Rating: 
Summary: Take it off the non-fiction shelf; make it a drink coaster
Review: The members of the SFOD-A that I served with during my first tour in Afghanistan and I are absolutely amazed this passed any factual quality control check. It reads as if it were written at a corner table in the Green Beret Club at Ft. Bragg by people who weren't there, interspersed with details by someone who heard something from someone else who said he was there. The account of Tora Bora was absolutely laughable; the pictures and the tale that was told was akin to having someone who landed on Normandy Beach on 6 JULY 1944 (a month later) give his account of an assault he did not participate in. Critical parts of Operation Anaconda were omitted. Contrary to the content of this work, those who wear a green beret are not instantly contemptous of those who do not; those are our roots where we first learned to soldier. The book's incessant recounting of petty inter-service and rank-conscious jealousies distort the reality of the sheer effort involved by all of those involved in prosecuting the fight in the early days of the war. The theme of "swaggering barrel-chested freedom fighters fight valiantly yet alone to overcome the juggernaut military bureaucracy" is so far off the mark as to make this whole story read like a comic book. He tries and fails time and again to draw logical comparisons between the Special Forces experience in Vietnam and Afghanistan, two different times, places, missions, and national moods.Robin Moore is a fine man who has given much as an author to the history of our branch. This was not his best effort. This book is best used as a beverage coaster, placed under the cold drinks of those who were actually there while they recall the deeds of others, their frustrations, and the pride of their service. For those who weren't there, this book is best used at the beach to keep the sand off your suntan oil botle while you read light fiction that is truthfully advertised as such.
Maybe when the time is right, those with their egos in check can gather and tell their fellow citizens the truth -- a far more interesting history than this fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction!
Review: Attention potential buyer: This book is a work of fiction based on the events that happened in Afghanistan. My Special Forces team recently obtained a copy of this book and want to ensure that the public knows the details of battles, specifically incidents involving "Jack" are the imaginary ramblings of an imposter. Due to government restrictions on soldiers, a non fiction work will have to wait declassification. In the meantime, buy this book with the knowledge that what you are reading is very innacurate. My detachment (A-Team) includes veterans of the fighting at Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Tora Bora. We feel that what we have accomplished in Afghanistan has been demeaned by this misrepresentation of the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: Some people should look at the cover before they read
Review: I also enjoyed the first part of the book, which is all I've read so far. However, it does bog down with details as the book reads on. This is a book about the Green Berets (Army Special Forces) in Afghanistan, and if perciatm from Gilbert, Arizona (see his review and rating) would have looked at the cover he would have known this, and would not have had to read the book to find this out.
One very offensive thing to me in the Afghanistan war was that once the Marines got there....long after the Army Special Forces had almost nearly won the war, along with their indigenous helpers....the news media reported endlessly on the Marines, who, in reality, had not done much of anything. I wonder how the Army families feel to always be reading articles and seeing TV reports written and/or reported on by journalist who watched too many WWII movies. I think this is one reason why Robin Moore wrote the book, and I'm glad he did.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Buy this Book
Review: Christian Lowe, Army Times Staff Writer, was the first write the truth about this poorly written, poorly researched, and poorly fabricated book (23 June 2003 edition). It is sub-standard in every aspect. The worst part is that unknowing readers will walk away from this book thinking that all Green Berets are like those depicted in the book. We're not. My Special Forces brethren who served in Afghanistan had high praise for their fellow comrades and the support they received. This book trashes all of that. For the record, I did not serve in Afghanistan, but I stay in daily contact with those that did serve. They are uniform in their disgust for what this book will do their hard-earned reputation and professionalism. They can't speak up because they signed non-disclosure agreements. So I'm taking the risk to speak out on their behalf. Don't buy this book; instead, send your money to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Those wonderful people help provide scholarships for the children of slain Special Operations personnel; some of whom are Green Berets. Or, buy another book. Amazon can't control the accuracy of the books they sell, but you can. Tracy-Paul Warrington, Chief Warrant Officer (retired), US Army Special Forces
Rating: 
Summary: Pure propaganda
Review: I bought this book more of as a gag than for anything else. As somebody who was a part of TASK FORCE DAGGER I can say that there are many, many factual errors in this book. About the only thing accurate is the author's unconditional support of the ODAs. If you elect to read this book be advised that it is not a good history of TF Dagger or SOF operations in Afghanistan. It is not objective in the least. Take it with a grain of salt. His contempt for all of the other SOF units, including AFSOC and NAVSPECWARCOM assets, tarnishes the book. Maybe somebody will write a credible book detailing the history of TF DAGGER down the road. I know the guys in my unit laugh when this book is brought up!
