Frontline Afghanistan: The Devil's Playground - Softcover

Here, with more than 200 images, Mike Ryan assesses the state of this war-ravaged nation and considers the current role of coalition troops and the progress to date. --Britain at War

The chapters are intelligently organised around the various aspects, from equipment to field medicine to the 'bigger picture' of the conflict. The latter section takes first hand accounts from the various levels of command during Operation Panther's Claw in the summer of 2009. These are themselves very interesting, and the extensive number of photographs are also very effective in demonstrating just what it means to be fighting in such inhospitable terrain. --Bookgeeks

This bang-up-to-date book is slick and to the point ... the title's clarity and honesty will appeal to all ranks. --Solider Magazine

In the nine years since the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan has rarely been out of the news. Over a thousand coalition military fatalities have been reported, and many times that number of Afghan civilians. The country is in the process of rebuilding, and yet the fighting continues. Following the success of his previous book, Battlefield Afghanistan, Mike Ryan looks at the state of this war-ravaged nation as Barack Obama finally decides to escalate America's military presence. He considers the current role of coalition troops and the progress being made, or not being made - more than 100 British troops died in Afghanistan in 2009, the highest death toll for any year since the mission began in October 2001 - things are getting worse, not better. The author has unrivalled access not only to commanding officers, but also to the `boots on the ground'. With more than 200 colour photographs and analysis of the situation from those actually doing the fighting, Frontline Afghanistan may help the reader to make up his or her mind about the legitimacy of the conflict and the possible way forward.