Whisper Who Dares [antikvár]

AUTHOR'S NOTE In May 1980 the men of Britain's crack Special Air Service Regiment blasted their way into the world's headlines. For fifteen brief minutes, during the dramatic ending of the Iranian Embassy siege in London, the veil of secrecy had parted to give just a rare glimpse of the shadowy figures whose origins can be traced to the North African deserts of the Second World War. Yet it may come as a surprise to those who do not know, that the troops of the SAS are not supermen. Most are only average marksmen. Except for the squadron that recruits largely from the Regiments of the Guards, they tend not to be tall. Physically they are more likely to be of average height and wiry, but with an immense capacity for endurance. Many are older than people might imagine. But, most importantly, they are trained to a pitch that the layman cannot even conceive. And they are trained to think. Of course, the soldiers in this book are necessarily fictitious, but their reactions to events and methods of operation are accurate enough. Actions and dialogue attributed to PIRA members believed to have made up the Army Council in 1976 are, naturally, purely imaginary. However, every care has been taken to draw the characters, their relationships, and attitudes realistically, but inevitably there is some artistic licence. Although this book concentrates on military and intelligence operations at the time, the reader should bear in mind that, however sickening PIRA tactics have been, the Army Council itself believes in the historical and human rights causes for which it fights. And, as such, has proved itself to be a resilient enemy. m I ¦ I 1/ ^