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Call Sign Extortion 17: The Shoot-Down of SEAL Team Six
On August 6, 2011—three months after members of Navy SEAL Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden—Taliban forces took down a United States helicopter, call sign “Extortion 17.” The attack killed the Air National guard crew, seven unidentified members of the Afghan military, and seventeen members of Navy SEAL Team Six—warrior brothers from the same Team had killed Osama Bin Laden just ninety days prior.
Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer stationed at the Pentagon and a former Special Assistant United States Attorney, re-creates the wartime action, tells the life stories of the elite warriors our nation lost on that day, and tears apart the official military explanation of the incident contained in the infamous Colt Report, which reveals either gross incompetence or a massive cover-up. Call Sign Extortion 17 focuses on a series of key factors pointing to a conspiracy, including the inexplicable disappearance of the black box, autopsy evidence arbitrarily destroyed, the failure to acknowledge reports of Taliban infiltration into the Afghan military, and the Taliban’s vengeful campaign of targeting SEAL Team Six after U.S. government officials revealed that the elite fighting unit was responsible for killing Bin Laden. Were the seven Afghani soldiers aboard that helicopter really undercover Taliban who either maneuvered the chopper within easy range of being shot down or blew it up from within? Through a serious examination of the evidence, and the lack thereof, Brown tackles the issues of the case as only an experienced military prosecutor can.305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
58 people are currently reading
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About the author
Don Brown
23 books114 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing TREASON, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. After TREASON was published to rave reviews in 2005, drawing comparisons to the writing style of John Grisham, DON BROWN was named as co-chairman of national I Love To Write Day, an event recognized by the governors of nine states to promote writing throughout the nation, and especially among the nation’s schools. HOSTAGE and DEFIANCE, the second and third novels in the series, were published in 2006 and 2007. BLACK SEA AFFAIR, was released in June of 2008, and with a bonechilling plot and precipient accuracy of international events, has been called the “Novel that Predicted the Russian-Georgian War,” which broke out just two months later, in August of 2008! Don is now penning his fifth novel, entitled THE MALACCAN CONSPIRACY, to be released in June of 2010. Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radicalIslamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century. The Charlotte World Newspaper described TREASON as “A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY FULL OF ACTION, INTRIGUE, AND THE KIND OF CALCULATED TYRANNY THAT YOU COULD FIND IN THE HEADLINES OF ANY MAJOR DAILY AT ANY MOMENT.” The Romance Reader’s Connection described Don’s novels as “fascinating and fresh.” In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction! DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law. During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.'
DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing TREASON, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. After TREASON was published to rave reviews in 2005, drawing comparisons to the writing style of John Grisham, DON BROWN was named as co-chairman of national I Love To Write Day, an event recognized by the governors of nine states to promote writing throughout the nation, and especially among the nation’s schools. HOSTAGE and DEFIANCE, the second and third novels in the series, were published in 2006 and 2007. BLACK SEA AFFAIR, was released in June of 2008, and with a bonechilling plot and precipient accuracy of international events, has been called the “Novel that Predicted the Russian-Georgian War,” which broke out just two months later, in August of 2008! Don is now penning his fifth novel, entitled THE MALACCAN CONSPIRACY, to be released in June of 2010. Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radicalIslamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century. The Charlotte World Newspaper described TREASON as “A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY FULL OF ACTION, INTRIGUE, AND THE KIND OF CALCULATED TYRANNY THAT YOU COULD FIND IN THE HEADLINES OF ANY MAJOR DAILY AT ANY MOMENT.” The Romance Reader’s Connection described Don’s novels as “fascinating and fresh.” In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction! DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law. During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.'
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 14, 2016
Interesting topic but I felt like every 30 pages the author just kept repeating the same condemnation over again.
January 3, 2025
BIG fan of conspiracies, and this one takes the cake for sure. Definitely deep diving into this, its INSANE
July 10, 2017
Unbelievable Read
I cannot believe how our government can cover up this tragedy and the deaths of these military members. No one has answers? Someone knows and Colt and Mattis need to come clean. The seven afghans on board, bullets in bodies, cremation of all remains.....why? Great read..page turner. So sad.
I cannot believe how our government can cover up this tragedy and the deaths of these military members. No one has answers? Someone knows and Colt and Mattis need to come clean. The seven afghans on board, bullets in bodies, cremation of all remains.....why? Great read..page turner. So sad.
October 24, 2020
What a book, the author Dan Brown a former JAG officer takes you through the events of this tragic event. First how men were inserted into enemy territory with two helicopters but when they called in from assistance now only one helicopter was sent. Most of the men on board were from Seal team six who had conducted the raid on Bin Laden. Lost was the flight crew, seven Afghan military personal, and seventeen Seal Team six members.
Here the author goes through the lives of the flight crew and of the Seal team while also giving the background of the incident. What was to happen and also what took place. Also suggesting that possibly that the Afghan members could have been working for the Taliban, it would have only taken one or two.
Once you are past the mission you begin to go through what was to be an investigation that General Mathis ordered. The author takes you through the report and you the reader can see for your self that with missing evidence, like the black box, autopsy reports, no mention of any kind of the Taliban wanting revenge for the killing of Bin Laden, or even how they had infiltrated the Afghan Army. There is much more and you begin to see for yourself that something is wrong.
The author does a good job of showing the wrongs that were made in the investigation or lack of. The lack of accountability from the Commander and Chief to the people who conducted the investigation and even the Congressional review committee, all did nothing in honoring these brave men that day. They not only let down the men but also their families, once you finish the book you are left with a sour taste in your mouth at least I was. You are also shown copies of documents in the back. Overall a good book the author does repeat himself at times but I was able to overlook those moments. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Here the author goes through the lives of the flight crew and of the Seal team while also giving the background of the incident. What was to happen and also what took place. Also suggesting that possibly that the Afghan members could have been working for the Taliban, it would have only taken one or two.
Once you are past the mission you begin to go through what was to be an investigation that General Mathis ordered. The author takes you through the report and you the reader can see for your self that with missing evidence, like the black box, autopsy reports, no mention of any kind of the Taliban wanting revenge for the killing of Bin Laden, or even how they had infiltrated the Afghan Army. There is much more and you begin to see for yourself that something is wrong.
The author does a good job of showing the wrongs that were made in the investigation or lack of. The lack of accountability from the Commander and Chief to the people who conducted the investigation and even the Congressional review committee, all did nothing in honoring these brave men that day. They not only let down the men but also their families, once you finish the book you are left with a sour taste in your mouth at least I was. You are also shown copies of documents in the back. Overall a good book the author does repeat himself at times but I was able to overlook those moments. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
August 22, 2018
Extraordinary book!
Brown delivers a kick in the with every page. I love his writing style! He delivers the worst day in the history of the United States Special Forces in a very systematic review. He presents the Final Flight of EXTORTION 17 (spoken one seven and seventeen), like a Defense Attorney or an investigator. The 30 Navy SEALs and other Special Forces personnel, along with the Helicopter flight crew because American Military and Political leaders threw these men under the bus the enemy was driving and then covered it all up with lies and deceit. America will ALWAYS REMEMBER and NEVER FORGET all who died in August 6, 2011 in EXTORTION 17 in the Tango Valley of Afghanistan! I will recommend this book to everyone I know!
Brown delivers a kick in the with every page. I love his writing style! He delivers the worst day in the history of the United States Special Forces in a very systematic review. He presents the Final Flight of EXTORTION 17 (spoken one seven and seventeen), like a Defense Attorney or an investigator. The 30 Navy SEALs and other Special Forces personnel, along with the Helicopter flight crew because American Military and Political leaders threw these men under the bus the enemy was driving and then covered it all up with lies and deceit. America will ALWAYS REMEMBER and NEVER FORGET all who died in August 6, 2011 in EXTORTION 17 in the Tango Valley of Afghanistan! I will recommend this book to everyone I know!
March 26, 2020
3 stars
A very sad story as any story about American loss would be. I thought the author did a fantastic job with research and compiling information to give you a solid picture of the events. At the end of this I have to agree with the authors assessment of a cover up. To many coincidences and to many changing or conflicting stories.. Very very sad. My 3 star review is simply due to the repetitive nature of this book, which was stated in many other comments. I understand the authors point to emphasize his points and the information but its a little over done. Still a great read if you are interested in learning about this operation but could probably have been done in 100 less pages.
