The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan Audiobook

" Can't put it down. Eye opener!! "

" I need to remind myself that if a book has its origins in a magazine article then I should just read the article. "

" I began this book not as a supporter exactly, but at least as a begrudging adherent to the "we broke it, we bought it" idea of the war in Afghanistan. As I read I found myself continually thinking of that old clip of John Kerry asking, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?" Now that I'm finished it's clear that that is exactly what this war has become, a mistake. It's amazing to learn that time after time our leaders placed politics before life, both American and Afghan. This is an exceedingly depressing book if you allow yourself to think too deeply about it but it's also one that has not been told often enough. "

" Michael Hastings is a total dick. I read this book because I was fascinated, as a public affairs specialist, that Gen. McChrystal would give such candid access to a Rolling Stone reporter. What Hastings ended up catching and reporting on was water cooler talk. Just a bunch of worn out dudes venting during their downtime. Hastings knew exactly the type of story he wanted to tell about the war. Unfortunately, our top brass handed it to him. "

" This is a very good description of what happens to senior officers who forget they are beholden to the White House power structure. The unblinking view of the disaster in Afghanistan is a valuable lesson in what has gone wrong with our military. "

" By the Rolling Stones author who brought down General Stan McChrystal, the book provides a great insight into the day-to-day of our military operations in Afghanistan and the folks who run that war. An easy read. "

" The first half or so of the book was fairly good. The end of the book was too much of a justification of the reporter's actions. "

" Eye-opening story written by a master journalist. "

" Man, that is one useless war. How depressing. I've never seen it laid out so clearly. "

" Easyli read, at the times engaging, but definitely not dispatches or the cat from hue "

" Unbelievable account of how NOT to do PR... what a monumental fuck-up from the fucktards managing this general. "

" Guy seeks attention and fame over telling an actual story. "

" I was instantly hooked on this book. Hastings had me going from start to finish. The consistent switch between flashback and present day was refreshing and well-done. I also fell in love with Hastings' writing style - it was clean but full of good description and strong imagery. "

" A raucous and insightful look into the calamities of the War in Afghanistan. "

" Questions abound on why we're still engaged in the insanity of Afghanistan--a good report's insights. "

" Anyone brain dead enough to support the war in Afghanistan should read this book and reconsider. An easy, if depressing, read with a style that calls to mind a more restrained James Ellroy. Really. "