American Spartan

[Strac]

American Spartan, the Promise, the Mission and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant by Ann Scott Tyson tells Gant's story as a green beret that served multiple tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

Not only did Gant serve with great distinction and honor (and at a great personal cost) but he also proposed some striking operational policy changes in his highly acclaimed Army study paper titled One Tribe at a Time.

 

After the raid on Osama Bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan, one piece of evidence reportedly found in Bin Laden’s personal sleeping quarters was an English language copy of Gant’s One Tribe at a Time. It contained notes in the margins consistent with others identified as written by Bin Laden. A directive from Bin Laden to his intelligence chief was also discovered. It identified Gant by name as an impediment to Al Qaeda’s operational objectives for eastern Afghanistan. Bin Laden ordered that Gant be assassinated.

 

So what happened to Jim Gant? I don't want to spoil the story so you'll have to read the book! It is a very moving and excellent read that really delivers on Gant, the people he served with, the environments he operated in, the enemy, and an Army political structure that right or wrong, determined his fate. Called by some the "Lawrence of Afghanistan," Gant's story reminds me of some of the Vietnam war special forces guys that "went native" in small numbers and even alone for extended periods of time with the isolated tribes they were training, far outnumbered and deep in enemy territory.

 

Highly recommended!

 

 

 

 

 

[flytiger]

Gant is the kind of guy that was needed at the time. When the "time" was over, he was discarded. The Army ( My Army, 34 years active and Guard/ Reserve) is led by PC Officers at the top now and is crumbling as a result. Read the book. Worthwhile.