Operation Snakebite: The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege

Operation Snakebite: The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege

by StephenGrey (Author)

Synopsis

In December 2007, Stephen Grey, a "Sunday Times" reporter, was under fire in Afghanistan as British and US forces struggled to liberate the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala. Taking shelter behind an American armored Humvee, Grey turned his head to witness scenes of carnage. A car and a truck were riddled with gunfire. Their occupants, including several children, had died. Taliban positions were pounded by bullets and bombs dropped on their compounds. A day later, as the operation continued, a mine exploded just yards from Grey, killing a British soldier. Who, he wondered in the days that followed, was responsible for the bloodshed? And what purpose did it serve? A compelling story of one military venture that lasted several days, "Operation Snakebite" draws on Grey's exclusive interviews with everyone from private soldiers to NATO commanders. The result is a thrilling and at times horrifying story of a war which has gone largely unnoticed back home.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Edition: Second Printing
Publisher: Viking
Published: 02 Apr 2009

ISBN 10: 0670917869
ISBN 13: 9780670917860

Media Reviews
Magnificent... the fear, the courage, the uncertainty and the sheer mayhem of two days intensive fighting is frequently more vivid than any film Misha Glenny, Mail on Sunday 20090510 Superb, fast-paced. Captures the grit and the gore, the exhaustion and emotion, the killing and the dying Raymond Bonner, The Guardian 20090425 This is an uncommonly vivid portrait of battle, matched by sharp investigation of purposes, intrigues and cock-ups... Grey's descriptions of firefights are exemplary Max Hastings, Sunday Times 20090405 A fascinating insight... a catalogue of doubt, criticism and anger David Crouch, Financial Times 20090518 A gripping and moving account Dr Rodney Atwood, Soldier Magazine 20090801 An exceptional piece of reportage Michael Smith, New Statesman 20090518
Author Bio
Stephen Grey is a 41-year old journalist based in London UK, writing mainly about national security issues. He is best known for his world-exclusive revelations on the CIA's secret rendition program. A former editor on the Sunday Times' investigations unit, the Insight team, he has continued to contribute to the that newspaper, as well to the New York Times, Guardian, Times, Independent, New Statesman and Newsweek. He has reported for Channel 4's Dispatches, BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio Four and the World Service. His book on the CIA rendition program, Ghost Plane, was published in 2006. He has been nominated for, and won, several major press awards.