. I'll admit to feeling some early trepidation, but her reading style and the tone of the material is a fantastic match. Way to go, Random House Audio! You used a competent reader, avoided the temptations of inserting music, and didn't interfere with content. I really enjoyed this production.
While author Linda Robinson does mention numerous Special Operation groups, the US. Army's Special Forces and Naval Special Operations are most central. In other words, you get to learn how the Green Berets and SEALs worked to empower the local Afghan population. Contrary to popular belief, life in these units aren't always a recruiting video or poster.
A: A rich source of information providing a clear and concise overview of Special Forces/Special Operations in the Afghan theater. This reads like a captivating lecture or briefing. The focus of this book is accurate information. It is not entertainment or fodder for action movies or bar stories.
This book is engaging and thorough. I was fascinated. I became increasingly curious why the information in this book wasn't common knowledge. I wanted to understand why the world news media wasn't showing this side of the war effort. But of course news isn't really about information any more, it's about spin, selling you and me a story that paints a light in a predetermined manner to evoke a feeling or thought. It's unfortunate. Now before you roll your eyes and push away from your desk or handheld device, hold on. I'm not blaming the media, government, political partisanship, or even the American education system. I'm simply stating that the information in this book should be in the forefront of our social consciousness. The fact that it is not is a tragedy.
Kirsten Potter narrates the audiobook. I'll admit to feeling some early trepidation, but her reading style and the tone of the material is a fantastic match. Way to go, Random House Audio! You used a competent reader, avoided the temptations of inserting music, and didn't interfere with content. I really enjoyed this production.
While author Linda Robinson does mention numerous Special Operation groups, the US. Army's Special Forces and Naval Special Operations are most central. In other words, you get to learn how the Green Berets and SEALs worked to empower the local Afghan population. Contrary to popular belief, life in these units aren't always a recruiting video or poster.
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October 20, 2016i mean, it is what it is. amazing (as in revealing) write up of azizullah worth reading if interested in eastern afghanistan, alp x SOF relationship.
August 22, 2020
A great account of the history of US SOF in Afghanistan from the ground to strategic levels by a senior RAND analyst.
January 20, 2014
Do not read this book if you are expecting it to be a high speed action packed book like "American Sniper" or "No Easy Day", books geared for the general reader with an interest in military history. This is directed more to people who consider themselves reasonably well read regarding military history and policy.
I gave this book 4 stars for informativeness and 2 for tempo and enjoyment to read with an overall 3 stars.
The public perception of special ops teams is, especially after the DEVGRU (SEAL Team Six) raid that killed bin Laden, that they are mostly stealthy gunslinging ninjas who hunt, capture, or kill High Value Targets under the cover of darkness. This book explains that yes, they still do that, but their mission has significantly evolved over the previous four years. Spec Op units that spent the first decade after 9/11 killing a lot of bad guys are now being used more and more to help indigenous forces become more self reliant in their own defense. Focusing on Afghanistan, the author explains how special op units are now tasked with forming Afghan Local Police and Village Stability Operations as the best course of action as the US prepares to scale down its presence. As we learn it is no easy task for high speed warriors to conduct tribal and village diplomacy and fight at the same time.
I learned a lot but wouldn't recommend it to the military laymen reader. They'd be bored. The author's previous book, "Masters of Chaos: a History of the Special Forces", on the other hand is fascinating and I'd highly recommend that book.
I gave this book 4 stars for informativeness and 2 for tempo and enjoyment to read with an overall 3 stars.
The public perception of special ops teams is, especially after the DEVGRU (SEAL Team Six) raid that killed bin Laden, that they are mostly stealthy gunslinging ninjas who hunt, capture, or kill High Value Targets under the cover of darkness. This book explains that yes, they still do that, but their mission has significantly evolved over the previous four years. Spec Op units that spent the first decade after 9/11 killing a lot of bad guys are now being used more and more to help indigenous forces become more self reliant in their own defense. Focusing on Afghanistan, the author explains how special op units are now tasked with forming Afghan Local Police and Village Stability Operations as the best course of action as the US prepares to scale down its presence. As we learn it is no easy task for high speed warriors to conduct tribal and village diplomacy and fight at the same time.
I learned a lot but wouldn't recommend it to the military laymen reader. They'd be bored. The author's previous book, "Masters of Chaos: a History of the Special Forces", on the other hand is fascinating and I'd highly recommend that book.
June 28, 2020
I listened to the audio book and it's not very good.
I added this book to my list because I really enjoyed Robinson's book, "Master of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces" and this book was just dull comparatively.
I cannot recommend this book.
I added this book to my list because I really enjoyed Robinson's book, "Master of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces" and this book was just dull comparatively.
I cannot recommend this book.
March 29, 2014
She is the master of Special Forces - policy, strategy, history. If you are interested in understanding the role and going forward of this division of our military, you should read this.
January 4, 2018
I found Robinson's book on the Special Operations to be informative. I waxed and waned between hopefulness and hopelessness as to the future of Afghanistan in particular and the war on terror in general. I'm afraid there are enough religiously fanatic, psychotic and/or unhappy people who rather tear down the work of others than build their own, to keep this going indefinitely. I remain in awe of the hard work and dedication of the US and other nation's special forces members.
