Customer Reviews

Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A compelling read, very well-written and a good balance of very personal perspective and simply amazing descriptions of the brutal selection and training of Israel's top counter-terror commandos (as done in the 1990's).

Cohen, like his instructors and fellows, pulls no punches discussing the positives and negatives of the process. His own experience of how this kind of preparation forever changes the men who survive it, and then how the work itself inevitably degrades social connectedness and relationships is as psychologically detailed and perceptive as anything I've ever read, and I commend his ruthless honesty.

He also gives a fond but hard-eyed look at the changing Israeli society and the often unfortunate way it is absorbing some of our less positive qualities.

VERY highly recommended. A great read.

I heard the author Aaron Cohen on a radio interview and decided to buy the book. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. It is much more than an inside look at the clandestine warriors on the front lines of the international war against terrorism. It is a coming of age journey about a young man who finds himself and the meaning of life amidst the most extreme circumstances imaginable.

My girlfriend thought it might not appeal to her, but she started reading it after I finished and now she can't put it down. This would make an amazing movie.

One of Israel's most highly respected Special Forces Unit is called "SAYERET DUVDEVAN". The name "DUVDEVAN" is something of an inside joke to Israelis; it literally means "cherry". As most native-born Israelis know, "there is a species of cherry in the Holy Land that looks no different from the edible variety, but which packs a strong and often lethal poison. As a Special Forces unit operating undercover disguised as Palestinian men and women, "DUVDEVAN" is the "cherry" that may look harmless but often proves deadly."

The Jewish author Aaron Cohen was born in Canada and when his parents divorced moved with his Mother and sister to southern Florida. When Aaron was eight-years-old, as his mother was dropping him off at elementary school, she casually told him she was moving to Beverly Hills with his sister, but he couldn't come with them. He would have to stay in south Florida with his Aunt. Aaron felt abandoned, as of course any young child would in the same situation. His mother was pursuing a career in writing in the entertainment industry. She wound up meeting an older writer and producer Abby Mann, who had won the 1961 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie "JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG". A year or so later Aaron wound up moving to Beverly Hills where a normal week might include visits to the house by Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. His Little League team was coached by "Sonny Corleone" himself, James Caan. "Caan would show up on his Harley with some gorgeous young woman on the back, and there was always a different girl for every game. He obviously hadn't slept and was still bombed from the night before. Caan would show up at the ballpark blasted out of his mind, and start yelling and flipping out at the umpires for making a bad call. I was still pretty new to L.A. and seeing such over-the-top movie star antics was a little scary." The author's Mother and Step-Father were so caught up in their Hollywood lifestyle that he felt like a piece of furniture. When he was twelve-years-old he wanted to be Bar Mitzvah but his mother was tied up in one of her screen projects, so he asked if he could go back to Montreal to live with his Father, so his Father could fulfill his paternal obligation to help Aaron get Bar Mitzvah. During the year in Canada Aaron got into some trouble and was sent back to Beverly Hills where he got in more trouble and his Mother said: "Pack your bags, you're going to Canada to Military School!" Aaron kept a poker face, "but for me it was actually a relief. Deep down I knew I needed some structure, some priorities, and most important, some discipline in my life." It turned out to be "THE" positive turning point of his life.

The Robert Land Academy is located in the Niagara Peninsula south of Toronto. The headmaster of the school was an officer in the Royal Canadian Army, Colonel Scott Bowman. "He was a Canadian intelligence officer who had done a yearlong stint in Israel, working with an international peacekeeping delegation around the time of the Yom Kippur War in the 1970's. During classes Colonel Bowman would talk about the Israeli Military. He told us that the Israelis were-bar-none-the most elite, cutting-edge military in the world." Aaron became mesmerized by Colonel Bowman espousing over and over that the Israelis were the toughest, smartest, soldiers, and it was the greatest privilege of his military life to work with them. He admired their capabilities as soldiers, their values, and the totality of the commitment to self-defense that the State Of Israel represented." Every waking hour Aaron spent in the library reading and studying everything available on the Israeli Military. When he was eighteen-years-old he decided to enlist in the Israeli Army, and when he went to Israel he set even higher goals. He wanted to be in the Israeli Special Forces, and he proceeds to lead the reader through the grueling, mind and body numbing training, that he had to "survive" in order to fulfill his dream. The unit he is selected for is the one that sends operatives disguised as Arabs into the Palestinian-controlled West Bank. The reader is "the-fly-on-the-wall" (up to the point of being limited by classified information) as Aaron and his team take down the number three guy in Hamas, a money guy, a fund raiser, with Aaron undercover as a reporter interviewing the target. On another occasion the reader is taken along as they go after "the father of the Holy War", the Hamas mastermind behind the Dizengoff Mall bombing that killed innocent Israeli civilians. Aaron was undercover as a Palestinian selling sweet-corn from a push cart, as the Israeli's infiltrated a wedding, and nabbed their man in sixty seconds. Throughout this fast-paced story Aaron points out the differences between Israel's counter-terrorism strategies as compared to the United States. One of the great quotes referred to throughout the book is from a defining speech by one of the greatest military hero's in Israel's history *MOSHE DAYAN* who said back in 1955:

