This is the first book I've gotten through Audiobooks that made me want to ask for my money back. Harp tries to present this book as an evenhanded, objective look at his subject matter, but his overwhelming contempt for the entire world he is writing about can hardly be veiled. This is no objective account. Rather, it is heavily stilted in favor of an anti-military, anti-Iraq and Afghanistan war view that bleeds through every subject he purports to tackle. The epitome of this is his ultimate blanket statement that the special operations forces in those countries were essentially white supremacists murdering people they deemed to be inferior. What a nuanced and thoughtful view of twenty years of war. His bias is so infused into his writing that there came a point where I couldn't believe any of the conclusions he was making. For example, he makes a sweeping statement denying the effectiveness of the Iraq surge, claiming there is no good evidence to support its success. And yet I just finished a book--an account by another journalist--saying just the exact opposite. And his quick, judgmental assessments of prominent figures and organizations in the global war on terror ask us to make sweeping conclusions based on nothing but his own disdain for them. This pattern of biased and unsupported conclusions led me to seriously doubt not the existence but the level of drug use he claims occurred within the SOF community. Why would you trust the reporting of someone who viscerally hates the people and the community in general he's reporting on? He even strongly suggests that the SOF community murdered his Rolling Stone reporter colleague (Michael Hastings) whose reporting led to Gen. McChrystal getting fired. Anyway, this book is a more of a hit piece than a report.

Ok- a bit over the top for effect in my opinion. I understand the temptation to focus on the underbelly of special ops but the vast majority are not indicative of this story. If you want a Specialist's sensational rendition of Bragg and special ops during the GWOT (with a lot of drama) then this is your book. For those that are a bit more mature and objective, I'd pass.

Looking for a good read? Look elsewhere!

I can't finish it. The author has a clear opinion on the special forces and he inserts himself into the narrative in some passages which is a turn off. I was hoping for a more objective approach to the subject matter but that doesnt seem to be the way the book is written. I will move on to something else.

I’m sorry I wasted any money on this book.

Exceptional

Jesus Christ.

Very well written and informative. A great dig into a big problem in the military!

Interesting

Eye-opening book on drugs in the army focusing on Fort Liberty once called Fort Bragg. First the coverups are atrocious. Second the addiction problem in special forces and for men or women who experience war/combat needs to addressed - instead of defunding the VA more should be done for Vets experiencing PSTD. And third all those drugs coming in to our country through the military should be focused on but because it’s white guys mostly they get a pass. Excellent book.

Interesting and informative The narrator left a lot to be desired.