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The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan
The compelling inside story of how America abandoned Afghanistan.
When America retreated from Kabul amid chaos in 2021, Lieutenant General Sami Sadat, the last commander of the army of the Afghan republic, was still fighting to the end. In this firsthand account, he reveals how his troops were starved of ammunition for two years before the final pullout, while America was glad-handing the Taliban. Although Sadat spent his early career fighting alongside the CIA to track down al-Qaeda in the mountains of the Hindu Kush, it was in conventional combat—leading from the front—that he made his name. In The Last Commander, he contends that Afghanistan could have won the war if support had continued. President Biden may have ended America’s longest war, but the story does not end there. Now Sadat’s birth country is plunged into barbarism, where women are beaten for showing their face and his former comrades are hunted down and killed. But Sadat is planning to fight back. It will not be easy, but this riveting personal account of combat shows that if anyone can do it, he can.
Sadat’s story was told in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Retrograde. Now he tells it for himself.
When America retreated from Kabul amid chaos in 2021, Lieutenant General Sami Sadat, the last commander of the army of the Afghan republic, was still fighting to the end. In this firsthand account, he reveals how his troops were starved of ammunition for two years before the final pullout, while America was glad-handing the Taliban. Although Sadat spent his early career fighting alongside the CIA to track down al-Qaeda in the mountains of the Hindu Kush, it was in conventional combat—leading from the front—that he made his name. In The Last Commander, he contends that Afghanistan could have won the war if support had continued. President Biden may have ended America’s longest war, but the story does not end there. Now Sadat’s birth country is plunged into barbarism, where women are beaten for showing their face and his former comrades are hunted down and killed. But Sadat is planning to fight back. It will not be easy, but this riveting personal account of combat shows that if anyone can do it, he can.
Sadat’s story was told in the Emmy Award–winning documentary Retrograde. Now he tells it for himself.
- GenresMilitary FictionHistory
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2024
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March 16, 2025Book Review: The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan by Sami Sadat
Sami Sadat’s “The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan” offers a compelling and critical exploration of Afghanistan’s multifaceted conflicts, as viewed through the lens of military experience and personal narrative. A former commander in the Afghan National Army, Sadat presents readers with an intimate portrayal of the complexities that have defined Afghanistan’s turbulent history, delving into the cultural, political, and military dimensions that have shaped the nation’s past and present.
At its core, “The Last Commander” is not merely a recounting of military strategies and operations; it is a deeply human story that intertwines the personal and the political. Sadat’s narrative is imbued with a sense of urgency and authenticity, as he reflects on his own journey as a soldier and leader amid the chaos of war. His experiences provide readers with a unique perspective that challenges often oversimplified narratives about Afghanistan—a country frequently depicted in binary terms of good versus evil, victor versus vanquished.
Sadat skillfully contextualizes the ongoing battle for Afghanistan within a broader historical framework, situating his observations alongside the geopolitical interests of foreign powers, particularly the United States and neighboring regional actors. He deftly illustrates how external influences have compounded the challenges faced by the Afghan people, resulting in a complex tapestry of alliances and enmities that continue to shape the landscape of conflict. Through his analysis, Sadat highlights the importance of understanding Afghanistan’s unique cultural heritage, emphasizing that any effective strategy for peace must recognize and honor the intricacies of Afghan society.
One of the most compelling aspects of Sadat’s narrative is his exploration of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by military leaders and soldiers on the ground. This dimension of the text invites readers to grapple with the weight of decision-making in war—a theme that resonates beyond the specific context of Afghanistan. Sadat reflects on his own struggles with the challenges of leadership amid violence, loss, and the complexities of loyalty, illustrating how individual choices can have profound consequences in the broader scope of conflict. This introspection adds a layer of depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect emotionally with the realities faced by those in the midst of war.
Moreover, Sadat’s writing is marked by a profound sense of hope and resilience. Despite the grim circumstances portrayed throughout the book, he emphasizes the strength and determination of the Afghan people to forge a future, underscoring their capacity for endurance and adaptability. This message of resilience is particularly relevant as the international community grapples with the consequences of recent events in Afghanistan. Sadat does not shy away from addressing the mistakes of the past, yet he champions the possibility of a brighter future through dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.
“The Last Commander” also serves as a call to action for international audiences. Sadat invites readers to engage thoughtfully with Afghanistan’s ongoing struggles and to recognize the importance of inclusive and sustainable approaches to conflict resolution. By weaving together personal experiences with broader historical and political analysis, he provides a framework for understanding that encourages empathy and informed activism.
In conclusion, Sami Sadat’s “The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan” is a thought-provoking and significant contribution to the discourse surrounding Afghanistan’s complex history and future. Through his eloquent prose and multifaceted insights, Sadat offers readers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and hopes that shape the Afghan experience. His narrative not only illuminates the intricacies of war and peace but also serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for resilience amid adversity. In a world that often seeks to categorize and simplify, Sadat’s work challenges us to embrace the complexity of human stories and to foster a collective commitment to a more peaceful and equitable future for Afghanistan and its people.
Sami Sadat’s “The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan” offers a compelling and critical exploration of Afghanistan’s multifaceted conflicts, as viewed through the lens of military experience and personal narrative. A former commander in the Afghan National Army, Sadat presents readers with an intimate portrayal of the complexities that have defined Afghanistan’s turbulent history, delving into the cultural, political, and military dimensions that have shaped the nation’s past and present.
