Operation Snakebite: The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege - Hardcover

Grey, Stephen

3.88

113 ratings by Goodreads

9780670917860: Operation Snakebite: The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670917869 ISBN 13: 9780670917860

Publisher: Viking, 2009

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In December 2007, Stephen Grey, a Sunday Times reporter, was under fire in Afghanistan as British and US forces struggled to liberate the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala. Taking shelter behind an American armoured Humvee, Grey turned his head to witness scenes of carnage. A car and a truck were riddled with gunfire. Their occupants, including several children, had died. Taliban positions were pounded by bullets and bombs dropped on their compounds. A day later, as the operation continued, a mine exploded just yards from Grey, killing a British soldier.

Who, he wondered in the days that followed, was responsible for the bloodshed? And what purpose did it serve? A compelling story of one military venture that lasted several days, Operation Snakebite draws on Grey's exclusive interviews with everyone from private soldiers to NATO commanders. The result is a thrilling and at times horrifying story of a war which has gone largely unnoticed back home.

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Review:

Magnificent... the fear, the courage, the uncertainty and the sheer mayhem of two days intensive fighting is frequently more vivid than any film (Misha Glenny Misha Glenny, Mail on Sunday 2009-05-10)

Superb, fast-paced. Captures the grit and the gore, the exhaustion and emotion, the killing and the dying (Raymond Bonner Raymond Bonner, The Guardian 2009-04-25)

This is an uncommonly vivid portrait of battle, matched by sharp investigation of purposes, intrigues and cock-ups... Grey's descriptions of firefights are exemplary (Max Hastings Max Hastings, Sunday Times 2009-04-05)

A fascinating insight... a catalogue of doubt, criticism and anger (David Crouch David Crouch, Financial Times 2009-05-18)

A gripping and moving account (Dr Rodney Atwood Dr Rodney Atwood, Soldier Magazine 2009-08-01)

An exceptional piece of reportage (Michael Smith Michael Smith, New Statesman 2009-05-18)

Synopsis:

In December, 2007, Stephen Grey, a "Sunday Times" reporter, was under fire in Afghanistan, ambushed by the Taliban. He was amidst the biggest UK-led operation, which included Prince Harry, fought on Afghan soil since 9/11: the liberation of a Taliban stronghold called Musa Qala. Taking shelter behind an American armoured Humvee, Grey turned his head to witness scenes of carnage. Two cars were riddled with gunfire. Their occupants, including several children, had died. Taliban positions were pounded by bullets and bombs dropped on their compounds. A day later, as the operation continued, a mine exploded just yards from Grey, killing a British soldier.Who, he wondered in the days that followed, was responsible for the bloodshed? And what purpose did it serve. A compelling story of one military venture that lasted several days, "Operation Snakebite" draws on Grey's exclusive interviews with everyone from private soldiers to NATO commanders. The result is a thrilling and at times horrifying story of a war which has gone largely unnoticed back home.

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