Steely-Eyed Killers – Daryl Sahli

Set in the country now called Zimbabwe in the late 1970s, the Bush War has escalated into a desperate fight for survival.  In a bid to stem the tide of freedom fighters flooding into the country, the war his spilt over into neighbouring Mozambique.  External raids by special forces, the Selous Scouts and the Rhodesian Light Infantry, are required to hunt down the leaders of the liberation movement.  They are hopelessly outnumbered, jumping from ancient Dakotas and rugged Alouette III helicopters.  Chinese trained freedom fighters mount sabotage raids on key installations from bases in Mozambique, aided by spies in high places.

This story follows the harrowing, day-in-day-out combat and relentless pressure put on the combatants.  Cold War rivalry, political paralysis and undercover agents put the men on the ground, on both sides of the conflict, in mortal danger.  They not only have to defeat the enemy on the battlefield, they also have to endure the mistakes, bigotry and self-interest of their leaders.  On the Freedom Fighter side, the fighting men and women are subjected to unspeakable hardship and brutality.  Death stalks them from bomb, bullet, disease, hunger and their own leadership.

This is the story of the ‘Steely-eyed killers’…