I went to the Los Angeles Public Library branch near where I lived and browsed the current events section and found First In - An insider's account of how the CIA spearheaded the war on terror in Afghanistan.
Reads like a page turning novel!
Hats off to the courage of the first team to go into Afghanistan and all who fought against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
9/11. A little over 7 years ago. Hard to imagine it happened.
It seems like ancient history in our 24/7 fast paced life and times.
What happened in Afghanistan happened very quickly and mostly out of the public eye.
This book sheds light on those momentous events.
A quick recap of the major events ...
September 9, 2001 - Masood, commander of the Northern Alliance was assassinated by Al-Qaeda
September 11 - Al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes resulting in thousands of deaths in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania.
September 14, Gary Schroen asked to lead first CIA team into Afghanistan.
September 19, Schroen and team members fly from the USA.
September 26, with over-flight permissions from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the first American boots hit the ground in the Panjshir Valley of Afghanistan to begin working with the Northern Alliance.
November 14, the Northern Alliance liberated Kabul.
The book recounts how Schroen and his CIA team (7 members) assembled the personnel, equipment (with trips to REI no less!), $3 million in cash (they would get an additional shipment of $10 million) and made plans for engaging the Northern Alliance.
In fascinating detail with page turning urgency, the book followed how all that unfolded including dealing with prickly personalities within the Northern Alliance as well as warring decision makers back in Washington DC. Also included was how the best made plans often get botched and the confusion that happens whenever nations go to war.
The team did its job and helped the Northern Alliance take down the Taliban.
A great read. Highly recommended. Hollywood should make a movie based on this book.
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