"Some of the most spectacular military successes in recent times have been won by ... special forces. The raising of the Iranian Embassy siege in London and the rescue of hostages at Entebbe and Mogadishu demonstrated some of their capabilities. But there have been equally spectacular failures, such as the abortive US rescue mission to Iran ... Who trains these special forces? Who controls them -- and how effective are they? The work and training of these forces for both peace and war are kept hidden from public scrutiny. Drawing on previously unpublished material, [the author] reveals the triumphs and disasters of these secret armies including a mission by Britain's SAS to put down a coup in the Gambia in 1981 and the debacle of the US invasion of Grenada in 1982"--Jacket.