by Sean Naylor
First published 2006
Sean Naylor exposes the strategic failures behind Operation Anaconda, the first major battle of the 21st century. On March 2, 2002, over 200 soldiers from the 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions flew into Afghanistan's Shahikot valley expecting light resistance. Instead, they encountered a deadly ambush that nearly resulted in military disaster. Naylor, who witnessed the action firsthand, documents how Pentagon miscalculations left American forces dangerously unprepared. Higher command underestimated enemy strength and refused to commit adequate resources, believing the Taliban war was nearly over. The journalist reveals how untested units were hastily assembled and denied the infantry, artillery, and air support they needed. Fighting at brutal high altitudes, these airborne soldiers battled for survival while the world watched the operation seem to fall apart. Only the courage of ground troops and a small special forces team prevented catastrophe. Naylor offers readers an unvarnished account of military planning failures and the soldiers who paid the price.
Genres: war, military-fiction, action, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, military-conflict
Setting: Afghanistan, Shahikot Valley
Period: 2002
629 pages · Kindle Edition · Penguin