Ground Truth: 3 Para Return to Afghanistan [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Patrick Bishop (Author), Michael Tudor Barnes (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Afghanistan, 2008. After their eighteen-month epic tour of Helmand Province, the troops of 3 Para are back. This time, the weight of experience weighs heavily on their shoulders.In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on a tour that has become a legend. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times.Two years later the Paras are back in the pounding heat of the Afghanistan front lines. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight?In this searing account of 3 Para’s return, bestselling author Patrick Bishop combines gripping, first-person accounts of front line action with an unflinching look at the hard realities of our involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the ‘ground truth’ of the mission our soldiers have been given. It’s a sombre picture. But shining out from it are stories of courage, comradeship and humour, as well as a gripping account of an epic humanitarian operation through Taliban-infested country to deliver a vitally needed turbine to the Kajaki Dam.Frank, action-packed and absorbing, “Ground Truth” is a timely and important book that will set the agenda for discussion of the Afghan conflict for years to come.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Are we winning or losing the war in Afghanistan? …Bishop offers no easy answers. The portrait he paints is one of selfless young men and women performing magnificently under near-intolerable conditions … “Ground Truth” is one of the best accounts you will ever read about contemporary warfare: shrewdly observed, action-packed and written with great sensitivity.’ James Delingpole, Mail on Sunday‘A beguiling and often bewildering account of how this strange war seems to the fighting man and woman…Bishop gets to the core of their thoughts and fears. As a view from the ground, often with the author present at key points, Bishop’s books are invaluable’ Evening Standard‘Well paced and well told. It is also very well informed… It is his sense of personal involvement in the testing physical and moral hardships of contemporary soldiering that gives the narrative such a sharp and poignant edge…inspiring’ Country LifePraise for ‘3 Para’:‘Wonderfully compelling … a fast-paced story of incredible bravery that at times reads like a thriller.’ Christina Lamb, Sunday Times‘Bishop gives a gripping insight into the deployment in Afghanistan last year of 3 Para…written with the fluent, rich and engaging fashion typical of the author's work as a journalist.’ Times‘An inspiring story of courage, discipline and…selfless comradeship…the frenzy of close-quarters combat…is captured particularly vividly…fast-paced and absorbing.’ Daily Mail --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Soundings Audio Books (December 1, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1407913999
• ISBN-13: 978-1407913995
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but not riveting pretty much sums up this book, October 20, 2010

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ground Truth: 3 Para Return to Afghanistan (Paperback)

Bishops earlier book, 3 Parawas a real tour de force of writing about the Afghanistan conflict. In April 2006 the elite 3 Para Battle Group was despatched to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. All that summer the Paras were subjected to relentless Taliban attacks in one of the most gruelling campaigns fought by British troops in modern times. Bishop had some tremendous source material to work with - the Taliban at the time were taking on the British army head on. The British forces, with far too few ground troops, were forced to try and hold locations around the province - and dozens of Rourke's Drift-style last stands taking place as the brave soldiers tried to hold off the Taliban hordes.

In 3 Para: Ground Truth, two years later the Paras are back in the heat of the Afghanistan front line. The conflict has changed. The enemy has been forced to adopt new weaponry and tactics. But how much progress are we really making in the war against the insurgents? And is there an end in sight? In this account of 3 Para's return, author Patrick Bishop combines first-person accounts of front-line action with an good look at the hard realities of British involvement in Afghanistan. Writing from a position of exclusive access alongside the Paras, he reveals the 'ground truth' of the mission British soldiers have been given. It's a sombre picture, more of an oversight into the Afghanistan conflict in 2008 than a blow by blow account of a series of battles, as in 3 Para, and offers some really interesting thoughts, insights and information about the problems facing those trying to drag the country into the 20th century.
The huge problems caused by the IEDs and the strain on the soldiers this must cause isn't covered in great depth, and it certainly lacks the immediacy of the previous book.

Overall, I wasn't disappointed by the book, but it doesn't have the gripping sense of immediacy of it's predecessor and it certainly isn't a riveting read. Informative, but not riveting pretty much sums it up.