At its core, “The Last Commander” is not merely a recounting of military strategies and operations; it is a deeply human story that intertwines the personal and the political. Sadat’s narrative is imbued with a sense of urgency and authenticity, as he reflects on his own journey as a soldier and leader amid the chaos of war. His experiences provide readers with a unique perspective that challenges often oversimplified narratives about Afghanistan—a country frequently depicted in binary terms of good versus evil, victor versus vanquished.
Sadat skillfully contextualizes the ongoing battle for Afghanistan within a broader historical framework, situating his observations alongside the geopolitical interests of foreign powers, particularly the United States and neighboring regional actors. He deftly illustrates how external influences have compounded the challenges faced by the Afghan people, resulting in a complex tapestry of alliances and enmities that continue to shape the landscape of conflict. Through his analysis, Sadat highlights the importance of understanding Afghanistan’s unique cultural heritage, emphasizing that any effective strategy for peace must recognize and honor the intricacies of Afghan society.
One of the most compelling aspects of Sadat’s narrative is his exploration of the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by military leaders and soldiers on the ground. This dimension of the text invites readers to grapple with the weight of decision-making in war—a theme that resonates beyond the specific context of Afghanistan. Sadat reflects on his own struggles with the challenges of leadership amid violence, loss, and the complexities of loyalty, illustrating how individual choices can have profound consequences in the broader scope of conflict. This introspection adds a layer of depth to the narrative, allowing readers to connect emotionally with the realities faced by those in the midst of war.
Moreover, Sadat’s writing is marked by a profound sense of hope and resilience. Despite the grim circumstances portrayed throughout the book, he emphasizes the strength and determination of the Afghan people to forge a future, underscoring their capacity for endurance and adaptability. This message of resilience is particularly relevant as the international community grapples with the consequences of recent events in Afghanistan. Sadat does not shy away from addressing the mistakes of the past, yet he champions the possibility of a brighter future through dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.
“The Last Commander” also serves as a call to action for international audiences. Sadat invites readers to engage thoughtfully with Afghanistan’s ongoing struggles and to recognize the importance of inclusive and sustainable approaches to conflict resolution. By weaving together personal experiences with broader historical and political analysis, he provides a framework for understanding that encourages empathy and informed activism.
In conclusion, Sami Sadat’s “The Last Commander: The Once and Future Battle for Afghanistan” is a thought-provoking and significant contribution to the discourse surrounding Afghanistan’s complex history and future. Through his eloquent prose and multifaceted insights, Sadat offers readers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and hopes that shape the Afghan experience. His narrative not only illuminates the intricacies of war and peace but also serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity for resilience amid adversity. In a world that often seeks to categorize and simplify, Sadat’s work challenges us to embrace the complexity of human stories and to foster a collective commitment to a more peaceful and equitable future for Afghanistan and its people.
July 1, 2025
I read this as part of the Summer 2025 Alexander Hamilton Society book club, which allowed me to discuss this book with several peers (and our facilitator, who is from Afghanistan himself). This book is an autobiography by Sami Sadat, a former intelligence official and commander of the Afghan Armed Forces. This was an extremely entertaining read: Sadat's firsthand retelling of his time living under the Taliban (and later fighting them, along with factions of his own Afghan government) is truly a story only he can tell. His demonstration of individual bravery in the face of overwhelming force (and later bureaucratic/political incompetence) goes a long way to defeat the notion that the Afghan army was simply unwilling to defend the country that it had longed to free from Taliban rule.
While I don't know much about him outside of the information in this book, he does frame himself in a very pro-Western, pro-democratic way that makes him seem infallible compared to the corrupted, lazy, or cowardly nature of his peers and adversaries. It quickly becomes clear that he is still vying for a free Afghanistan in his image, using this book as a means to garner support from the West to sympathize with his cause. His anecdotes about fighting the Taliban are (naturally) very inspiring and interesting, but I found the most value in his frustrations with the various Allied forces that he had to contend with. In his work as intelligence chief and commander of the military, Sadat had to balance keeping himself safe from internal challengers with complying with the demands and restrictions of his American military and intelligence partners, often to his frustration (as he had to pull his punches and fail to properly prosecute a permanent end to the war). His frustrations with Presidents Obama and Biden (but not really Trump!) were also interesting, though he may be catering to a more sympathetic neocon Republican audience by punching left. I'd be interested to learn more about Afghan voices during this time period and what a free Afghanistan would look like (especially outside of the "America needs to get better at nation-building" context).
While I don't know much about him outside of the information in this book, he does frame himself in a very pro-Western, pro-democratic way that makes him seem infallible compared to the corrupted, lazy, or cowardly nature of his peers and adversaries. It quickly becomes clear that he is still vying for a free Afghanistan in his image, using this book as a means to garner support from the West to sympathize with his cause. His anecdotes about fighting the Taliban are (naturally) very inspiring and interesting, but I found the most value in his frustrations with the various Allied forces that he had to contend with. In his work as intelligence chief and commander of the military, Sadat had to balance keeping himself safe from internal challengers with complying with the demands and restrictions of his American military and intelligence partners, often to his frustration (as he had to pull his punches and fail to properly prosecute a permanent end to the war). His frustrations with Presidents Obama and Biden (but not really Trump!) were also interesting, though he may be catering to a more sympathetic neocon Republican audience by punching left. I'd be interested to learn more about Afghan voices during this time period and what a free Afghanistan would look like (especially outside of the "America needs to get better at nation-building" context).
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