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THE PEPPERDOGS. By Bing West. Simon bt Schuster, New York, 2003, ISBN 074323.5894, 384 pp., $25.00. (Member $22.50)
Bing West, a former Marine (Vietnam War) who later served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense, has written a real page turner. He adroitly identifies the tough political-- military issues our warriors and political leaders face in "coalition war," he describes in believable terms the "digital" warfare of the near future, and he captures the age-old essence of close infantry combat. Best of all, he conveys, in a way a combat veteran appreciates, our commitment to bringing back our own.
The plot begins with a Marine Reserve regiment pulling peacekeeping duty in Kosovo. When a renegade Serb sergeant kidnaps a Marine, the joint task force commander decides to negotiate for his release. But a reconnaissance team disobeys orders and sets out on their own rescue mission. Five New York City reservists-a trader, a firefighter, a toy...