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Gentlemen Bastards: On the Ground in Afghanistan with America's Elite Special Forces
by
Kevin Maurer
The Green Berets—a legendary corps of soldiers whose exploits made military history. But now, their very identity and role as a fighting force may be forever changed…
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the military’s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by tra...more
Until the war in Iraq, Special Forces were the military’s counterinsurgency experts. Their specialty was going behind enemy lines and training insurgent forces. In Afghanistan, they toppled the Taliban by tra...more
Hardcover, First Edition, 256 pages
Published
September 4th 2012
by Berkley Hardcover
(first published September 2012)
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Two stories here: one of Counterinsurgency policy and one on COIN in practice. The book is first and foremost a tale of the largely mundane yet wholly necessary game of training Afghan forces on the one hand; and secondly, an indirect tale of the difficulties of getting at an important topic (what is the full scope of Green Beret activity today compared to their original intent and purpose since they first showed up on the scene of US tools in carrying out American foreign policy). Kevin went fo...more
This is a non-fiction account of Kevin Maurer's time embedded with an Army Special Forces A-Detachment, in Afghanistan. Kevin contends that Special Forces in Afghanistan are now engaged in what was their original mission (1950s, 60s) the training of indigenous forces. The A-Detachment that he writes about were engaged in training and advising a unit of the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP). There is not a lot of combat action in this book, but there is a tremendous amount of insight int...more
The only--only--reason I don't give this book five stars is that Maurer insinuates himself too much into the narrative. Sorry, Kev, but I didn't pick up this book to read about you. The first chapter, "Green Berets," is almost all about Maurer: fine for a prologue, but, um, hey, the chapter is called "GREEN BERETS," not "Enter, Maurer." Take a cue from Evan Wright, man, and disappear from the narrative unless your presence is absolutely necessary.
Otherwise, GB is very well written. It's amusing...more
Otherwise, GB is very well written. It's amusing...more
A fantastic account of one journalist's (Kevin Maurer) time embedded with a Special Forces (Green Beret) unit in Afghanistan. Not meant to be an action thriller or a plot driven tale, but an account of heroes nonetheless. Reading this book was constantly refreshing and always interesting due to Kevin's writing style and editorial observation of the world happening around him and how he affected that world while a part of it. I highly recommend "Gentlemen Bastards."
-Mitch Gerads
Co-Creator and Ill...more
-Mitch Gerads
Co-Creator and Ill...more
Kevin is an incredible writer, and a first rate reporter. Highly recommended.
Apr 14, 2013
SA
marked it as to-read
Mar 23, 2013
James
marked it as to-read
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