The Hunt for Bin Laden: Task Force Dagger

by Robin Moore

Book Overview

"As the [al-Qaida terrorists] charged one wall, three Green Berets leaned over the parapets, oblivious to the enemy small-arms fire that was cracking by their heads and shoulders. " 'Focus, squeeze,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375508619
• ISBN13: 9780375508615
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 373 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

An insider's view of a secretive people

Special Forces and CIA Special Activities Division operatives know the value of the truth, how to use it tactically, and know who deserves it. Robin Moore, by virtue of his history among the men of "Group" from Vietnam to the present, has proven to many of them that he's one of "us", a brother in the Special Ops fraternity, who deserves his ration of the truth, along with his share of the hyperbole doled out along official channels, purposefully obfuscated for the benefit of those who have no need or desire to know, and sleep better not knowing.The book itself reads like what it is: stories collected from men who had their boots on the ground, saw things from their own worms eye perspective, and had stories to tell. His sources, apparently, were people, not documents, court records, or briefings. He talked to the guys. This is a history of what the guys did, according to a friend of the guys.He can be called to talk for his worldview (as one reviewer here has done, presumably because it conflicts with the reviewer's lofty worldview) or for what he didn't include (details about the British SAS, Australian Special Forces, and others). His biases are quite apparent. He obviously doesn't like the idea that Air Force Combat Controllers were attached to SF ODAs, and refers to the actions of "Dave", Mike Spann's co-interrogator, in a rather "piquant" manner.Still, this is an early history of a complex subject. There'll be PLENTY of histories which paint John Lindh as a sinless, idealistic angel, the Taliban as patriots and Al Qaeda as misunderstood, so here's a book written which presents these characters in another, less "enlightened" light. As it is, the book lets us in on how the people who had to do the dirty work felt, acted and reacted, in a frankly entertaining and informative manner. As one who's walked among them in my own time, I can attest that a great deal of what is said hints at what Mr. Moore and his subjects could or would not say. The book rings very true to this old soldier.Robin Moore knows Special Forces. This is as close to their story as you'll get until they begin writing their stories down for themselves. One day, ten years on, things will be declassified, enough original source books will be written, and we'll have a better view of the war in Afganistan. Reliable history is synthesis. That'll take time.For now, I heartily recommend Mr. Moore's work.De Oppresso Liber

Great action, great book

In reading the other reviews of this book I agree with those that felt Moore was biased against all other branches of the military except the Green Berets'. I feel however, that most military units have the same biases and Moore was writing a book documenting the Green Berets', not the entire U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. The book is a page turner, full of action that you can imagine and feel like your in the middle of it. He does a great job of describing the type of operators that are Green Berets' and the amazing things they do. Read this book, its worth it.

Moore delivers more, and then some

This is an excellent book, one that I think many years from now will still be referenced as providing a great insight on the beginning of the war on terror.The overriding thing that one gets from this book is an overwhelming appreciation for the special forces: their skills in combat and outside of combat, their intelligence and dogged persistence and their unmatched courage. The fact that they were able to work with the muj of the Northern Alliance, ferocious warriors in their own right, is a credit to the special forces ability to assimilate themselves into the culture of Afganistan. The fact that they were able to gain the respect of many muj cannot be overstated as a key point of importance in aiding the success of the operation. The description of the conflict between the regular armed forces and the special services and how, perhaps, bin Laden and Omar were inadvertedly permitted to flee, is frustrating but also educational as well. It also should remind anyone that speaking of "the armed services" as one vast monolith is pointless.This is a great book by an author, Robin Moore, than has proven himself to a skilled writer, fiercely devoted to the Green Berets that he has always written so fondly of.

Rah! Rah! Special Forces!!

This book can be looked at as either an historical piece about the war in Afghanistan or a Special Forces propaganda piece written by Mr. Moore who is unabashedly, unashamedly and unapologetically a major booster of the green berets.The distinction is needless, as the historical account of what the green berets accomplished in that war naturally extols their virtues as amazing fighting men.The first 50 pages grabbed me unlike any other historical account I can recall. It read like an exciting war novel. The book bogged down a tad as each special forces team's campaign was related. Several were so similar I am not sure why they were accounted for separately except that Mr. Moore wanted to give all the credit where it was due.Beyond the straight historical account, this book presented a valuable and thought-provoking look at special forces' type of unconventional warfare versus conventional warfare. I do not think Mr. Moore will be invited to Gen. Tommie Franks' house for dinner very soon as he repeatedly rips the general for old-fashioned bureaucratic laden warfare strategy.That Mr. Moore knows his subject is obvious. What warms the historical account is that he also knows the people involved. The added personal descriptions and anecdotes added much to the book. As we approach a war in Iraq, this book left me with mixed feelings about our prospects there. On the one hand, a reader could only have confidence in our fighting men and women if the special forces "dogs of war" are let loose. On the other hand, one is left to wonder about the effectiveness of our conventional forces. As Mr. Moore extolled the virtue of the special forces in Afghanistan and pointed out the short-comings of the conventional forces there - including how they screwed up (I cleaned up Mr. Moore's language there) the only operation in which they participated, I wished he addressed where - if anywhere -he thought the more conventional forces would be an asset.This book is a wonderful account of truly great American warriors, a thoroughly entertaining read and more thought-provoking than one would have thought at the outset. I strongly recommend it.

Un-Nerving

Absolutely detailed and informing, but nothing like the Green Berets Robin had greater success with, as far as taking in the reader. I actually hated reading this, not since Robin has put a excellent piece together, but because this book reveals what an ugly situation Bin laden has created. As I read this, digging through all the channels from 911 to the current, I now am thoroughly disgusted with what sacrifice and drudgery many have had to travail to catch up with Laden, not to mention the acts of terror. I wonder how much Robin had to put up with in bringing us this information which I cant imagine being any more complete anywhere. If you want to know, it is very descriptive in this incredible account that is also unbiased hard fact. I would hope another book follows up on this, I hope Robin writes it. I say yes and recommend this along with SB or God by Karl Maddox that goes into a probable and realistic war in this region to include Iraq.