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| To Dare and to Conquer: Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations, from Achilles to Al Qaeda | 
 enlarge | Author: Derek Leebaert
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $7.23
You Save: $22.72 (76%)
New (6) Used (10) from $4.17
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 547458
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 688
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.4
ASIN: B000JBY0RE
Publication Date: March 23, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From the Trojan Horse to the present first war of the 21st century, special operations and the men who implement them have lived at the intersection of carnage, legend, and human progress. They have created and destroyed dynasties, nations, and empires and today are sharp instruments in the arsenals of every major state. In TO DARE AND TO CONQUER, Derek Leebaert uncovers the stories of special forces, from those glorified in ancient myths to todays Delta Force. He shows how precise, high-risk assaults can use speed and surprise to turn the enemys resources against him, and how these risky operations have evolved to accommodate social change and new technology. TO DARE AND TO CONQUER introduces readers to historys most high-stakes showdowns, describes the magnetic leaders behind the actions, and explains how such combinations have shaped the world. And by showing us what happened and why, Leebaert constructs a brilliant theory of war and politics, illuminating why some giants fall and others do not.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Flawed Attempt at a New Perspective June 13, 2008
This book has an interesting and not altogether wrong take on unique tactics, units and situations throughout history. Like most history-type books, there is some value to be gained from reading it, despite it's flaws. It's also not altogether a dry read, as the author continually (over)dramatizes things.
Unfortunately, he continually uses as many terribly bad, inaccurate references as often as good ones, and his phrasing is consistently awkward. He contradicts himself quite often. He constantly twists, phrases, and exaggerates things throughout the book to bring historical undertakings into line with a modern view of special forces. Dragging all such things into the category of modern special operations, though not entirely wrong, is a skewed perspective, and by his logic, again not entirely wrong, would bring every modern terrorist cell and other undesirables under the definition of "special forces."
The major low point of the book is the chapter on the Conquistadores, which he also counts as special operations units. He has proven himself to be particulary susceptible to the Black Legend of Spain, constantly underestimating, degrading and deriding the conquistadores while playing up their native opponents, using completely erroneous sources, and constantly contradicting himself with other evidence in the process. In particular, he has no knowledge of Spanish military doctrine and skills of the time, chalking it up (again, constantly contradicting himself) to luck and intuition on their part. He also constantly downplays Spanish technological advantage to reinforce his view that they succeeded not due to skills, steel, or political guile, but solely because they were operating like modern special forces units. The only part he truly correctly downplays is the Spanish use of guns and the effect of disease.
Altogether, it's worth a read if it's in line with your interests, but it's an interesting, if flawed attempt at a new perspective.
 This Is The Book I've Always Wanted Someone To Write February 13, 2008
Chapter One lays the foundation for Leebaert's approach to the topic of special operations. If I understand him correctly, the author's purpose is not so much the analytical retelling of world-altering missions as much as it is the exposing of the common thread that is laced throughout the history of daring, "special" missions. And this is what I love about the book. In my opinion Leebaert captures the special operations paradigm. He is able to show us the common thinking that unites these warriors throughout history.
TO DARE AND TO CONQUER is history at it's best. The writing style makes the book fun to read. When Leebaert talks about the warriors of Sparta or of Alexander the Great, he is able to reveal the parallels between those warriors and modern special operators, bringing the readers back and forth from their time and ours. It has all the academic quality of a text book, but all the enjoyment of pleasure reading.
 To Dare and to Conquer: Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations, from Achilles to Al Qaeda July 15, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent compilation of data from very diverse sources that escapae the conventional witerS of history.
Andre Minuth, MD
Dare to Conquer May 7, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Leebaert has produced a complete study of what we now call "special operations." His work is supported with exhaustive references. As such it stands as "the bible" on the subject and will be used as a textbook at the War College, Annapolis, Westpoint, and elsewhere when consideration needs to be given to special operations.
The thesis of the book as I understand it is this: A few highly trained soldiers with a creative plan of attack, can accomplish nearly anything. Furthermore, we live in times when, in the absence of all-out conventional war, sneak attacks will become the norm by each side in any controversy.
Historically we in the US are familiar with such tactics. Consider Washington's crossing of the Delaware to effectuate a very successful surprise attack on German mercenaries. The "Minute Men" (farmers actually) from behind trees picked off the English soldiers marching in formation.
Not all such plans prevail, e.g. "The Bay of Pigs."
Have we lost sight of what works in our rush to do old fashioned battle in Viet Nam, Korea, and Iraq? How can the US change its tactics to meet the realities of a sea change in doing warfare?
Unfortunately, at present, as the author points out, each branch of the service including the intelligence branches has special ops forces, but they don't share; don't talk to each other; don't coordinate. How prepared are we under the circumstances?
Perhaps Derek LeeBaert's extraordinary and well written book will be a wake up call. Let us hope so.
George Thornally, Author
"AOL by GEORGE! The Inside Story of America Online"
And, soon to be published: "VIRGIN: The Mystery of Amos Virgin"
 Needs a strong editor May 2, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
The writing in this book is jumbled, verbose and incomprehensible. It seems this book was not written, per se, but probably recorded from conversations between several knowledgeable people constantly interupting each other, without any separation among speakers. "we recorded it, to the printer"
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