Christian Craighead - ex-SAS and Kenyan Attack Hero
Discussion
Former British SAS operator Christian Craighead's book, One Man In, just released in the US. It was blocked in the UK in the high court, and I'm unsure what the ramifications will be for Chris now, but its disappointing that the UK Government has taken this standpoint. Allegedly, he now faces arrest if he returns to the UK.
He talks about the situation in a recent interview:
“I sold my medals to pay for my legal fees. This book has cost me personally over $130,000 to publish so far. I can’t ever go back to the UK. I’ll be arrested. Their mission is just to destroy. But I’m thankful because I think it’s part of the plan. If they’d just let the original book come out in 2021, it would have done well and then it just would have been a thing. Now everyone wants to know about this.”
https://archive.is/20260913171639/https://www.tele...
"The MoD has launched a fresh legal battle, accusing Mr Craighead of a “serious” breach of a confidentiality agreement he signed when he joined the special forces in 2006. While the MoD did not object to parts of the memoir being published, it opposed Mr Craighead publishing details of his special forces career, asking him to remove the prologue, 23 whole chapters, most of two other chapters and some names, words and sentences."
He talks about the situation in a recent interview:
“I sold my medals to pay for my legal fees. This book has cost me personally over $130,000 to publish so far. I can’t ever go back to the UK. I’ll be arrested. Their mission is just to destroy. But I’m thankful because I think it’s part of the plan. If they’d just let the original book come out in 2021, it would have done well and then it just would have been a thing. Now everyone wants to know about this.”
https://archive.is/20260913171639/https://www.tele...
"The MoD has launched a fresh legal battle, accusing Mr Craighead of a “serious” breach of a confidentiality agreement he signed when he joined the special forces in 2006. While the MoD did not object to parts of the memoir being published, it opposed Mr Craighead publishing details of his special forces career, asking him to remove the prologue, 23 whole chapters, most of two other chapters and some names, words and sentences."
Reminded me of the Arrsepdia page on SAS selection: https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Selection
Being ex-SAS is a Booker Prize requirement.
Selection now ends with a spelling and grammar workshop consisting of five weeks hard lessons. This workshop is designed to better prepare sneaky beakies for their literary careers once they leave the service.
Being ex-SAS is a Booker Prize requirement.
Selection now ends with a spelling and grammar workshop consisting of five weeks hard lessons. This workshop is designed to better prepare sneaky beakies for their literary careers once they leave the service.
CLK-GTR said:
The MOD needs to have a serious look at how it treats former services personnel.
Maybe former service personnel need to have a serious look at what they’ve signed and understand why they need to keep their mouths shut after they leave.I have zero sympathy for someone trying to cash in by breaching their contract terms. Hopefully they’ve cut off his pension.
Jader1973 said:
Maybe former service personnel need to have a serious look at what they ve signed and understand why they need to keep their mouths shut after they leave.
I have zero sympathy for someone trying to cash in by breaching their contract terms. Hopefully they ve cut off his pension.
A bit harsh methinks. I can appreciate letting Chris publish might set a precedent, and yes he did sign a contract/MDA et al., but taking away his pension might be a step too far.I have zero sympathy for someone trying to cash in by breaching their contract terms. Hopefully they ve cut off his pension.
CLK-GTR said:
The MOD needs to have a serious look at how it treats former services personnel.
In this instance, I disagree.It's an American disease where every ex-SEAL Team member seems to have to publish their stories. To the point that it's a running joke in the SF community (the numbers in this article are Sus but the sentiment is widely shared - https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/navy-seal-...
Absolute respect for Obi Wan Nairobi, but he's getting push-back because the MOD can't have every SF operator going straight to the publishers after their service and not accepting the redactions.
He's found God and I'm pretty sure he's got a good life in the US now.
And yet there have been numerous different versions of tv shows about training and selection processes (taken with a pinch of salt of course)
And an awful lot of podcasts etc
So why single this guy out particularly given how widely reported his actions were
Anyone closer to the forces able to clarify what the financial situation is for ex forces? They come out at 30/40 often with PTSD or challenges adjusting to “normal” life. Do they have some kind of income for life / early pension that means they do not need to work?
I do not begrudge them doing what they need to do to earn some cash and it is probably psychologically helpful to them too
And an awful lot of podcasts etc
So why single this guy out particularly given how widely reported his actions were
Anyone closer to the forces able to clarify what the financial situation is for ex forces? They come out at 30/40 often with PTSD or challenges adjusting to “normal” life. Do they have some kind of income for life / early pension that means they do not need to work?
I do not begrudge them doing what they need to do to earn some cash and it is probably psychologically helpful to them too
redback911 said:
A bit harsh methinks. I can appreciate letting Chris publish might set a precedent,
I think the precedent was set after OP Granby, with Bravo Two Zero etc.Can't think of many first-hand accounts of UK special forces exploits which were written before then. Even the 23,716 involved at Princes Gate managed to keep quiet for the most part.
Jader1973 said:
CLK-GTR said:
The MOD needs to have a serious look at how it treats former services personnel.
Maybe former service personnel need to have a serious look at what they ve signed and understand why they need to keep their mouths shut after they leave.I have zero sympathy for someone trying to cash in by breaching their contract terms. Hopefully they ve cut off his pension.
WH16 said:
I think the precedent was set after OP Granby, with Bravo Two Zero etc.
Can't think of many first-hand accounts of UK special forces exploits which were written before then. Even the 23,716 involved at Princes Gate managed to keep quiet for the most part.
