No Easy Op: The Unclassified Analysis of the Book Detailing The Killing of OBL (SOFREP World Report) [Kindle Edition]

Jack Murphy (Author), Bill Janson (Author), Iassen Donov (Author), Brandon Webb (Author), SOFREP MEDIA (Editor)

Book Description

Motive, Culture and Consequence.

Learn about insider politics behind the book "No Easy Day", as told by former US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Operators.

SOFREP (Special Operations Forces Situation Report) is the number one Internet source for timely and accurate news and information related to the Special Operations and Intelligence community. This eBook is the first in our World Report series that covers breaking news as it relates to the military and intelligence affairs. Our reports are a collaboration between our contributing editors who are all former U.S. Special Operations and Intelligence operatives.

This eBook breaks down the cause and effect that comes with the release of the controversial book "No Easy Day", and includes new insider information that has never been previously released to the media. The eBook show cases the difference in military branch culture and calls out the coming media access shut down within the SOCOM community.

Product Details

• File Size: 184 KB
• Print Length: 35 pages
• Publisher: SOFREP, Inc.; 1 edition (September 2, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0095BXK66
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,333 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #51 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Americas > United States > Military History > Afghan War

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fair Review of No Easy Op September 3, 2012

By P. Mitchell

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

To be open about this, I was pretty sure that this book was going to be a hatchet job against "Mark Owen" the author of "No Easy Day."

Gratefully, it wasn't. I think there was only one paragraph dedicated to the authors take on Mark Owen himself.

Instead, this book, which I find difficult to call it that since it takes all of 20 minutes to read, is really positioned to make money on the fame and publicity of Mark Owen's book. Everything from the cover image to the title is pretty much positioned to capture people looking for Owen's book.

That having been said, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm a marketing whore myself, so I've got no issue with making money off of someone's fame.

Let me tell you what I liked about the report and then why I gave it the low rating.

First, the report provides cool insight into the differences between Seal Team Six and the Army's Delta Force.

Secondly, the author's point out the very real threat that is imposed on friends and the community through what they call a "threat chain" when Operator's like Mark Owen are exposed (thanks a lot Fox News).

Thirdly, they point out that people, like themselves, like to make money and write books about their experiences. They even point out that Admiral McRaven, Commander of the US Special Operation Command, is a published author.

Now, here's why the low rating...

First, they published what amounts to a series of blog posts for $9.99 (at the time of my purchase). If you are going to max out the 70% commission level that amazon gives to Kindle authors (the $9.99 price point), at least give us something more than this.

Secondly, the FTC requires that you disclose material connection when you endorse a product. All the links to books in this Kindle book are Amazon affiliate links, but they don't disclose that fact. That makes me uncomfortable with what their true motive is. Are they just telling you about the books in hopes that you click the link and they make some money? Just disclose it like the FTC says to and I've got no problem with that.

Thirdly, the authors write, not to the general public, but to the military community. Very little explanation is given to terms used. A understanding of military terminology is assumed. The everyday American will find portions confusing. (If you've got a military background, you will have no problem understanding most everything.)

Lastly, this report isn't really about the book "No Easy Day", it's just a way to make a quick buck. Actually, that's a bit harsh. Let me put it like this, I find no fault in making money (in fact, I like making money and have found not making money leads to a poor lifestyle!), but I can't give a 5 star review to a book with so little substance about what it claims to be about.

To sum it up, I found the one paragraph on Mark Owen a fair review of the man. They didn't throw him under the bus as I had expected. Lest they could have done was give us more substance by interviewing more SEALs and their take on Mark Owen. Something. Anything. To justify the $9.99 price point.

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

**** Since my review (and I doubt because of it) they have lowered the price of this title by half. Significant decrease in price to be sure! At it's now current $4.99 price point, I feel that it is only fair to raise my rating. If you are considering picking up this book, read a post on the authors own website that I found especially good. The post is called "A Former Delta Force Commander Speaks Out About Tier One Authors".

That article would have been great to include in the book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the Headlines & Hyperbole September 3, 2012

By Michael A. Murray

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is perhaps the one place where you will get the "behind the scenes" story of what happened and what is unfolding as "No Easy Day" goes to press. You won't find the answers from the talking heads on TV during their two minute "analysis" of the book and certainly not from the DoD or the endless parade of former Government officials. That is why I thought this was such a compelling read - thoughtful insight from the people who know the motivations of "Mark Owen" to write the book (including former operators who knew him) as well as analysis of the Special Operations community's reactions to the book and their motivations.

In the days to come, there will be endless discussion of "No Easy Day". Analysis such as this simply does not exist anywhere in the mainstream media.

29 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Navigating No Easy Day with SOFREP September 3, 2012

By LWKC

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The team at SOFREP have put together an expert analysis of the issues, controversies and hype surrounding the release of "No Easy Day", the firsthand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. The authors' combine their respective expertise in Special Forces with a media savvy approach to news, information, disinformation and speculation about and affecting the Special Forces Community to guide the public through the media hype to the real meat of these stories. With "No Easy Op" the controversy is organized for the public reader into understanding the framework of Special Operations Forces (SOF), including a bonus section explaining the differences in units and cultures (What is the difference between Delta and Seal Team Six?), what they do, what they do not do, and the grey areas of what they could, might, should or shouldn't do when it comes to disclosing information. This handy guide isn't a book review of "No Easy Day" - there will be no shortage of those to come. Instead, it is a review of the modern culture in which these operations are conducted and reported upon, this Information Age, and where the release of "No Easy Day" touches on hot issues in Operational Security (OpSec). SOFREP provides invaluable context the public needs to understand how to frame their own assessments of the balance between the public's desire to know what is going on versus the need for secrecy and security to maintain and conduct these types of operations. This guide gives the reader bearings on how to interpret the information, and sources of information, that will be flooding the news about "No Easy Day" as it is released.

This quote from "No Easy Op" easily summarizes why SOFREP is an essential component to the interaction between SOF, the media and the public:

"Our world is filled with information, misinformation, and deliberate disinformation, all at the same time, and sometimes they even come from the very same source. It has never been easier to conduct research and become informed, but it has never been harder to distinguish between fact and fiction. SOFREP's goal is to make this determination easier."

I highly recommend this book and urge you to read through it and consider the points offered by the SOFREP team as you read "No Easy Day". You will have a much clearer understanding of why this book is so important, so controversial, and be much better equipped to spot media hype and nonsense as it comes. I also recommend you visit SOFREP and learn why this website run by SOF experts is quickly becoming the essential voice of reality in SOF news.