The Circuit

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This true account by SAS veteran Bob Shepherd reveals the shadowy world of the commercial security industry that emerged from the War on Terror. After nearly two decades in the SAS, including a role in the Bravo Two Zero patrol, Bob transitioned to advising on international security, believing his most dangerous days were behind him. However, following 9/11, he found himself back in conflict zones on perilous missions, from escorting journalists across fire lines in the West Bank and Gaza to venturing into Osama bin Laden's Afghan territory. Operating frequently without backup, Bob undertook high-risk assignments, such as searching for missing journalists in Basra on the eve of the 2003 invasion and spending a night in Khost, Afghanistan, with a bounty on his head. His travels took him from Basra to Baghdad, Kabul to Kandahar, and beyond, where he encountered warlords and insurgents, including members of the Taliban and bin Laden's family. As the War on Terror intensified, Bob witnessed the transformation of the security industry from a niche market of elite veterans into a billion-dollar, unregulated sector prioritizing profits over lives. He observed how this growth allowed Western governments to obscure the true costs of military actions. Written with the urgency of someone who has experienced these events firsthand, this account serves as a vital and shocking testament to the realities in global conflict zones.