A very sad story as any story about American loss would be. I thought the author did a fantastic job with research and compiling information to give you a solid picture of the events. At the end of this I have to agree with the authors assessment of a cover up. To many coincidences and to many changing or conflicting stories.. Very very sad. My 3 star review is simply due to the repetitive nature of this book, which was stated in many other comments. I understand the authors point to emphasize his points and the information but its a little over done. Still a great read if you are interested in learning about this operation but could probably have been done in 100 less pages.
August 24, 2021
On August 6, 2011, 30 Americans, including 17 commandos from the vaunted SEAL Team Six that 90 days prior had killed Osama Bin Laden, were shot down at point-blank range in an apparent preplanned Taliban ambush against their helicopter. This single deadliest loss of American life in the Afghan War raises more questions than it answers. Was this an inside job by the Taliban? Or was this simply gross military incompetence. Former US Navy JAG officer Don Brown breaks down the mountain of evidence from the military’s official report to provide a stunning analysis of the shoot-down of Extortion 17. An interesting read for war buffs.
November 11, 2019
Could not put this book down. Brown systematically provides evidence that Obama administration policies, poor planning, outdated equipment and foolish assumptions about Afghans led unnecessarily to the deaths of some of the finest Americans our country has ever known. General Mattis and other officials are involved in the cover up of their murder and allowed these men to be dishonored in the death by an Imam who was permitted to “pray” over them instead insulting them! I pray for justice for my fellow Americans and their loved ones.
November 27, 2019
Excellent read. Documents a terrible tragedy involving members of Seal team 6. I believe higher ups in the chain of command, namely General Mathis, and possible President Obama, should be held accountable for the deaths of these brave men. The refused to allow pre-deployment saturation fire at the landing zone to could have eliminated the Taliban fighters who had rocket propelled grenades. The had helicopter gunships along with an AC-130 gunship flying overhead, that would have eliminated any Taliban fights in the area of the LZ.
April 29, 2020
An extremely sad day for America
This is the second book I have read on Extortion17, but the most informative. From the outing of the Seals by Obama and Biden, they never had a chance. I guess that I am mostly disturbed by the Congressional investigation led by Jason Chaffetz. No Afghanis were questioned and it seems the questions posed to Reid, an Obama man, were poorly thought out and answers too easily accepted. These men were killed with the aid of the Obama administration. It is worse than Benghazi.
This is the second book I have read on Extortion17, but the most informative. From the outing of the Seals by Obama and Biden, they never had a chance. I guess that I am mostly disturbed by the Congressional investigation led by Jason Chaffetz. No Afghanis were questioned and it seems the questions posed to Reid, an Obama man, were poorly thought out and answers too easily accepted. These men were killed with the aid of the Obama administration. It is worse than Benghazi.
June 2, 2020
The author raises lots of questions but doesn’t answer them. You uses harsh language to get his opinions across, biasing the facts he tries to present. I did learn a lot about the traumatic event, and the book did make me cry when talking about the families and spouses of those lost. However, I feel the author is too caught up on the Afghans aboard and Joe Biden’s top secret slip up. I would not recommend the read. I learned just as much about the event from a couple good articles I found online.
October 23, 2021
Loose Lips Sink Ships
So I remember the day this happened. I remember seeing the report of where and how this happened non official story was then from a balcony or a building roof. It was definitely not a mud covered building in that report. My poor ole dumb brain screamed at me what is this B-- S ---+. Where is the threat level assessment. These are Seal Team VI guys???
I tell it like I see it
What I see is Joe Biden President of The United States?????
God Bless the Souls of the Fallen
God Bless the Families
Lets Go Brandon
Steven
So I remember the day this happened. I remember seeing the report of where and how this happened non official story was then from a balcony or a building roof. It was definitely not a mud covered building in that report. My poor ole dumb brain screamed at me what is this B-- S ---+. Where is the threat level assessment. These are Seal Team VI guys???
I tell it like I see it
What I see is Joe Biden President of The United States?????
God Bless the Souls of the Fallen
God Bless the Families
Lets Go Brandon
Steven
November 24, 2019
Gripping tale of Seal team 6. Joe Biden gaffed it away less than a week later, by outing the Seals who got Bin Ladin. President Barry seemed to give the location away of Extorsion 17, to nefarious actors that bright the chopper down. Complete cover up by the U.S. Caution: Read this and it'll make. you. mad.