October 16, 2023
Robinson provides a relatively detailed overview of the evolution of the use of special operations in Afghanistan and the FID mission. A few key elements are provided in detail and some time is spent on events and decisions which run counter to a sound strategy, especially the 2011 incident on the border with Pakistan. Overall this is a good source of information which begs deeper investigation. A solid bibliography and footnotes reveal whether avenues for those that wish to make the effort.
June 25, 2020
It was really good
April 9, 2022
Misleading title.
I was anticipation a compilation of COIN/CT case studies, assessments of the effectiveness of Special Operations in contemporary conflicts and hopefully some insights into future SOF. Alas, that's not the case.
What this book is is a limited scope narrative of SOF campaigns in Afghanistan, detached from broader coalition strategy. It features poignant vignettes of tribal leaders and SF Commanders trying valiantly to achieve purposeful objectives in a hostile and alien human environment.
The book was not able to synthesize useful lessons learnt in a campaign planning sense, other than 'trust the guy on the ground' and a general acquiescence for SOF to go after their objectives regardless of method with little oversight. The last three pages of the conclusion was actually of value, where some rudimentary analysis was drawn out of the narrative.
I don't intend to diminish the sacrifice that SOF conducted in this war, I commend it. I served in the dying days of that ill-conceived misadventure of liberal state-craft, and I'm still trying to resolve the dissonance my purpose. However this book is not aimed at military professionals, maybe at SF fan-boys/girls, who pick up anything with an attention grabbing title.
I was anticipation a compilation of COIN/CT case studies, assessments of the effectiveness of Special Operations in contemporary conflicts and hopefully some insights into future SOF. Alas, that's not the case.
What this book is is a limited scope narrative of SOF campaigns in Afghanistan, detached from broader coalition strategy. It features poignant vignettes of tribal leaders and SF Commanders trying valiantly to achieve purposeful objectives in a hostile and alien human environment.
The book was not able to synthesize useful lessons learnt in a campaign planning sense, other than 'trust the guy on the ground' and a general acquiescence for SOF to go after their objectives regardless of method with little oversight. The last three pages of the conclusion was actually of value, where some rudimentary analysis was drawn out of the narrative.
I don't intend to diminish the sacrifice that SOF conducted in this war, I commend it. I served in the dying days of that ill-conceived misadventure of liberal state-craft, and I'm still trying to resolve the dissonance my purpose. However this book is not aimed at military professionals, maybe at SF fan-boys/girls, who pick up anything with an attention grabbing title.
May 7, 2014
A good, well-written book, both as narrative history of special operations forces in Afghanistan since 2006 and as an assessment of their future.
Most Americans tend to think of special operations as dramatic and secretive, commando raids and the like. Special operators are typically seen in popular culture as nothing but door kickers. But they have many other missions as well, especially the training of foreign troops. The real essence of special operations is building relationships and security capabilities with indigenous troops in conflict zones.
Robinson also explores how American strategy in Afghanistan has evolved over the years. SOF and conventional forces have become quite integrated over the years, and Robinson highlights the benefits and drawbacks of this.
All of these aspects are described in solid narratives of these units in action and a critique of their future.
Most Americans tend to think of special operations as dramatic and secretive, commando raids and the like. Special operators are typically seen in popular culture as nothing but door kickers. But they have many other missions as well, especially the training of foreign troops. The real essence of special operations is building relationships and security capabilities with indigenous troops in conflict zones.
Robinson also explores how American strategy in Afghanistan has evolved over the years. SOF and conventional forces have become quite integrated over the years, and Robinson highlights the benefits and drawbacks of this.
All of these aspects are described in solid narratives of these units in action and a critique of their future.
September 10, 2016
This book largely deals with how US Special Forces in Afghanistan evolved from small, aggressive independent teams designed to hunt down high-level targest, but which had no satisfactory organizational presence, to a theatre-level hierarchical organization that was for the first time integrated with overall theatre strategy. In particular, the book describes how Special Forces teams in major provinces sought to implement a new and controverial program, the creation of the Afghan Local Police units. This provides a very interesting widown on the history of Special Forces in the US military and of an innovative new concept in the evolution of counter-insurgency warfare.
November 11, 2015
Interesting & honest look at US assistance in Afghanistan. Info from recently opened govt. files on what we (re)learned from assisting Colombia. Surprisingly well narrated by Kirsten Potter. I haven't liked a female reader this much since Anna Fields (RIP). Loved views & info on Spec.Ops, Marines & Seals there. Will read author again, maybe even this book. Highly recommended.
Not fiction. ©2013 audio/text
Not fiction. ©2013 audio/text
December 23, 2014
Great to learn about positive steps in the right direction. This is not about the sexy side of the special forces like raids and assaults but it is still an integral part of who and what they are. Really appreciated the insight! Great read!
April 18, 2014
This book was not what I expected but it was pretty decent. It was more a collection of stories then it was a teaching tool on special forces.
April 12, 2015
Enjoyed Linda Robinson's in dept approach of fighting wars without having to fight them.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews