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skitch41's review against another edition
5.0
This book has high ratings on this site and has recieved good reviews from a number of different sources and for good reason. This is, perhaps, the best book on combat in Afghanistan for American soldiers available now. The other book I've read about this was [bc:Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10|711901|Lone Survivor The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10|Marcus Luttrell|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344265535s/711901.jpg|1623890][b:Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10|711901|Lone Survivor The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10|Marcus Luttrell|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344265535s/711901.jpg|1623890], but this one does a much better job as it follows the birth, life, and death of a combat outpost in a remote region of Afganistan, following the trials and travails of the soldiers posted there during that time. Throughout there is this sense of impending tragedy and doom, like in the movie Zulu, because the outpost was built in a place it should never have been, a deep valley surounded by tall mountains where large numbers of insurgents could easily fire on the base and hide, and the reason it was put there became obsolete within a year of the outpost's birth. You don't have to be a 5-star general to realize from page one how stupid it was to put that base there, and Mr. Tapper does a marvelous job of using that theme throughout the book without bashing you over the head with it. The other theme of this book is the lack of a strategy in Afganistan following the U.S.'s invasion of Iraq in 2003. The book picks up three years after the intial invasion of Iraq, but it's effects on this theater are felt throughout and not even the changing of the guard from Presidents Bush to Obama seems to have changed that by the books end. And finally, the book shows how tough it is for soldiers in Afghanistan not just from a strategic level, but from a day-to-day perspective as the shortcomings of Outpost Keating exacerbates supply troubles that soldiers in that theater were having due to the aforementioned invasion of Iraq. This book has a lot to say about how military strategy is formed, not all of it very positive, and should be read by everyone not just to undersatnd the difficulties of the war in Afghanistan, but also for future generations of military leaders and policy makers to avoid making pointless decisions that ultimately gets good men and women killed.
elle_mentbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Before [b:The Hellfire Club|34329347|The Hellfire Club|Jake Tapper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519147196l/34329347._SY75_.jpg|55394350] in 2018, and even before joining CNN in 2013, Jake Tapper authored The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor in 2012. In the shadow of the War on Terror taking place in Iraq, Tapper provides a harrowing testimony of American military presence in a remote part of Afghanistan from 2006 through 2009. Following the 3-71 Cav to the 1-91 Cav and 6-4 Cav, ending with the 3-61 Cav, The Outpost injects a remarkable amount of humanity into events and subject matter that can feel very technical to a civilian audience.
The title makes it sound like this book is about one battle. It's not. By nature of the war in Afghanistan, there's an expanding map of locations and evolving roster of people manning them over an ever-extending period of time. Frankly, it can be overwhelming, but Tapper includes many reference points and plenty of backstory to ground yourself in & keep you from getting too lost in Afghanistan village names or military lingo.
Still, the immensity isn't just related to the terminology, it's in tandem to the war itself. I had this looming feeling of dread any time a new person was introduced and their life's story was provided. Too many times someone appeared, only to be seriously injured, nearly killed or actually die. Advancements were made in working with local leaders, followed by them being completely undermined chapters later. The state of the war in Afghanistan was such that there felt like no progress was being made, but the only way to guarantee a total collapse of the country was to pull out all forces. The difference between the resources and attention allocated to the two countries is best described by this saying from American troops:
"If you're in Iraq and need something, you ask for it. If you're in Afghanistan and you need something, you learn how to do without it.”
I will warn anyone that wants to dive into this book that it's not something you can passively read; it needs your full attention or you'll quickly become lost. Also prepare to become incredibly frustrated. Though it's fairly localized, the struggles of those depicted in this book are indicative of the larger issues of the war in Afghanistan. It's insightful, devastating, aggravating and extremely thorough. Journalism like this is what we need now more than ever--a critical eye with an open mind and an empathetic heart.
For those who read this after the movie comes out in 2019, from what I understand, the majority of the plot and characters in it are present only in the third/final part of the book. Orlando Bloom's character, 1LT Ben Keating, is in the first part and Milo Gibson's, CPT Robert Yllescas, is in the second. Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones & James Jagger are present for the final firefight as SSG Clint Romesha, SPC Ty Carter & PFC Chris Jones. Since there's no overlap of the time when Keating and Yllescas are at the camp with the members of the 3-61 Cav, I'm curious how they'll be incorporated into the movie. Some of the veterans of this outpost and battle along with Tapper were consulted on it, so I'm sure it'll be faithful to actual events. After it comes out I'll try to remember to update this post!
The title makes it sound like this book is about one battle. It's not. By nature of the war in Afghanistan, there's an expanding map of locations and evolving roster of people manning them over an ever-extending period of time. Frankly, it can be overwhelming, but Tapper includes many reference points and plenty of backstory to ground yourself in & keep you from getting too lost in Afghanistan village names or military lingo.
Still, the immensity isn't just related to the terminology, it's in tandem to the war itself. I had this looming feeling of dread any time a new person was introduced and their life's story was provided. Too many times someone appeared, only to be seriously injured, nearly killed or actually die. Advancements were made in working with local leaders, followed by them being completely undermined chapters later. The state of the war in Afghanistan was such that there felt like no progress was being made, but the only way to guarantee a total collapse of the country was to pull out all forces. The difference between the resources and attention allocated to the two countries is best described by this saying from American troops:
"If you're in Iraq and need something, you ask for it. If you're in Afghanistan and you need something, you learn how to do without it.”