August 29, 2022
First off, I really wanted to enjoy this book. I made it 3/4 of the way through and just couldn’t finish. The book contains and comments on military report findings and oversights in regards to the crew aboard Extortion 17. It repeatedly points toward a singular event that was unduly addressed by the military and the official report. This mission was FUBAR from the word go.
December 4, 2024
Nothing to see here
The author spins An incredible amount of time and effort To make a case That there was some coverup. He does not make the case he just spends a lot of time Trying... It's actually a very annoying read because it's obvious he's trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.
The author spins An incredible amount of time and effort To make a case That there was some coverup. He does not make the case he just spends a lot of time Trying... It's actually a very annoying read because it's obvious he's trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.
June 19, 2022
great view, i studied this crash myself for anwers and hamid karzai the Afghan president at the time this tragedy happened has a lot to answer for , and his mujihideen pals, after all osama bin laden was one of them .
September 30, 2018
One of the worst books I have read.
August 20, 2021
Excellent
Great detail
A sense of what being in the service requires
Makes one so proud of these men
Fantastic
God Bless these men
Great detail
A sense of what being in the service requires
Makes one so proud of these men
Fantastic
God Bless these men
October 20, 2023
If this is TRUE !!! WTH
August 15, 2022
POORLY WRITTEN AND REDUNDANT AS HELL.
September 13, 2022
Before Benghazi, there was Extortion 17.
It's hard to believe that ten years have already passed since either of these events occurred. Benghazi has lingered more strongly in public consciousness, after all its anniversary is shared with the disaster of 9/11. As Don Brown puts it:
Yes, they get lazy and forget other events and people that are just as worthy of consideration. For those who have forgotten -
On August 6, 2011, a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter approached a landing zone in Afghanistan 40 miles southwest of Kabul. The helicopter, call sign Extortion 17, was on a mission to reinforce American and coalition special operations troops. It would never return. Insurgents fired at the Chinook, severed one of its rear rotor blades, and brought it crashing to the ground. All 38 onboard perished instantly in the single greatest moment of sacrifice for Americans in the war in Afghanistan. Those killed were some of the U.S.'s most highly trained and battle-honed commandos, including 15 men from the Gold Squadron of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, known popularly as SEAL Team 6, which had raided a Pakistan compound and killed Osama bin Laden just three months earlier.
Dan Brown a former JAG officer recounts the events of this tragic mission. He provides thumb nail portraits of the flight crew and of the Seal team while also reporting on the background and planning behind the operation (e.g. what should have happened vs. what actually took place).
Immediately after this disaster, General Mathis ordered a sweeping investigation to find out exactly what led to the loss. After a month the chief investigator, General Jeffery Colt, delivered a massive document with tons of info and basically said, "Hey, that's war. The military did nothing wrong. No one is at fault. It was all just bad luck."
However, the author poses quite a few questions that tear apart the official military explanation of the incident contained in the infamous Colt Report. They point to either gross incompetence or a massive cover-up.
For instance, the general officers reported in their executive summary of the Colt Report that the enemy RPGs which downed Extortion 17 were fired from 220 meters away (a nearly impossible shot) while the forensics portion of the report indicated pointblank fire brought the bird down.
Why the discrepancy? Because it was in the military's best interest to make his suggestion. In this way, they could argue that their failure to allow pre-assault fire did not contribute to the SEAL team’s deaths. In other words, “pre-assault fire wouldn’t have helped because the shot was fired from out yonder.”
Brown also points out glaring omissions in the Colt Report:
The issues recounted in this review are minor compared to others raised by the author. Read the book and you'll see betrayal from the highest levels and a bunch of questions left unanswered. One thing you won't be able to say is that "No one is at fault. It was all just bad luck."
It's hard to believe that ten years have already passed since either of these events occurred. Benghazi has lingered more strongly in public consciousness, after all its anniversary is shared with the disaster of 9/11. As Don Brown puts it:
Benghazi is more sound-bite friendly: an ambassador. A secretary of state. A film. The White House. The national security advisor. A refusal for a request to help. A stand-down. Sunday talk shows. Talking points. Plenty of meat for the press to dig its teeth into. And that’s a good thing. The American people deserve to know the truth when their government has foolishly and unnecessarily placed Americans in harm’s way, and when life is lost as a result of that foolishness. But in a glitzy world of sound-bites and ratings and presidential politics, Americans sometimes get lazy ...
