Enduring the Freedom: A Rogue Historian in Afghanistan (Hardcover)

by Sean Maloney (Author) "Many books on Afghanistan and radical Islam have been written or even republished since 9/11 to slake the public's thirst for information: indeed, a lot..." (more)
Key Phrases: hajj flight, coalition special operations forces, multinational brigade, Special Forces, Northern Alliance, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Drawing upon his skills as a trained soldier and accomplished historian, Maloney provides a perceptive, firsthand account of NATO and American military operations at the cutting edge in Afghanistan. His is a cautionary tale--much has been accomplished in the war on terrorism, but serious obstacles to long-term regional stability remain. Anyone involved in the war on terror--and who isn't?--will profit from Maloney's insights and observations." --Peter S. Kindsvatter, command historian at the U.S. Army Ordnance Center and Schools and author of AMERICAN SOLDIERS: GROUND COMBAT IN THE WORLD WARS, KOREA, AND VIETNAM

Product Description
Within hours of the September 11 attacks, Sean M. Maloney deciphered that Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were the aggressors behind the despicable act. A war in Afghanistan then was inevitable. As a military historian, Maloney was determined to go there to study and record the events for posterity, if for no other reason than the education of his future students at Canada’s Royal Military College.

What resulted is an in-depth and up-close look at the planning stages, deployment, and aftermath of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In Enduring the Freedom, Maloney presents a rare on-the-spot view from such important locations as Kabul, Bagram, and Kandahar. He describes the American-led intervention in Afghanistan and the conduct of the war through early 2003, then discusses the events of 2003 from the three locales in detail.

Some critics contend that the war in Afghanistan is another Vietnam. Maloney rebuts that appraisal, pointing out that as opposed to the vague language of the Vietnam era, American objectives were clearly stated for Afghanistan. Those objectives were: to destroy al Qaeda’s networks, training camps, resources, and communication systems; to destroy any governmental entity providing support or sanctuary to al Qaeda; and to undertake reconstruction efforts to ensure international terrorists can never again use the country as a base. The first objective has more or less been achieved. How to accomplish the last two is still widely debated, and Maloney offers some insightful thoughts and opinions. Finally, he offers educated advice going forward in the hopeful completion of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (November 3, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574889532
• ISBN-13: 978-1574889536
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,307,503 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Military Professor's first-hand observations from Afghanistan, December 19, 2007

By	J. Rudy "Major, USAF" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Enduring the Freedom: A Rogue Historian in Afghanistan (Paperback)

This book provides an unequaled, first-hand account of both NATO and American small unit tactics from Afghanistan . Sean Maloney, a professor of military science at the Canadian Royal Military College, traveled to Afghanistan to gain insight into how operations are being conducted. The future military officers attending his classes are in for quite a treat.

Maloney combines his experience as a company commander during the Cold War, with his formal training as a military historian. Maloney shares his experiences meeting with the mullahs as well as humping a rucksack through the mountains during Operation Valiant Strike. His resulting book is an insightful, yet often irreverent, perspective from on the ground. The candid no-holds-barred writing style may take some readers aback, but his message will keep you rapt from the very beginning.

"Enduring the Freedom" gives the reader a background as to how Operation Enduring Freedom, and International Security Assistance Force came to be. Through personal accounts, the book discusses both small unit operations across the spectrum of combat. From the infantryman on the ground, to Public Affairs, Information Operations, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Maloney covers it.

As a departure from American-centric history books, this book offers two additional perspectives. Written by a pro-American Canadian, it offers a relatively impartial perspective on the conflict's background. The second piece emphasizes the contributions of NATO, which don't receive the same amount of American media coverage. Nearly a third of the book discusses the various efforts of NATO, reinforcing that this truly is a Global War on Terror.

If you are deploying to Afghanistan, make this book part of your reading list. The message needs to be understood by every leader of small units, from the fire-team leader to the company commander. I can't wait to read his other books.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Solid information but poorly written, August 29, 2006

By	L Book Reader "Book Reader" - See all my reviews

This book provides a detailed account of OEF but it is so poorly written that it is difficult to get through the text. Maloney needs an editor make sense of the long, convoluted sentences. He did his research, but botches the book with his writing style.