Michael G. Vickers

By All Means Available Michael G. Vickers

A vivid narrative of a life in intelligence and special operations, from the Cold War to the war on terror

From enlisted Green Beret to some of the most senior positions in government, Vickers saw it all, experienced it all. Readers of his memoir are in for a rare treat and a gripping story." --Robert M. Gates

In 1984, Michael Vickers took charge of the CIA's secret war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Inheriting a strategy aimed at imposing costs on the Soviets for their invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, Vickers transformed the covert 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 with al-Qa'ida at the highest levels in government. In captivating detail, he depicts his years in Special Forces--including his training to parachute behind enemy lines with a backpack nuclear weapon to help stall a Red Army invasion of Western Europe--and reveals how those experiences directly influenced his approach to shaping policy. Vickers has played a significant role in most of the military and intelligence operations of the past two decades, and he offers a deeply informed analysis of the greatest challenges facing America today and in the decades ahead.

This is a riveting and illuminating insider's account of the military and intelligence worlds at every level.
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