I will warn anyone that wants to dive into this book that it's not something you can passively read; it needs your full attention or you'll quickly become lost. Also prepare to become incredibly frustrated. Though it's fairly localized, the struggles of those depicted in this book are indicative of the larger issues of the war in Afghanistan. It's insightful, devastating, aggravating and extremely thorough. Journalism like this is what we need now more than ever--a critical eye with an open mind and an empathetic heart.
For those who read this after the movie comes out in 2019, from what I understand, the majority of the plot and characters in it are present only in the third/final part of the book. Orlando Bloom's character, 1LT Ben Keating, is in the first part and Milo Gibson's, CPT Robert Yllescas, is in the second. Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones & James Jagger are present for the final firefight as SSG Clint Romesha, SPC Ty Carter & PFC Chris Jones. Since there's no overlap of the time when Keating and Yllescas are at the camp with the members of the 3-61 Cav, I'm curious how they'll be incorporated into the movie. Some of the veterans of this outpost and battle along with Tapper were consulted on it, so I'm sure it'll be faithful to actual events. After it comes out I'll try to remember to update this post!
brien_k's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone should read this book, just to become aware of how messed up the war in Afghanistan is.
bladestrike's review
5.0
This is a gritty, grueling, oft-times first person perspective of infantry combat in Afghanistan. The narrative is technically accurate (I found one small error) and emotionally draining at key points. From time-to-time, you may have to put the book down and walk away to recover your emotional equilibrium (I did), but the power of this real-life accounting of true heroes will inexorably draw you back.
Tapper strains to minimize the political (the chain-of-command all the way up to the Commander in Chief) and military (why Keating was where it was) criticism he obviously feels, but for the most part I think he is dead on. The only point where I differ, is that as someone who has obviously not been an infantryman or a commander, he doesn't understand a key aspect of military psychology, the imperative to triumph, and its manifestations in military behavior. This aspect contributes to the situation at Combat Outpost Keating and its tragedies, but it also contributes to the heroism demonstrated there.
The author pulls no punches, describing the men as they are, flawed humans, who rise to the occasion under extreme duress. Their heroism is all the more impressive, and speaks well to the human spirit and that of our American soldiers. I was also struck by the motivations of those who serve - it is significantly idealistic.
After reading this, you will salute all of those who served there and look at most veterans with new eyes. In particular I salute LT Bunderman.This young soldier, two years out of college, is thrust into command under the most extreme circumstances. The heroic efforts of the other defenders notwithstanding, if Lt Bunderman had lost it at any point during the final battle, I doubt the defenders would have survived. According to the book, it was Bunderman who kept the men functioning as a coherent combat-effective unit.
For me, this is the single best book of this genre, and I've read quite a few.
Tapper strains to minimize the political (the chain-of-command all the way up to the Commander in Chief) and military (why Keating was where it was) criticism he obviously feels, but for the most part I think he is dead on. The only point where I differ, is that as someone who has obviously not been an infantryman or a commander, he doesn't understand a key aspect of military psychology, the imperative to triumph, and its manifestations in military behavior. This aspect contributes to the situation at Combat Outpost Keating and its tragedies, but it also contributes to the heroism demonstrated there.
The author pulls no punches, describing the men as they are, flawed humans, who rise to the occasion under extreme duress. Their heroism is all the more impressive, and speaks well to the human spirit and that of our American soldiers. I was also struck by the motivations of those who serve - it is significantly idealistic.
After reading this, you will salute all of those who served there and look at most veterans with new eyes. In particular I salute LT Bunderman.
For me, this is the single best book of this genre, and I've read quite a few.
li3an1na4's review
5.0
I'm not a brilliant military strategist, but I think if I were to set up a combat outpost far from my larger FOBs, somewhere where I had no influence - I wouldn't set it up at the bottom of a valley with three large mountains surrounding it. However if for some reason I did, I would keep it well supplied with adequate people, food and water. For some reason, our military was incapable of even the most basic thinking. Be it bureaucracy, negligence, or stupidity, many lives were senselessly lost.
Jake Tapper put out a well researched and well written book. Where it could have gotten confusing and muddled with the introduction and exit of so many people over the many years the book spans, it was actually easy to follow. There are many cringe and anger inducing moments, as well as graphic descriptions of wounds and deaths.
Jake Tapper made a point in the epilogue that these wars (Afghanistan for this book ) aren't that important to the American population because we're so removed from it. He and the people he interviewed wanted at least some people to read and understand the sacrifice made by out volunteer forces. It's brutal but makes an impact. Our government put these people in unwinnable situations without bothering to give them the necessary resources they needed both in battle and afterwards.
As President Obama said at his last White House Correspondence dinner, too bad Jake Tapper left journalism to work for CNN.
Jake Tapper put out a well researched and well written book. Where it could have gotten confusing and muddled with the introduction and exit of so many people over the many years the book spans, it was actually easy to follow. There are many cringe and anger inducing moments, as well as graphic descriptions of wounds and deaths.
Jake Tapper made a point in the epilogue that these wars (Afghanistan for this book ) aren't that important to the American population because we're so removed from it. He and the people he interviewed wanted at least some people to read and understand the sacrifice made by out volunteer forces. It's brutal but makes an impact. Our government put these people in unwinnable situations without bothering to give them the necessary resources they needed both in battle and afterwards.
As President Obama said at his last White House Correspondence dinner, too bad Jake Tapper left journalism to work for CNN.
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