Yes, they get lazy and forget other events and people that are just as worthy of consideration. For those who have forgotten -
On August 6, 2011, a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter approached a landing zone in Afghanistan 40 miles southwest of Kabul. The helicopter, call sign Extortion 17, was on a mission to reinforce American and coalition special operations troops. It would never return. Insurgents fired at the Chinook, severed one of its rear rotor blades, and brought it crashing to the ground. All 38 onboard perished instantly in the single greatest moment of sacrifice for Americans in the war in Afghanistan. Those killed were some of the U.S.'s most highly trained and battle-honed commandos, including 15 men from the Gold Squadron of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, known popularly as SEAL Team 6, which had raided a Pakistan compound and killed Osama bin Laden just three months earlier.
Dan Brown a former JAG officer recounts the events of this tragic mission. He provides thumb nail portraits of the flight crew and of the Seal team while also reporting on the background and planning behind the operation (e.g. what should have happened vs. what actually took place).
Immediately after this disaster, General Mathis ordered a sweeping investigation to find out exactly what led to the loss. After a month the chief investigator, General Jeffery Colt, delivered a massive document with tons of info and basically said, "Hey, that's war. The military did nothing wrong. No one is at fault. It was all just bad luck."
However, the author poses quite a few questions that tear apart the official military explanation of the incident contained in the infamous Colt Report. They point to either gross incompetence or a massive cover-up.
For instance, the general officers reported in their executive summary of the Colt Report that the enemy RPGs which downed Extortion 17 were fired from 220 meters away (a nearly impossible shot) while the forensics portion of the report indicated pointblank fire brought the bird down.
Why the discrepancy? Because it was in the military's best interest to make his suggestion. In this way, they could argue that their failure to allow pre-assault fire did not contribute to the SEAL team’s deaths. In other words, “pre-assault fire wouldn’t have helped because the shot was fired from out yonder.”
... prohibiting pre-assault fire, was to appease the Afghan government, which had launched protests to the Obama Administration about the practices. The Administration acquiesced to that demand and ordered the US military to refrain from pre-assault fire, which was ultimately why the landing zone was not cleared of hostile RPG-toting Taliban insurgents, and why Bryan Nichols, David Carter, and the SEAL team members lost their lives that day.
Brown also points out glaring omissions in the Colt Report:
Colt’s sworn interviews did not include one single Afghan, even though (a) the Afghans were in on the mission to begin with; and (b) there were open, unanswered questions about the identity of the seven Afghans who illegally boarded the chopper; and (c) there was a documented history of Green-on-Blue violence whereby Afghan “allies” were killing Americans; and (d) the British press reported an Afghan governmental source saying the Taliban was specifically tipped off on the mission and the specific flight plan of Extortion 17.
The issues recounted in this review are minor compared to others raised by the author. Read the book and you'll see betrayal from the highest levels and a bunch of questions left unanswered. One thing you won't be able to say is that "No one is at fault. It was all just bad luck."
August 23, 2015
Don Brown in his new book, “Call Sign Extortion 17″ published by Lyons Press gives us The Shoot-Down of SEAL Team Six.
From the back cover: On August 6, 2011—three months after members of Navy SEAL Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden—Taliban forces took down a United States helicopter, call sign “Extortion 17.” The attack killed the Air National guard crew, seven unidentified members of the Afghan military, and seventeen members of Navy SEAL Team Six—warrior brothers from the same Team had killed Osama Bin Laden just ninety days prior.
Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer stationed at the Pentagon and a former Special Assistant United States Attorney, re-creates the wartime action, tells the life stories of the elite warriors our nation lost on that day, and tears apart the official military explanation of the incident contained in the infamous Colt Report, which reveals either gross incompetence or a massive cover-up.
Were the seven Afghan soldiers aboard that helicopter really undercover Taliban who either maneuvered the chopper within easy range of being shot down or sabotaged it from within? Were the SEALS sacrificed on the altar of political correctness and deliberately flown into a known Taliban hot zone? Through a serious examination of the evidence, and the lack thereof, Brown tackles the issues of the case as only an experienced military prosecutor can.
