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War
I just finished reading " War " . I couldn't put it down. After reading it, i couldn't sleep. I read all the books on Vietnam, but i don't think any other writer risked as much for so long or got closer to the reality. Maybe Dexter Filkins in Iraq with "Forever War".
This book was an amazing insight into the constant and varied stresses these creative, courageous and noble young men went thru - the stress of action, ( as well as addiction to action ) boredom, reentry into home life to name a few. The only way to truthfully tell it is to live it the way Mr. Junger did.
Should be required reading for anybody sending troops into harms way, or managing their deployment.
I can easily picture Taliban infiltrating endlessly into the Karangel from the north; this war could go on and on...
My questions:
why no FOB closer to the outposts?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alex S. MacDonald on -
I screwed up the post above; i meant to say...
"...Taliban infiltrating the valley from the south ";
and also was asking why no FOB closer to the action, because if I were there, I'd want those helicopter gunships closer than on hour away.
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Permalink Reply by Sebastian Junger on -
Hi there - thanks for your comments. Basically, the Korengal was only important because insurgents used it as a base to attack the Pech and surrounding areas; but that whole region is being de-emphesized by the US military, and they are focusing more on population centers. As a result the area will be a transit route for insurgents going from pakistan to kabul, but thats not the end of the world. The US military probably figures it can fight them around kabul where the terrain is a lot more "friendly" to a conventional military. Thats my take on the pros and cons of the pull-out, anyway.
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Permalink Reply by Jane on
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I watched Restrepo for the first time a few short weeks before my boyfriend deployed to Afghanistan. Then I read War. Then I shipped the book to him to read. I'm sure it's being passed around the camp now. I kind of wish that I hadn't watched the film so close to his departure. It scared the hell out of me. I can't "un-watch" it. But, at the same time, it also really opened my eyes to the challenge faced by the United States of winning the hearts and minds of the people in Afghanistan. I miss my soldier and i'm scared, but I put on a brave face and pray for the day he comes home.
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Permalink Reply by Wade Miller on -
War is easily the best book I've read in a long time because of how real it is. It makes you realize war isn't as it's portrayed to be in movies. These are young men who would die for each other even though some of them hate each other. I've read War three times and just can't get enough of it. I think the saddest part of the book and the movie, Restrepo, would have to be during Operation Avalanche I believe, when all of the positions were ambushed and Sgt. Rougle was killed or when Restrepo was killed. This book just makes you realize what the men of Battle company, Sebastian, and Tim (R.I.P.) had to go through for 15 months. Damn the Valley.
Best regards,
WM
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Permalink Reply by Gerald Acker on
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Sebastian:
I just finished reading War yesterday and felt I had to thank you for this great work. I've never read so a well written depiction of war. This book was so well written that when I took a break at one point I was driving and a car backfired, I went into soldier mode ducking and reaching for a gun. Beyond that as an Army officer this book passed along so many good lessons in leadership. Again thank you for telling this story in such a great way.
Acker
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