Escape from Kabul: The Inside Story

Reviews

Cobalt 45

The writing is tight and engaging and whilst I squirmed as we shudder towards the last flight out and abject failure, I came away with a much better understanding of how it happened. This is an important account of the people involved, a detailed history of what led to it, and a compassionate narrative that helps put the whole dark period in perspective.

Chris Michaels

I remember watching this unfold on the TV and being horrified by what I was seeing. For our veterans of the campaign years and the many that sat slack jawed and uncomprehending as the evacuation played out, I strongly recommend this book, it helps makes sense of the Forever War and how the West got it so shamefully wrong. This is one of those books that smoothly takes you through this journey of hearing the many stories of those that made history and respectfully commemorates those no longer with us. Myopic policy and flawed strategy is called out whilst the stoicism and humanity of the many delivering the evacuation shines through.

Gemma

Those stories are powerful, but need to be told. Compulsive reading and something to be really proud of. Escape from Kabul is one that I was emotionally invested in from page 1. I’ve read many military historical books, and there’s not many that I’ve been emotionally invested in.

Levison and Gez lay down every account that’s been expertly weaved with historical facts, laying the foundations of one of the most hard hitting periods of history, and as perfectly explained ‘The best and worst of humanity’I’ve said that Brothers in Arms by Geraint is one of the best books written about Afghanistan, Escape from Kabul is its equal as well as having its own place in military history books. Highly recommended. But the authors do a really good job of trying. I enjoyed the breadth and range of the contributors whether taken from open source at the time or in candid interview with the authors.

Their assessments are brutally candid and unflinching, whilst maintaining balance. You can't possibly answer every question about what went so wrong here.