By all means available : memoirs of a life in intelligence, special operations, and strategy / Michael G. Vickers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vickers, Michael G., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009--Personal narratives, American.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Terrorism--United States--Prevention--History.

Terrorism.

Special operations (Military science)--United States--History.

Special operations (Military science).

National security--United States--History.

National security.

Strategy.

Employees.

Terrorism--Prevention.

Vickers, Michael G.

United States. Department of Defense--Officials and employees--Biography.

United States.

United States. Central Intelligence Agency--Biography.

Afghanistan--History--Soviet occupation, 1979-1989--Personal narratives, American.

Afghanistan.

United States. Army. Special Forces--Biography.

United States. Army. Special Forces.

United States. Central Intelligence Agency.

United States. Department of Defense.

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Personal narratives -- American.

Autobiographies.

Personal narratives.

Physical Description:

559 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2023.

Summary:

"A vivid narrative of a life in intelligence and special operations, from the Cold War to the war on terror. In 1984, Michael Vickers took charge of the CIA's secret campaign against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Inheriting a strategy aimed at imposing costs on Russia, Vickers transformed the campaign into an all-out effort to help the Afghans win their war. More than any other American, he was responsible for the outcome in Afghanistan that led to the end of the Cold War. In By All Means Available, Vickers recounts his remarkable career, from his days as a Green Beret to his vision for victory in Afghanistan to his role in waging America's war on terror at the highest levels in government. In captivating detail, he depicts his years in Special Forces, revealing how those experiences directly influenced his approach to shaping policy, and offers a deeply informed analysis of the greatest challenges facing America today. This is a riveting and illuminating insider's account of the military and intelligence worlds at every level"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I: Preparation

Green Beret ; Special forces Operator and Commander ; Going to war with CIA ; Counterterrorism operations, Operational Certification ; Part II: War with the Red Army

The Great Commission ; Developing a war-winning strategy ; Critical decisions: March 1985 to January 1986 ; Driving the Soviets out ; "We won" ; Building new intellectual capital ; Part III: War with Al-Qa'ida

No sanctuary ; Disrupt, dismantle, defeat ; The war beyond the core ; HVT1 ; Neptune's spear ; Af-Pak ; Surge, drawdown, transition, defeat ; Iraq: hidden surge to ISIS ; Part IV: Fighting on multiple fronts

Counter proliferation ; Counter narco-insurgency ; The battle for the Middle East ; Crisis and change in defense intelligence ; The return of great power competition ; Winning the New Cold War ; Part V: Reflections

Intelligence, special operations, and strategy ; The long goodbye.

Notes:

"This is a Borzoi book." -- title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Vickers, Michael G., 1953- By all means available

ISBN:

9781101947708

1101947705

OCLC:

1346213519

Publisher Number:

99994073572