"WE CANNOT PROTECT EVERY WATER PIPE FROM BEING BLOWN UP, NOR EVERY TREE FROM BEING UPROOTED. NOR CAN WE PREVENT THE MURDER OF THE WORKERS IN THE ORCHARDS, NOR OF FAMILIES IN THEIR BEDS, BUT WE CAN EXACT A HIGH PRICE FOR OUR BLOOD, A PRICE TOO HIGH FOR THE ARAB COMMUNITY, THE ARAB ARMY, THE ARAB GOVERNMENTS TO PAY."

When Aaron comes back to the United States after serving in Israel 1996-1998 he has a rough time gearing down from what he was trained to be for the last three years of his life. As a Viet Nam era Veteran, I can vouch for the absolute validity, of even the most minute detail of his descriptions of his personal battle to return to the everyday role of an American civilian. Aaron now owns his own security business and since 9/11 his company has been besieged by American law enforcement to teach them the Israeli way of security. I wholeheartedly agree with the author's warnings and suggestions for America in their fight against terrorism. This book may not describe the world the way you want it to be... but it describes it the way IT ACTUALLY IS!

I really enjoyed this book - it was a fast read and very informative picture of a world most of us will never experience.

The Author did not grow up in Beverly Hills. He did spend some time there when his mother moved there to pursue a career in the entertainment industry but was extremely turned off by the aimless self indulgence of the culture there.

It was really fascinating that an impulsive act by his mom to send him to military school set him on his life's path - deep down he knew that military school was what he needed and he developed a fascination with the Israeli military. This eventually led to a single minded pursuit of a position in the Israeli special forces.

I enjoyed his insights into the diminishing of the culture of collective sacrifice among Israeli society. Despite being surrounded by the decadence of Hollywood, the author tapped into a deeper desire--to serve Israel.

I also enjoyed his description of Palestinian neighborhoods as ruled by a gang/thug mentality and populated by angry and frustrated young men who felt emasculated by Jewish rule (although he doesn't make the mistake of giving them a pity party like the liberal media does).

The description of the training was intense - indeed in the USA, so obsessed with protocol and not offending others, this type of training wouldn't even be legal, however Israeli's don't have the luxury of worrying about this stuff.

It was neat to read how he reconnected with the Israeli military when he opened up his own security firm. His description of periods of his life when he felt alienated and on the edge understore the difficulty of someone who has seen the horrors of war when they try to integrate back into a society that seems pampered and unaware of what is going on in the world.

I heard the author being interviewed on the Michael Savage radio show and immediately went out to buy the book. I was definitely not disappointed an excellent read from a person who had everything except that which he felt was missing from his life which he went out to discover and found. A great book 100 stars could not put the book down once I started reading it. Hopefully he goes on a book signing tour or this is made into a movie

I have just this moment finished reading this spectacular book, Brotherhood of Warriors. A friend of mine, a retired Israeli Captain, told me about this book, citing something from page 93 which made me buy it immediately. The way Aaron tells his story is incredibly moving, powerful and plainspoken. I was struck by how much his initial journey 'making aliyah', resonated with my own experiences of finding myself on a plane to Saudi Arabia, and a few months later flying to Mecca to make Hajj. The feelings were very similar but I hadn't realized that until Aaron articulated them in his blunt, powerful way.

Reading his story helps me understand much more clearly the challenges Israel and Israeli's face. I have been learning more about that since talking with former IDF officers, reading some of the literature I haven't formerly come across and also reconnecting with one of my own critical care fellows (physicians that I trained in critical care medicine)- who had left my program to serve the IDF ( becoming a Captain in the Golani battalion ) once he had finished his medical training. In the ten years since then I often thought about my fellow who was serving in the IDF while I was treating patients in Riyadh. Recently we were thrilled to reconnect and he too mentioned this book

Aaron is by nature a man who occupies his name- I gather Aaron was the brother of Moses and at first a fierce rebel and then his most loyal and fearsome advocate. Fitting indeed for the life Aaron Cohen would lead as fated by Hashgaha pratis. Most of all the book helps me understand men who have served in any military, especially the elite IDF. To me, it does lend insight to how men in uniform feel about 'Queen and country' so-to-speak, irrespective of their nationalities or the nations they serve. The most touching aspect of Aaron's writing however is clearly the reverence one man can feel for another in a very pure form of love formed through brotherhood when facing hardship. For those of us that aren't from the male world that was especially extremely heartening and moving. This book is a must read for anyone, on any side of the divide. Whatever your projection of Israeli national service, the IDF, or Israel in general, this is a book to move, provoke and reveal.