Rating:
Summary: The Distortion of History
Review: This book should be read for entertainment and not as a history of the war in Afghanistan. It was clearly written from behind the lines and based on the select testimony of SF soildiers returning from battle. Anyone with experience in this war will be able to pick out the predjudices and axes being grinded by the author and his sources. However, the critical flaw is not one of the author's point-of-view but the simple factual errors which fill the pages. A sad case of the misinformed spreading the word as if it was gospel.
Rating: 
Summary: Five stars...
Review: This is a very detailed look at the work of the 5th Special Forces Group in Afghanistan. It covers everything, from the night they touched down to the eventual liberation. If you are a soldier in the military, Special Operations fanatic, or just a military history buff, read this book. I found it very helpful in finding what really went on in the shadows of the war, far from CNN cameras, that brought the Taliban to its knees. Go 5th Group!
Rating: 
Summary: Wrong title for the book.
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. I had very high hopes of learning how the U.S. government brought down the Taliban and chased al-Qaida. Instead I got a story about the Green Berets in Afghanistan.
I enjoyed reading about how the Green Berets helped bring down the Taliban. I learned about K2, the A-teams and the Northern Alliance men they were aligned with. However, according to Mr. Moore, every other American on the ground was incompetent and their only saving grace was the Green Berets.
Mr. Moore's writing style is very poor. I had the feeling I was reading a book written by a dirty, "know it all", old man. I don't understand why maps were included. The arrows didn't match the action he was describing. The swearing in the book wasn't from the soldiers in battle, but from Mr. Moore expressing his views. Intellectual... I think not. I wouldn't dsscourage anyone reading this book, but know what your getting into. This is a book only about the Green Berets and a man who has a love affair with them.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: I was skeptical about any book written about a war fought in such shadows, but, after seeing two of the members from Task force Dagger, on the Imus show, where they both praised the accuracy of the book. Made me feel good about this book. Obviously, there are those that want to hear only about the bad things the US does and the conspiracy theories, but, this book is not intended to give you an overall book on the conflict. This is written from the perspective of the Green Berets on the ground. So, of course, to gain an overall appreciation for the conflict. You need to investigate further. This is the case in all academic endeavors. I, for one, like the fact that it is written from the perspective of the Green Berets. Academics, who have never been there, talk of inaccuracies, but , not the guys who were there. Very well written, with a bit of flair. I would say this is a good starting point, to learn about the conflict in Afghanistan. Some of these other reviews, are laughable. There is not one book on the planet that can cover all aspects of a conflict. That is why you go to multiple sources. This is the story of the green berets, so of course, they are shown in the best light. Robin Moore is a World War 2 hero, and put out a great product. If you want America Bashing, then read a book by Michael Moore, I'm sure he has thoughts on Afghanistan, except, he wasn't there.
Rating:
Summary: An insult to the real people, stories and events of the war
Review: Having been involved with some of the events covered in this book, being written about by the author, knowing some of the people mentioned and discussing their reaction to the this book I can tell any potential readers the following: - Large parts of this book have been completely made up or events fictionalized to make it more exciting or salable. For example the opening chapter which is designed to set the tone of the book is a complete work of fiction. Simple events have had entire firefights, dialog and descriptions made up to make them more "exciting" -There are numerous factual mistakes, wrong dates, places, times, dialog etc. All designed to create a sense of cinematic saleability and cartoon purpose. It appears that the author abused army acess to slap together a mish mash of ridiculous dialog, part truths and some bizarre personal agenda. - The book appears to be actually ghost written by the person featured on the cover, who is neither a special forces operator or working in any military capacity for the US government. He is a convicted felon and persona non grata in the media with a history of litigation. My guess is the aging Robin Moore has been terribly used. It appears from the author's web site that Edema plans a series of books about himself and his exploits. - Some of the military men covered in this book are angered by his fictionalizing a campaign that needs no exageration or fiction to make it riveting. Moore blindly goes along promoting his book (with help from Edema) not realizing he is insulting the Special Forces and their families by fabricating their exploits. - I would suggest people do a web search for "Keith Edema", read more accurate...accounts of these historic events and avoid furthering this gentleman's dubious career of exploiting and falsifiying the stories of well intentioned serving soldiers. It is a shame that this book is allowed to be sold as non-fiction or has not been removed from the shelves due to its [inaccurate] content.
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