'This book shoots to the top of the list of books on special operations. Jonathan Schroden knowledgeably and objectively illuminates and assesses U.S. counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan from start to finish. No one who cares about special operations can afford to miss this study of SOF's role in America's longest war'.

Joseph Maguire, Former Director of U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, USA

'Schroden's analysis is clear-eyed, deeply informed, and essential for anyone who seeks to understand what went right, what went wrong, and what must be remembered. Students, practitioners, and policy makers will find this a vital read-especially as the challenges of counterterrorism inevitably return'.

Lt. Gen Thomas Trask, Former Vice Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, USA

'Schroden, the most respected operational analyst of our generation, has written the comprehensive history of the special operations and intelligence war against terrorists in Afghanistan. His sober analysis explains how high-intensity counterterrorism attained a pitch of tactical efficiency that is the model for military operations today. You cannot understand the American way of war in Iran, Venezuela, and elsewhere without understanding counterterrorism in Afghanistan'.

Carter Malkasian, Chair of the Defense Analysis Department at the Naval Postgraduate School, USA

'As a former Afghan official, I can attest this is a rare and unflinching account of the history of U.S. special operations in Afghanistan which captures the evolution of a war whose acquired tactics now echo across global theaters from Venezuela to Iran and beyond. For military strategists, it is both history and reckoning, revealing how battlefield successes often obscured deeper strategic miscalculations and human costs'.

Tamim Asey, Former Deputy Minister of Defense, Afghanistan

'Exhaustively researched, expertly written, and thought-provoking, this book is a must read for policymakers and military leaders, not only for the historical record, but as preparation for future conflicts. Schroden has been a respected voice on special operations and Afghanistan for more than two decades - his expertise shines through in this important work'.

Scott Howell, Former Commander of U.S. Joint Special Operations Command, USA

'Schroden has done us all a great service with this careful accounting and analysis of counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan and the ways they undercut the counter-insurgency effort. It definitively answers the question “if we killed so many terrorists, why are we losing?” And most importantly, it is a guide to better policy in the future'.

Kori Schake, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute, USA