Marine General James Mattis ordered Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Colt to conduct an investigation of the shoot-down. That investigation resulted in a 1,250 page report. What is extraordinary is that this report did not report everything, was inaccurate and some of the information was misleading. Don Brown got his hands on this top-secret report and did an investigation of his own. That is when the questions began. Why were there different Afghan soldiers on board the helicopter that were not on the flight manifest? Why did they fly a combat mission with a non-combat copter that was used in the Vietnam War? Why were the whole team on board one helicopter? Question after question were raised and not answered in this huge report. The possibility is that the Taliban had advanced notice from an inside source about this mission and were prepared. Don Brown is a highly skilled investigative attorney and he brought all his experience to the table in his investigation. The findings in this book will offend you, will shock you and will really make you angry. Those men that died were Americans. We are Americans. And we expect better from those that are in charge than cover-up and betrayal. Here is what I recommend: eat dinner early, go to the bathroom, make your popcorn and turn off all your phones. You are not going to want to be disturbed while you are reading and you will want to finish the book before you go to bed. All I can say is that you will be riveted as you flip pages as fast as you can read. You will not be disappointed. I think everyone should read this book. I recommend this book with enthusiasm.
If you missed the interview for “The Malacca Conspiracy”, a different series from Don Brown, and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Lyons Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: On August 6, 2011—three months after members of Navy SEAL Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden—Taliban forces took down a United States helicopter, call sign “Extortion 17.” The attack killed the Air National guard crew, seven unidentified members of the Afghan military, and seventeen members of Navy SEAL Team Six—warrior brothers from the same Team had killed Osama Bin Laden just ninety days prior.
Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer stationed at the Pentagon and a former Special Assistant United States Attorney, re-creates the wartime action, tells the life stories of the elite warriors our nation lost on that day, and tears apart the official military explanation of the incident contained in the infamous Colt Report, which reveals either gross incompetence or a massive cover-up.
Were the seven Afghan soldiers aboard that helicopter really undercover Taliban who either maneuvered the chopper within easy range of being shot down or sabotaged it from within? Were the SEALS sacrificed on the altar of political correctness and deliberately flown into a known Taliban hot zone? Through a serious examination of the evidence, and the lack thereof, Brown tackles the issues of the case as only an experienced military prosecutor can.
Marine General James Mattis ordered Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Colt to conduct an investigation of the shoot-down. That investigation resulted in a 1,250 page report. What is extraordinary is that this report did not report everything, was inaccurate and some of the information was misleading. Don Brown got his hands on this top-secret report and did an investigation of his own. That is when the questions began. Why were there different Afghan soldiers on board the helicopter that were not on the flight manifest? Why did they fly a combat mission with a non-combat copter that was used in the Vietnam War? Why were the whole team on board one helicopter? Question after question were raised and not answered in this huge report. The possibility is that the Taliban had advanced notice from an inside source about this mission and were prepared. Don Brown is a highly skilled investigative attorney and he brought all his experience to the table in his investigation. The findings in this book will offend you, will shock you and will really make you angry. Those men that died were Americans. We are Americans. And we expect better from those that are in charge than cover-up and betrayal. Here is what I recommend: eat dinner early, go to the bathroom, make your popcorn and turn off all your phones. You are not going to want to be disturbed while you are reading and you will want to finish the book before you go to bed. All I can say is that you will be riveted as you flip pages as fast as you can read. You will not be disappointed. I think everyone should read this book. I recommend this book with enthusiasm.
If you missed the interview for “The Malacca Conspiracy”, a different series from Don Brown, and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Lyons Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 21, 2016
Even in the beginning of the book, there are a couple of problems that are continually plaguing the story. First, I absolutely hate the usage of "quotes" to show a reader what an author means as that makes me feel like the author doesn't believe his or her audience can figure out what a word means or that there is special significance with it. Secondly, with what I have read, there is a LOT of saying something twice, again, for emphasis. The book is making me feel that Brown is either so upset with this story (and rightfully so) that he is overemphasizing statements by writing them two or three times or either he has written a blog and then converted it to a book without enough editing. It IS a story that needed to be told; it IS a story that should never have happened; and it IS abominable that those who gave Seal Team Six away went without punishment, along with the perpetrators. I do hope this book does well and informs and/or reminds individuals of how Seal Team Six and the others gave their lives to a situation that never should have happened. May God rest their souls.
February 19, 2016
Very technical, fiction may suit some, I hope others take an interest in fact.
January 21, 2025
Great book to read and would recommend the book to those in the military.
July 4, 2016
This was dry reading, yet interesting. We will likely never know the truth about Extortion 17
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews