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The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan Hardcover – January 5, 2012

by Michael Hastings (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 774 ratings
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General Stanley McChrystal, the innovative, forward-thinking commanding general of international and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, was living large. He was better known to some as Big Stan, M4, Stan, and his loyal staff liked to call him a "rock star." During a spring 2010 trip across Europe to garner additional allied help for the war effort, McChrystal was accompanied by journalist Michael Hastings of Rolling Stone. For days, Hastings looked on as McChrystal and his staff let off steam, partying and openly bashing the Obama administration for what they saw as a lack of leadership. When Hastings's piece appeared a few months later, it set off a political firestorm: McChrystal was ordered to Washington, where he was fired unceremoniously.

In The Operators, Hastings picks up where his Rolling Stone coup ended. He gives us a shocking behind-the-scenes portrait of our military commanders, their high-stakes maneuvers and often bitter bureaucratic infighting. Hastings takes us on patrol missions in the Afghan hinterlands, to late-night bull sessions of senior military advisors, to hotel bars where spies and expensive hookers participate in nation-building gone awry. And as he weighs the merits and failings of old-school generals and the so-called COINdinistas-the counterintelligence experts-Hastings draws back the curtain on a hellish complexity and, he fears, an unwinnable war.

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  1. Print length
    432 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Blue Rider Press
  4. Publication date
    January 5, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    8.25 x 1 x 6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0399159886
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0399159886
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for THE OPERATORS by Michael Hastings:

 

"The life of a general is something to see, especially when it's Stanley McChrystal, America's four-star, rock star commander, at the height of his power and panache in Afghanistan. It's a hard story to get, and hard to tell it well, but in the hands of Michael Hastings, it's a world-class job of reporting and a joy to read."
—Richard Ben Cramer, author of What it Takes and DiMaggio

 

"The most impact-laden story of the year...written by a perfect specimen of the new breed of journalist-commentator."
—Barrett Brown, Vanity Fair

 

"An impressive feat of journalism by a Washington outsider who seemed to know more about what was going on in Washington than most insiders did."
—Frank Rich, New York Times

 

"The Operators is a troubling first-person narrative about a bizarre episode in U.S. military history, as well as a trenchant analysis of the disaster in Afghanistan. Hastings … brings a fresh eye and a brutally authentic voice to America's decade-old misadventure in Afghanistan.”
—Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times

 

“The Operators seems destined to join the pantheon of the best of GWOT literature, not just for its rock-and-roll details, but for its piercing chronicles of a world gone mad.”
—Matt Gallagher, Newsweek/Daily Beast

 

“As the situation in Afghanistan grows increasingly muddy, [Hasting’s] disciplined adherence to solid journalistic practices and his acute eye for sharp scene setting makes much of the chaos comprehensible. Hastings has definitely taken up the traditional banner of the intrepid war correspondent, but he’s simultaneously shot it through with iconoclastic holes; the effect is illuminating on many levels.”
—Kirkus Reviews

 

“Hastings brilliantly intertwines narratives…. Hasting's first-class, engrossing reportage reveals unsettling yet human flaws behind one of recent history's most lionized military figures, and a war which purportedly began as a response to terrorism, but whose aims--in the author's estimation--remain ambiguous.”

—Publishers Weekly

 

"Superb... the book provides vital insights about the war not available anywhere else... One of the most eye-opening accounts provided yet...from one of the bravest and most intrepid journalists who has covered it.”

—Glenn Greenwald, Daily Beast

About the Author

Michael Hastings is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone. He regularly covers politics and international affairs for the magazine, including the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. In 2011, he received the George Polk Award in journalism for his Rolling Stone story "The Runaway General." His work has appeared in Newsweek, GQ, Men's Journal, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Slate, Salon, Foreign Policy, The Daily Beast, and The Huffington Post. In 2010, Hastings was named one of The Huffington Post's Game Changers of the year. His GQ story "Obama's War" was selected for Best American Political Writing 2009. The author also of I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story, Hastings lives in Vermont.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blue Rider Press; 1st edition (January 5, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399159886
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399159886
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.44 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 1 x 6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 774 ratings

About the author

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Michael Hastings

Michael Hastings

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Michael Hastings was a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and a correspondent at large for BuzzFeed. Before that he worked for Newsweek, where he rose to prominence covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the recipient of the 2010 George Polk Award for his Rolling Stone magazine story "The Runaway General." Hastings was the author of critically praised three books: I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story, Panic 2012: The Sublime and Terrifying Inside Story of Obama’s Last Campaign and the New York Times bestseller The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America’s War in Afghanistan, which was optioned for film by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Productions. In 2010, he was named one of Huffington Post's Game Changers of the year. In 2009, his story Obama's War, published in GQ, was selected for the Best American Political Writing 2009 anthology. Hastings died in 2013, and was posthumously honored with the Norman Mailer Award for Emerging Journalist. His novel The Last Magazine (Blue Rider Press) will be released on June 17, 2014.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
774 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, interesting, and thoughtful. They describe it as a great, fun read with an engaging style of writing. Readers also praise the story as excellent, breathtaking, and well-written. Opinions are mixed on the war content, with some finding it terrible and one of the best books about Afghanistan, while others say it's a wasteful and futile mistake.

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InsightWriting qualityReadabilityStory qualityPacingWar content
41 customers mention "Insight"38 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written, entertaining, and stuffed with interesting tidbits. They say it's filled with poignancy and drama. Readers also appreciate the powerful reporting about truths that people wanted hidden. They mention the book is detailed in substance and covers the facts superbly.

"...our role in Afghanistan, his book still represents a sobering and thoughtful account of our adventure in Afghanistan...." Read more

"...Great book and powerful reporting about truths that people wanted hidden - while the after-the-fact reporting slows it down, his description of the..." Read more

"...cameo like chapter's read like constantly breaking news, but filled also with intrique, poignancy and drama...." Read more

"...It'll help provide a bit of clarity, and also identifies some of the prominent strategists and tacticians our leaders are relying upon for advice." Read more

39 customers mention "Writing quality"33 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book readable, engaging, and easy to read. They say it gives them an appreciation of the war and its outcome. Readers also mention the book is gripping and reads quickly.

"...dependency on Hollywood science fiction to make points, the narrative is gripping throughout...." Read more

"...The book is written in a style and tone that are accessible to readers who love politics and reading about military back stories, as well as those..." Read more

"...As to the book itself, it's very well written but doesn't make anyone look good...." Read more

"...This book is well written and pulls no punches Mr Hastings finally shows me how civilian contractors, some government emloyees and politicians have..." Read more

38 customers mention "Readability"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, insightful, and fun to read. They say it's an important book that everyone should read.

"...Great book and powerful reporting about truths that people wanted hidden - while the after-the-fact reporting slows it down, his description of the..." Read more

"...At any rate, I think "The Operators" is definitely worth reading as a companion piece to the tsunami of articles and books past, present, and future..." Read more

"This is an entertaining and ultimately very sad look at the absurdity of our "war" in Afghanistan..." Read more

"This is an amazing read. This is an unadultered outsiders inside view of a world so little are allowed in...." Read more

13 customers mention "Story quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the story excellent, well-written, and breathtaking. They also appreciate the courage, honesty, and stark portrayal of the thoughts and actions of one man.

"...of the embed itself is enlightening, controversial, impressive and honest...." Read more

"...The book can be read as an extremely well written adventure story, however the larger point that the reader comes away with is that America is..." Read more

"...Not so much.This book, with its authentic and stark portrayal of the thoughts and actions of one such commander, confirms the impression..." Read more

"...Mr. Hastings wove a fascinating story that reads like a novel and held my interest from first page to last...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, intricately plotted, and hard to put down. They also say it's refreshing.

"This is not an overly complicated and intricately plotted book...." Read more

"...are some political opinions in the book, for the most part, it is straightforward and the reader is left to decide how he/she feels...." Read more

"This book has voice and perspective, very hard to put down...." Read more

"Such a refreshing, honest, no BS perspective on our involvement in Afghanistan. This books should be required reading at West Point." Read more

8 customers mention "War content"3 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the war content. Some mention it's a great book about a terrible war, while others say it's a waste of men and money.

"...of my read of The Operators was confirmation that the war in Afghanistan is a futile mistake and isn't worth one more American (or Afghan) life...." Read more

"Really excellent piece on Afghanistan from the 30,000 foot so to speak as opposed to the trenches...." Read more

"If you were . Paying any attention at all. This war never made sense and was run by fools...." Read more

"Our military hasn't gotten any smarter and the waste is staggering. The press is complicit in keeping myths alive...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Retired Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Fear and Loathing in Afghanistan
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2012
Verified Purchase
Michael Hastings is a "gonzo journalist" in the best tradition of the late Hunter S. Thomson ("Hell's Angels", "Fear and Loathing" series etc.). This book is an expansion of his controversial article in "Rolling Stone" that resulted in the firing of General Stanley McChrystal by President Obama. Although the mainstream media has labeled the article a "hatchet job", it is not. Hastings treats the General and his immediate staff with a good deal of fairness and sympathy. The inflammatory quotes that the mainstream media were delighted to compile completely ignored the context in which they were made and McChrystal's unique background in Special Operations.

General McChrystal was commander of the Joint Special Operations Center Forward (JSOC) in Iraq in Iraq from 2006 to 2008. During his tenure the concept of High-value Target Teams (HTT) was developed and applied with great success against al Qaeda and insurgent terrorist groups. His HTT forces are credit with numerous successes the most notable was the killing of al-Zarqawi leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. The HTT concept is based on integrating civilian and military intelligence officers with Special Ops fighters
into tightly organized teams. (See "Secret Weapon: High-value Target Teams as an Organizational Innovation" Lamb and Munsing, Institute of National Strategic Studies, Defense University, DOD).

General McChrystal in short already had been successful both in Iraq and Afghanistan with implementing his tactical innovation of HTT. He and his personal staff tended to be cocky and arrogant (much like General Patton and his Third Army staff). Hasting captured both attitudes in his article and book. As Hastings points out McChrystal liked to push the edge and was impatient with folks who didn't appear to agree with him.

Yet more than this one article, Hastings clearly believes that HTT or not, Afghanistan is a lost cause and that the U.S. should cut its losses now and get out. This of course colors his book and is really more controversial than his descriptions of General McChrystal and his staff at work or play.

Even if you disagree with Hastings' conclusions about our role in Afghanistan, his book still represents a sobering and thoughtful account of our adventure in Afghanistan. Gonzo journalists can sometimes find truth where mainstream journalists cannot.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Bob Woodward, without worrying about protecting sources or access
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
There are two distinct narratives to this mostly excellent book.

In one, Hastings recaps and expands on his embedded assignment alongside Gen. Stanley McChrystal's team as they traveled Europe and Afghanistan. A variety of inappropriate conversations later reported in Rolling Stone ended up leading to McC's dismissal as Afghanistan war commander. In the second, he presents an after-the-fact roundup of reporting on the Afghanistan situation, and other events in DC.

The book will be reviewed by any number of audiences with preconceived opinions.

There is a set of people who view what Hastings wrote as an attack on the military, which it isn't. Or, that he betrayed his source's confidence, which he didn't - they had to have known he was recording and writing notes. That's what a reporter does, after all, didn't they know it? Or they thought the same relationship that always works would work again - you hang out, you have some late night conversations, you trade stories and you bond...and when the writing's being done, then the reporter should know what to leave in, what to leave out. It always worked before, so why didn't it work now? I'm sure Duncan Boothby, McC's PAO, wondered that when he was resigning.

It didn't work, because Hastings is not Bob Woodward - he's not protecting access by protecting the bridge against enemies from either side. He burned the bridge with everyone, including him, on it. That's what the most honest reporter does - tells the story that he/she sees, and worries about the truth first and last...and relationships nowhere. The reportees aren't called friends, after all - they're called 'sources.'

Hastings shows this in a section where he presents a blistering critique of war reporters in general. He writes, quoting someone else, but it's really Hastings' point: "They...are invested in being war correspondents. They are invested in the myth of it. They wake up every day and they buff their armor. They make it nice and shiny."

I've actually been an embedded photojournalist several times in Iraq - so there's no way I read a passage like that and not take it personally. But that's fine; I get his point and I can take it. I do think his contempt would have been stronger if he had turned that criticism on himself a little more.

The part of the book that deals with the McChrystal embed is the best. He sticks to what's said and heard, and usually lets the words and observations stand on their own. He provides analysis and conclusions, but he sticks to the evidence at hand. He's documented it, whether written or recorded. Nobody disputed that what was said WAS said - people are simply upset that he actually reported the truthful, embarrassing words. McC's team clearly wanted to get a boost into pop culture by bringing a Rolling Stone reporter along - so they were trying to use Hastings as much/more than Hastings was using them. This is what an embed is like.

Sometimes I wonder, though, if the conversations he reports have enough meat on them to merit all this attention. Just because two people are talking in a room doesn't make it news, and McC's team reserved their derision for their superiors - never those below. Don't we all complain about our bosses? Does it really matter? I don't entirely have an answer.

The book also has after-the-fact reporting about the situation in Afghanistan. Because Hastings is not present for all of the events, it doesn't have the same urgency or passion. It's interesting, but nothing I hadn't read before. The part of the book most compelling and interesting is the embedded narrative where Hastings story IS the story.

There are a couple big missing parts. The first would-be publisher of this book dropped it - why? What happened? And, at what point did Hastings know he had a book deal? If he went in knowing that a high-paying book deal depended on getting some money quotes, that's relevant to the reader. He does not address any of that at all.

Hastings is absolutely right about the "media-military-industrial complex." While we have a "free" press, all that means is reporters are not censored by the government - they do it to themselves. Reporters protect sources, leave out embarrassing info, and work to guarantee a new story that will never quite make enough waves to get anyone in too much trouble. So Sarah Palin can be attacked all day long, but military leaders are above reproach? Absurd.

In the days ahead, there will be the usual harrumphing about how Hastings "blew his chance, and nobody will trust him, and sources will never talk to him now."

Spare me - they'll line up to talk to him, because the challenge works both ways. They think they'll be the one that Hastings makes the hero in his next book. The source wants to talk, they always want to talk.

Great book and powerful reporting about truths that people wanted hidden - while the after-the-fact reporting slows it down, his description of the embed itself is enlightening, controversial, impressive and honest. If a reporter doesn't report what they see and hear, then they didn't report anything at all - and Hastings did that in spades.
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An Eye-Opener
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a no-bull primer on Afghanistan and though I admittedly have not focused on it, mostly it seems to ring true. To me, the free-wheeling interaction of the team demonstrated a trust and cohesiveness where give and take is valued - not desrespect. The author missed the point and misses the context in this regard by mechanically reporting verbatim remarks. That said, this book is a good read, a heckuva story and I highly recommend it
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Steffen
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written
Reviewed in Germany on January 26, 2019
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Well written!
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Amazon_Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly written book - Didn't pull any punches about the ...
Reviewed in India on May 27, 2017
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Superbly written book - Didn't pull any punches about the excesses done by the american military nor of the sheer incompetency displayed by all the international agencies and the afghans - Nobody seem to want to do the right thing
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Scott C
4.0 out of 5 stars SCARY!
Reviewed in Australia on December 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
A terrifying insight into the cult of the team leading the was in the Middle East.
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Jonathan Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Naked Afghanistan. The war exposed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2012
Verified Purchase
When the journalism establishment turned on Michael Hastings, they never laid a finger on his reporting. John Burns was among many who said Hastings had spoiled the game. The grand reporters trade access for discretion. Hastings doesn't do the deference. The result has been explosive journalism. Hastings was without doubt responsible for the sacking of one Afghan commander. Other reputations are equally shredded here.

As a reporter for Rolling Stone, Hastings has prrformed a magnificent service showing most of the hacks weary and useless. His cameo of Thomas Friedman offering advice was the more extraorinary because it was so deadpan. Hastings does not have to over egg the pudding. His forward-tilted reporting means he never has to.

Hastings has produced a classic on Afghanistan, a classic on the American military and a classic on journalism, all in the same book. Hastings is a brave journalist and a sensitive who lost a girl he loved to the war in Iraq. He writes beautifully and empathetically of the losses. Neither does he have to rant and rail at the futility and the lies - it can all speak for itself.

This is an American story and the British hardly appear except one does think of he recycled stories fed out to gutless hacks onveying ridiculous stories about governments in a box.

Hastings writes at a cracking pace and in places this reads like a thriller, in places it is funny and in many other ways, the story is surreal. Yet there is never a loss of truth. The bull**** detector stays silent. Hastings has his story copper-bottomed. Nothing captures the story of the American war in Afghanistan even remotely as well as this. Hastings has thought deeply about war and more attention should be paid to what he says. This book is simply fabulous.
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