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Big Boys' Rules

The SAS and the Secret Struggle Against the IRA

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Big Boys' Rules

By: Mark Urban
Narrated by: Mark Urban
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Summary

In 2007, after almost 40 years of operations, the SAS ceased operations in Northern Ireland and ended the longest operational commitment in the unit's history. It had been a brutal and ruthless conflict on both sides with the SAS famously describing its attitude to the use of lethal force as 'Big Boys' Rules'. Anyone suspect caught with a gun or bomb could expect to be shot without question.

Starting in 1969, Mark Urban reveals the extraordinary history of the special forces' operations in Northern Ireland and the unenviable dilemmas faced by intelligence chiefs engaged in a daily struggle against one of the world's most sophisticated terrorist organisations.

'This is a book that needed to be written and which fulfils the essentials of any Ulster story; it expands understanding beyond fragmented jingoism and newspaper headlines.' Sunday Times

©2012 Mark Urban (P)2024 Bonnier Books UK Armed Forces Freedom & Security Military Military & War Politics & Government Special & Elite Forces World War I
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Knew a lot of the stories and events from other books and podcasts, but a very steady pace through the troubles up in Northern Ireland kept it interesting. Fascinating and horrible, good listen, good narrator.

Thorough, mostly unbiased, and without pointing fingers.

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The story is boring and mundane and lacks interest just seems like a list of facts

Nothing

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Well read and detailed but in the light of disclosures about collision seems partisan and outdated

Interesting but outdated & partisan

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Narration is average at best, and content didn't grip me at all. Far better books on the troubles out there

Dull

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Urban is a much better TV journalist than he is a writer. This is a a dry and factual account which gets bogged down with the detail of the hierarchy of the intelligence services. While it may be accurate it lacks in analysis of the broader context. And one gets the impression that he shoehorned the SAS into title just to drum up interest.

Stolid and old hat

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