After Bravo Two Zero the MOD introduced confidentiality agreements that went beyond the OSA Can't think of many first-hand accounts of UK special forces exploits which were written before then. Even the 23,716 involved at Princes Gate managed to keep quiet for the most part.
In fairness to the guy he doesn’t talk about being in the SAS in the book, he was clear on that in the recent YouTube interview and understands he’s signed up under official secrets/NDA, the book is about his beginnings and the hotel siege. Yes he was in the SAS at the time but wasn’t kicking hotel doors in on their or MOD behalf, he was doing it out of being a darn good bloke.
I will be buying it
I will be buying it
There are way too many ex UKSF and SFSG guys coming out these days. They want all the protections when they are in but when they get out they are suddenly big dogs and need to tell everyone.
I don't like it - its not professional and its money / fame chasing.
They all rush to the US because thats where the real big money is. I respect SR, he has some serious creds and was at the very tippy top of the game but he is another money chaser in all honesty.
Its tolerated in the US because these guys help drive recruitment especially into the Navy. I am sure a significant number of them are told what to say and how they can help out Uncle Sam.
Never take anything they say as the truth either. A lot of it is just stories. Tim Kennedy has been outed big time this last year or so.
They are all legit guys of course, but they all tell a different version of events.
The guys who have been in UKSF units for any period of time can easily earn the big bucks doing private security .... just driving a car from A to B to C being the grey man gets you no attention.
"Jay Cal" is another one, always complaining and seems to think they are owed something. They still think the rules don't apply. Weird view to have IMO.
I don't like it - its not professional and its money / fame chasing.
They all rush to the US because thats where the real big money is. I respect SR, he has some serious creds and was at the very tippy top of the game but he is another money chaser in all honesty.
Its tolerated in the US because these guys help drive recruitment especially into the Navy. I am sure a significant number of them are told what to say and how they can help out Uncle Sam.
Never take anything they say as the truth either. A lot of it is just stories. Tim Kennedy has been outed big time this last year or so.
They are all legit guys of course, but they all tell a different version of events.
The guys who have been in UKSF units for any period of time can easily earn the big bucks doing private security .... just driving a car from A to B to C being the grey man gets you no attention.
"Jay Cal" is another one, always complaining and seems to think they are owed something. They still think the rules don't apply. Weird view to have IMO.
Boom78 said:
In fairness to the guy he doesn t talk about being in the SAS in the book, he was clear on that in the recent YouTube interview and understands he s signed up under official secrets/NDA, the book is about his beginnings and the hotel siege. Yes he was in the SAS at the time but wasn t kicking hotel doors in on their or MOD behalf, he was doing it out of being a darn good bloke.
I will be buying it
He wasn't there on holiday...I will be buying it
redback911 said:
Former British SAS operator Christian Craighead's book, One Man In, just released in the US. It was blocked in the UK in the high court, and I'm unsure what the ramifications will be for Chris now, but its disappointing that the UK Government has taken this standpoint. Allegedly, he now faces arrest if he returns to the UK.
He talks about the situation in a recent interview:
I sold my medals to pay for my legal fees. This book has cost me personally over $130,000 to publish so far. I can t ever go back to the UK. I ll be arrested. Their mission is just to destroy. But I m thankful because I think it s part of the plan. If they d just let the original book come out in 2021, it would have done well and then it just would have been a thing. Now everyone wants to know about this.
https://archive.is/20260913171639/https://www.tele...
"The MoD has launched a fresh legal battle, accusing Mr Craighead of a serious breach of a confidentiality agreement he signed when he joined the special forces in 2006. While the MoD did not object to parts of the memoir being published, it opposed Mr Craighead publishing details of his special forces career, asking him to remove the prologue, 23 whole chapters, most of two other chapters and some names, words and sentences."
Why it is disappointing? Because he is a hero?He talks about the situation in a recent interview:
I sold my medals to pay for my legal fees. This book has cost me personally over $130,000 to publish so far. I can t ever go back to the UK. I ll be arrested. Their mission is just to destroy. But I m thankful because I think it s part of the plan. If they d just let the original book come out in 2021, it would have done well and then it just would have been a thing. Now everyone wants to know about this.
https://archive.is/20260913171639/https://www.tele...
"The MoD has launched a fresh legal battle, accusing Mr Craighead of a serious breach of a confidentiality agreement he signed when he joined the special forces in 2006. While the MoD did not object to parts of the memoir being published, it opposed Mr Craighead publishing details of his special forces career, asking him to remove the prologue, 23 whole chapters, most of two other chapters and some names, words and sentences."
I wonder what he means it's the plan to "destroy"? The MoD is just enforcing its legal contract with him, how is that destroying something?
I'm sure he's doing very nicely in the US where they seem to love him, I saw a clip recently when he was talking about how he found God, or God found him in Kenya, right up their street. If he's not making a pile of money from his endless appearances, he's doing it wrong.
I'm not sure he would be arrested in the UK. A Judge ruled in 2023 to block the publishing of his book as it was in breach of the contract he signed when joining UKSF. He sought consent from the MOD to publish, they said no. A UK judge cannot make a ruling for the US, so he's not in breach of the court order. He's still in breach of his employment contract with MOD, but I'd bet that's a civil matter.
I think it's 99% marketing, nothing sells a book like "the book they tried to ban".
I'm not sure he would be arrested in the UK. A Judge ruled in 2023 to block the publishing of his book as it was in breach of the contract he signed when joining UKSF. He sought consent from the MOD to publish, they said no. A UK judge cannot make a ruling for the US, so he's not in breach of the court order. He's still in breach of his employment contract with MOD, but I'd bet that's a civil matter.
I think it's 99% marketing, nothing sells a book like "the book they tried to ban".
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