Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces

An unprecedented portrait of the United States Special Forces from the perspective of the fighters who served in its ranks.

“An intimate, valuable history of the Special Forces.” — The New York Times

The U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets, were at the forefront of America’s war in Afghanistan and counterterrorist campaigns. But little is known about the grave, seasoned individuals who belong to this secretive unit. Veteran war reporter Linda Robinson gained access to their closed community and traveled with them on the front lines. Based on dozens of interviews, she recounts in vivid detail the experiences of this post-Vietnam generation of commandos in Panama, El Salvador, Desert Storm in Kuwait, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq, including accounts of dramatic, previously untold missions.

Now updated with a new afterword, Masters of Chaos is a gripping history of a cadre of soldiers who pioneered tactics, technologies, and strategies that continue to define global conflicts today.