[3] The history, importance, and uniqueness of Delta’s selection process is discussed in detail by both Colonel Beckwith in his book Delta Force and CSM(R) Eric Haney’s book Inside Delta Force.
[4] Derek Leebaert, in his book To Dare and to Conquer, discusses when and where Delta planned to use the Trojan horse option during the eventually aborted rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran. The June 2006 edition of Tip of the Spear, a monthly magazine published by USSOCOM, discusses former MACV-SOG Dick Meadows’s participation in Operation Eagle Claw. Already retired from the military, Meadows was pressed back into action, and along with a few others infiltrated Tehran, Iran, to prepare for the arrival of the rescue force and confirm the location of the hostages. See http://www.socom.mil/TOTS/2006/TOTS_web-200606.pdf.
* The flying heroics of the 160th are well known throughout the world and several books cover their selection process and derring-do accomplishments. Retired CW4 Mike Durant, of Blackhawk Down fame, had authored two books on the organization. The first, In the Company of Heroes, covers his personal experience in Somalia. The second, titled Night Stalkers, recounts several previously unknown secret missions of the 160th. Also, David Tucker and Christopher Lamb describe the talents of the 160th in their book, United States Special Operations Forces.
[5] The history, importance, and uniqueness of Delta’s selection process is discussed in detail by both Colonel Beckwith in his book Delta Force and CSM(R) Eric Haney’s book Inside Delta Force.
[6] The political will to use Special Operations Forces prior to 9/11 is well documented in a January 2004 edition of the Weekly Standard. In an article titled “Showstoppers,” author Richard Shultz provides nine reasons why US officials never sent our Special Operations Forces after al Qaeda before 9/11. See http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/613twavk.asp.
[7] Authors David Tucker and Christopher Lamb in their book, United States Special Operations Forces, discuss this Way Ahead meeting.
[8] Former CIA official Gary Shroen, in his book First In, discusses the Delta advance party sent to Afghanistan to develop rescue plans for the Shelter Now International hostages.
[9] Author Derek Leebaert, in his book To Dare and to Conquer, discusses these capability exercises performed by Delta for visiting VIPs.
[10] In Cobra II, authors Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor recount the meeting between representatives of the CIA, Vice President Cheney, and President Bush.
[11] See article on “Targeted Killings” published by The Foundation for Defense of Democracies. See http://www.defenddemocracy.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=218872.
[12] Both warlords, Haji Zaman Ghamshareek and General Hazret Ali, were identified in Philip Smucker’s book, Al Qaeda’s Great Escape, and later inside USSOCOM’s 20th Anniversary History edition on page 93.
[13] Gary Berntsen discusses the reluctance of Colonel Mulholland to commit Green Berets to Tora Bora in his book Jawbreaker. USSOCOM’s 20th Anniversary History also discusses this on page 94.
[14] Retired Lieutenant General Dell Dailey’s exploits as the JSOC commander are well recounted in numerous books by various authors. In Jawbreaker, Gary Berntsen shares his personal interaction with Dailey during the opening days of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In Sean Naylor’s Not a Good Day to Die, and in Cobra II, by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, the friction between Delta and Dailey is shared in detail.
[15] Michael Smith, in his book Killer Elite, discusses in detail the history of these special signal collectors.
[16] The good relations between the United States and the United Kingdom developed since the turn of the twentieth century continue today. This is particularly true among military outfits and has proven a tremendous asset in the ongoing war on terror. See http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB633.pdf.
[17] Author Derek Leebaert in his book to Dare and to Conquer discusses this unique characteristic of Delta’s selection process.
[18] Operation Acid Gambit was the opening mission of the invasion of Panama in 1989 by Delta to rescue American citizen Kurt Muse. Muse shares his story in his book Six Minutes to Freedom.
[19] Authors Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor document well Delta Force’s crossing of the Saudi border and long push into Iraq to start the war in their book Cobra II.
