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David Smiley
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Arabian Assignment: Operations in Oman and the Yemen (The Extraordinary Life of Colonel David Smiley Book 2) Kindle Edition

by David Smiley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 306 ratings
This remarkable memoir provides fascinating insight into two conflicts that arose in southern Arabia in the decades following the Second World War. It should be essential reading for anyone who enjoys the work of Dan Mills, Mark Urban and Adam Jowett.

Thirteen years after serving as an SOE agent in World War Two David Smiley was invited to take command of the Sultan's armed forces in Muscat and Oman.

With the help of an SAS contingent, helicopters, supply aircraft and rocket-firing Venoms, in addition to the Sultan’s own forces, Smiley led a brilliant campaign against the Saudi-backed insurrection in the mountainous terrain of the Jebel Akhdar.

Two years after the successful conclusion of this conflict Smiley was invited once again to the Arabian Peninsula, but this time to support and advise royalist forces in the Yemen against a republican coup.

Yet, this book is not only about guerrilla tactics and armed conflict but also provides vivid insight into the Arab way of life in the 1950s and 1960s.

“It is a splendid tale, excellently told” British Army Review

“For students of guerrilla war … this book is required reading” Julian Amery, The Daily Telegraph

“everyone will enjoy [this] straightforward account of a little-known part of the world written by an honest soldier with no axe to grind.” RUSI Journal

“exciting reading” Bernard Fergusson, The Sunday Times

“Smiley’s must be the best and most authoritative account of this action” The Financial Times

“a highly readable story of personal adventure.” Infantry Journal

Arabian Assignment recounts the activities that Smiley undertook during the course of the Jebel Akhdar War in Oman and the North Yemen Civil War, both of which have shaped the history of the Arabian Peninsula to this day. It is brilliant account of irregular warfare from one of its most influential proponents.
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  1. Book 2 of 3
    The Extraordinary Life of Colonel David Smiley
  2. Print length
    303 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 30, 2020
  6. File size
    1.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B089KSQXL1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 30, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800550087
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Extraordinary Life of Colonel David Smiley
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 306 ratings

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David Smiley

David Smiley

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
306 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable, with one noting it's better than Smiley's other works. They appreciate the detailed descriptions, with one customer highlighting the accurate portrayal of Arab hospitality.

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ReadabilityDescription
5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one noting it's better than Smiley's other works.

"Very readable, lots of detail of the situation in those two places at the time. A look at what drives some mercenarys." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. Smiley is a great writer and really paints the picture of an interesting place and time...." Read more

"...Although David Smiley has written a fine book I’m deducting one star due to the lack of any maps in the book – which is totally on the publisher and..." Read more

"Interesting reading. Especially as I had visited the border area. Also his description reminds me of the years spent in the mountains of Arabia...." Read more

3 customers mention "Description"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detailed descriptions, with one review highlighting its accurate portrayal of Arab hospitality and another noting its thorough depiction of the cultural and historical context.

"Very readable, lots of detail of the situation in those two places at the time. A look at what drives some mercenarys." Read more

"...Smiley is a great writer and really paints the picture of an interesting place and time...." Read more

"...His description of Arab hospitality was spot on." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rod Speed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Very readable, lots of detail of the situation in those two places at the time. A look at what drives some mercenarys.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Pablo Deskobar
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. Smiley is a great writer and really paints the picture of an interesting place and time. The book would benefit from a few photos and a map, but that's my only gripe.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kevin W
    4.0 out of 5 stars Return Assignment
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    13 years on from Albanian Assignment, Colonel David Smiley returns with his escapades in first Oman, and then Yemen (really what we would think of today as North Yemen).

    The two campaigns stand in marked contrast to each other. In Oman Colonel Smiley was seconded to the Sultan of Oman to be the chief of his armed forces in what eventually leads to a classic set piece battle for the Jebel Akhdar (a mountainous plateau). While in Yemen Smiley leads European mercenaries for the Royalist/Irregular forces in a protracted guerrilla war. Oddly in Oman his opponents are Saudi funded insurgents but in Yemen his guerrillas are funded by the Saudi’s against the Nationalists & Egyptians. This leads to some wonderful passages where he meets with Saudis who had been so recently working against him; including running into the Omani rebel he had spent 2years chasing. (BTW no one seems to hold a grudge against him; a few openly admire his work in Oman).

    I rate this as the better of Smiley’s two books. My chief complaint about Albanian Assignment was that it came off more as a travel log than a book on military history. Arabian Assignment gives a much fuller picture of the military resources which Smiley had arrayed against him or at his disposal. Also the objectives of the Arabian Campaigns are much more in focus. I attribute this to his having been a relatively junior officer in WWII but here he is in charge of Omani Armed Forces/Yemen Mercenaries and therefore he has details of the campaign, personnel, and equipment he didn’t have in Albania. In other words in Arabia he has a full working knowledge of the “Big Picture”.

    I feel compelled to respond to an unwarranted negative review I’ve seen on the Colonel’s behalf. Chiefly it complains that Colonel Smiley uses his upper class status and political connections to obtain his commands - the implication being he wasn't worthy of his commands. Yes, he appears to be a man born into some wealth as he never seems to hurt for money, but his “benefactors” who arrange his commands in first Oman and subsequently in Yemen are all former officers who served with him in WWII. In essence by displaying his competent capabilities in East Africa & Albania he built up a network of associates who thought of and recommended him when a job of opportunity came along – that’s pretty much the way it works in any occupation.

    Although David Smiley has written a fine book I’m deducting one star due to the lack of any maps in the book – which is totally on the publisher and not the fault of the good colonel.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • rew
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Since I am a fan of military history, this was interesting to me.
    I read it with a map of the areas involved open continually.
    I felt this would be of little interest to generations younger than me unless it was filled with numerous maps, photos and diagrams.
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  • Bill Huggins
    5.0 out of 5 stars a wealth of knowledge
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The background of the author

    His acumen in so many area is incomparable

    The disparate parties involved were determinedly
    Explained and intimately dealt with

    The Yemen has inserted itself in my education

    Foe which I can only say thank you for
    The work put into this book
    One person found this helpful
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  • SoCal 1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important Read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Great perspective of the conflicts on the Arabian peninsula while the world was watching Vietnam.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • tombway
    4.0 out of 5 stars True description of the culture.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting reading. Especially as I had visited the border area. Also his description reminds me of the years spent in the mountains of Arabia. His description of Arab hospitality was spot on.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J Seymour
    1.0 out of 5 stars Hopeless without a map
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I read a couple chapters and was whelmed -- not over
    whelmed, but reasonably enjoying it, and would have kept going had there been a map. Without a map, it was all just too difficult to follow.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • I Buttenshaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars Formation of SAF
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent read about the early days of the Sultans Armed Forces and the Jebel Akhdar conflict. THe Authors subsequent activities in Yemen are also very interesting.
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