...Mr Cohen's book. Devoured the book in two days. Fascinating perspective on Israel's military, particularly the training behind their elite forces. As an American, I was especially enlightened by Mr Cohen's analysis of our shortsightedness in combatting terrorism here in the states. The Israelis are trained to kill the terrorist. The average US police officer is trained to NOT shoot because of the bureaucratic mess he would encounter in discharging his weapon. Mr Cohen explains the Israeli emphasis on shooting thousands of rounds to become proficient and comfortable in using his firearm and in real world simulation whereas the US police force practices sporadically at a shooting range. He discounts the importance of aiming, but instead being instinctive in using one's weapon. Mr. Cohen's stories of encountering the enemy in numerous raids on terrorist hot spots make for a fascinating read. One mission describes his posing as a blonde US college journalist interviewing a leading terrorist organization leader. After making the target comfortable in two hours of interview time at a cafe, Mr. Cohen suddenly springs at his enemy, smashing him in the mouth, while his hidden comrades in arms take down the perp's two bodyguards. Great stuff. By way of background, I am a 52 year old southern California housewife and mother of two daughters and a son.

I bought this book wanting to see if Aaron received any Krav Maga training, and I got what I wanted. His descriptions of the Krav training were terrific. It's pretty aggressive stuff, always testing your determination. But he also tells a compelling story. Growing up in LA, seeing his parents hang out with the stars, he needed some direction in life. He, of course, goes to Israel, joins the military and tries out for their special forces. Very gritty descriptions of the hell they put him through, the long-distance march, the heat, becoming delirious. He details some of the Israeli special forces missions, which are fascinating. I loved the story where he pretends to be a reporter "interviewing" a bad guy. Then he unleashes some pent-up aggression. I wanted more special forces stories. But I realize he can only tell what he is allowed to tell.

This book tells an an astonishing story of an 18 year old who gave up the option of the "good life" in Los Angeles to pursue some of the most difficult training and dangerous counter terror missions imaginable. (Look for the scene of Cohen going undercover to meet a terrorist big shot in a Jerusalem cafe.) It's a fast-paced, exciting memoir, one of the best I've read in years. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended to anyone interested in current affairs, counter terrorism and national security.

This book was truly incredible. I told everyone I know about it! I was hooked from the moment I opened it and could not put it down until it was done! I actually walked around a little lost, afterwards. I just felt like I had been inside of something really important and then didn't quite know what to do with myself here at home.

I was really surprised by the amount of detail Aaron was aloud to share. I almost felt like a spy with a copy of Top Secret information. But the point is made clear that this is how things "were" in the 90's and not necessarily how the IDF operations are conducted today.

I am the wife of a US Army Soldier who is currently deployed to Iraq. As such, there is so much that I got out of this. The contrasts between the Israeli and the US Military are shocking!

I actually had to apologize to my husband, that after having read this book, I don't feel as sympathetic as I used to of the tiresome training he endured. In fact, quite the contrary. The only sympathy, rather "outrage", lies in the fact that the majority of his training had little to no purpose and use in actual war situations.

I support my husband and the "war on terror" whole-heartedly. I only wish we were as organized as Israel. I feel we are at war with the same people and much could be gained if only it were "politically correct" enough to admit it and unite forces. Our numbers, their tactics.

Israel knows what they are doing. I really loved the way that after having surpassed certain levels of the Military training, Aaron was able to reflect back on previous training and could say;

"That's why we did that! It makes sense to me now!" (Not his exact quote.)

The point being, the Israeli Army is aware of their time and financial constraints. They use their time wisely and they train well and with a purpose. Possibly because they have reason to take this war more seriously than we do.

Aaron points out how the Canadian Army is so pristine with their exact specifications of uniform and structure, (Exactly like the US) whereas, he was looking at pictures of these scruffy Israeli commandos and was thrown off. And that makes so much sense to me! It's a freakin war! Not a prom! What is the priority? Looking like a "soldier" or effectively fighting like one? I LOVED that!

The terrorists waste no time on such matters. This book is so clear to point out that if you want to succeed your enemy, you must become like him. "Keep you enemies closer." What good becomes of an official uniformed convoy that can be seen, heard and reported to bomb planting insurgents miles down the road? They might as well wear red jackets and stand in formation with bows and arrows against well-hidden, gun slinging Indians! It's such a huge waste of time and money. 5 years and we're facing another depression.

Without getting into a political rant, I will simply state that Aaron made me a fan of the Israeli Army. He's a real hero and I am a fan of Aaron's as well. He did and continues to do something that matters and is important. He's a man with a real purpose and this book was genuinely exciting to read.

I can't even begin to relay a 10th of what I came away with after having read this but the biggest question that this book left me with was; "As a female American gentile, What can I do to help?" The inspiration is frustrating!