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The Outpost

The Most Heroic Battle of the Afghanistan War

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The Outpost

By: Jake Tapper
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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About this listen

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

The heartbreaking and inspiring story of one of the deadliest battles of the Afghanistan war, acclaimed by critics as a classic.

‘A mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice’ Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild

At 5:58 AM on October 3rd, 2009, Combat Outpost Keating, located in frighteningly vulnerable terrain in Afghanistan just 14 miles from the Pakistani border, was viciously attacked. Though the 53 soldiers stationed there prevailed against nearly 400 Taliban fighters, their casualties made it the deadliest fight of the war that year. Four months after the battle, a review revealed that there was no reason for the troops at Keating to have been there in the first place.

In The Outpost, Jake Tapper gives us the powerful saga of COP Keating, from its establishment to eventual destruction, introducing us to an unforgettable cast of soldiers and their families. This modern classic of military history is an indictment of the management of the war in Afghanistan, and a thrilling tale of true courage in the face of impossible odds.

21st Century Afghan & Iraq Wars Americas Armed Forces Military Military & War Modern Special & Elite Forces United States War Solider Middle East

Critic reviews

For those wishing to understand the middle years of the war, they could do no better than to read The Outpost Time

‘Brilliant, dedicated reporting by a journalist who goes to ground to get the truth. A sad, real tale about this war, America and the brave warriors who live-and die-at the point of the spear’ Bob Woodward, author of Fear

There have been many books written on the subject of America's seemingly endless engagement in Afghanistan, but none better than The Outpost Atlantic

The Outpost is a mind-boggling, all-too-true story of heroism, hubris, failed strategy, and heartbreaking sacrifice. If you want to understand how the war in Afghanistan went off the rails, you need to read this book’ Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild

"The power of The Outpost lies in Tapper's development of the main characters … He juxtaposes dramatic battles, complete with limbs blown off and eyes dangling from sockets, with poignant scenes of wives and parents first learning of the deaths of their loved ones’ Washington Post

‘Tapper lays bare the poor decision-making that shattered dozens of American lives in the pursuit of an ill-conceived goalWall Street Journal

A heartbreaking chronicle of the rotation of soldiers asked to oversee an underfunded, often thankless mission’ Huffington Post

The seminal work of documentary journalism to emerge out of the post-9/11 war in AfghanistanBusiness Standard

All stars
Most relevant
Even with my 30years in the British army we never new much about this unit. To get an invite to such a specialised unit made me wish to have tried out for these myself. I find that books narrated by the author much more intense as you can hear the emotions in their voice while telling their story. it's an A +++ from me.

Gripping

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loved it .. there all heroes fight against them odds as they did . why they had the kop at bottom is mind boggling tho

Great

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Listened to the full 25 hours over 10 days. Normally it takes me a month and half of listening. A very detailed story of what went on in Afghanistan. I was very luck there compared to these guys.

Gripping

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thoroughly enjoyed this book. it gave a great insight into the failings of camp Keating

Great Insight

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Superbly narrated and written with a honesty unrivalled in other accounts of this war. Lone Survivor is an amazing account of four mens plight, this, in contrast, is the account of one place, which should never have been, much like the conflict it gives account of.

lest we forget, it is our sons and daughters who pay the price for the decisions made by politicians fighting for votes, while they fight for their lives, fighting for your freedom.

Frighteningly honest account of hell

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