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Operation Pineapple Express
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An edge-of-your-seat thriller about a group of retired Green Berets who come together to save a former comrade—and 500 other Afghans—being targeted by the Taliban in the chaos of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.In April 2021, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. The message was Get Nezam out of Afghanistan now. Nezam was part of the Afghan National Army’s first group of American-trained commandos; he passed through Fort Bragg’s legendary Q course and served alongside the US Special Forces for over a decade. But Afghanistan’s government and army were on the edge of collapse, and Nezam was receiving threatening texts from the Taliban. The message reached Nezam’s former commanding officer, retired Lt. Col. Scott Mann, who couldn’t face the idea of losing another soldier in the long War on Terror. Immediately, he sends out an SOS to a group of Afghan vets (Navy SEALs, Green Berets, CIA officers, USAID advisors). They all answer the call for one last mission. Operating out of basements and garages, Task Force Pineapple organizes an escape route for Nezam and gets him into hiding in Taliban-controlled Kabul. After many tense days, he braves the enemy checkpoints and the crowds of thousands blocking the airport gates. He finally makes it through the wire and into the American-held airport thanks to the frantic efforts of the Pineapple express, a relentless Congressional aide, and a US embassy official. Nezam is safe, but calls are coming in from all directions requesting help for other Afghan soldiers, interpreters, and at-risk women and children. Task Force Pineapple widens its scope—and ends up rescuing 500 more Afghans from Kabul in the three chaotic days before the ISIS-K suicide bombing. Operation Pineapple Express is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of service and loyalty amidst the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2022
292 people are currently reading
1124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 4, 2022
Damn! Operation Pineapple Express is an incredible nonfiction story that reads like a bestselling military action thriller. It would make a great movie. If you have any doubt that the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan was a giant shit show, READ THIS BOOK. And if you ever doubt that our U. S. military has produced some of the guttsiest, most honorable people anywhere on the planet, READ THIS BOOK.
In the aftermath of the twenty year war, we abandoned thousands of Afghan citizens and military that worked with us and fought alongside us. We broke our promises. We left them to the Taliban. It was disgraceful. Everyone knew it. After all other avenues failed to get our government to act, a small number of dedicated, highly skilled retired military special forces launched the rescue mission our government wouldn't, saving over 500 people from almost certain death. We lost thirteen of our own. When you are done reading, I hope you are moved to do something. There is more to be done. Use the power of your vote. Research and support organizations dedicated to supporting our soldiers here and abroad. Tell others to read Operation Pineapple Express. Don't ever forget.
I read a drc from the publisher via Netgalley. An audio version is also available. Published 8/30/22.
In the aftermath of the twenty year war, we abandoned thousands of Afghan citizens and military that worked with us and fought alongside us. We broke our promises. We left them to the Taliban. It was disgraceful. Everyone knew it. After all other avenues failed to get our government to act, a small number of dedicated, highly skilled retired military special forces launched the rescue mission our government wouldn't, saving over 500 people from almost certain death. We lost thirteen of our own. When you are done reading, I hope you are moved to do something. There is more to be done. Use the power of your vote. Research and support organizations dedicated to supporting our soldiers here and abroad. Tell others to read Operation Pineapple Express. Don't ever forget.
I read a drc from the publisher via Netgalley. An audio version is also available. Published 8/30/22.
May 7, 2023
Damn! Operation Pineapple Express is an incredible nonfiction story that reads like a bestselling military action thriller. It would make a great movie.
If you have any doubt that the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan was a giant shit show, READ THIS BOOK. And if you ever doubt that our U. S. military has produced some of the guttsiest, most honorable people anywhere on the planet, READ THIS BOOK. In the aftermath of the twenty year war, we abandoned thousands of Afghan citizens and military that worked with us and fought alongside us. We broke our promises. We left them to the Taliban. It was disgraceful. Everyone knew it. After all other avenues failed to get our government to act, a small number of dedicated, highly skilled military and ex-military launched the rescue mission our government wouldn't, saving over 500 people from almost certain death. We lost thirteen of our own. There is still much work to be done.
If you have any doubt that the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan was a giant shit show, READ THIS BOOK. And if you ever doubt that our U. S. military has produced some of the guttsiest, most honorable people anywhere on the planet, READ THIS BOOK. In the aftermath of the twenty year war, we abandoned thousands of Afghan citizens and military that worked with us and fought alongside us. We broke our promises. We left them to the Taliban. It was disgraceful. Everyone knew it. After all other avenues failed to get our government to act, a small number of dedicated, highly skilled military and ex-military launched the rescue mission our government wouldn't, saving over 500 people from almost certain death. We lost thirteen of our own. There is still much work to be done.
September 23, 2022
Yet another glaring example of how our Dem led government is failing our citizens and our allies. It’s not surprising they turned their back on Afghanistan. They’ve turned their backs on the safety and security of our own citizens by throwing open our border to traffickers of every kind and no doubt terrorists.
I’m so thankful this account exists. I’m more
thankful these true patriots exist.
I’m so thankful this account exists. I’m more
thankful these true patriots exist.
January 26, 2023
To preface my review, I am a military vet that served in Afghanistan. I worked with and befriended Afghans, and attempted to help them flee during the US exit. This story hit close to home for me and Scott’s words articulated emotions I haven’t been able to express about my experience.
The story is fast-paced and to the point. He provides enough context to help readers understand, but also has to be concise to get the full story told in a reasonable time frame. There were several times I found myself tense and engaged, like I was actually with him and his team trying to execute these plans.
I usually read actual books but listened to this one on Audible, I think listening to Scott tell the story made it more real and created a new level of intensity. This books helps connect the reader to real, actual Afghans and their humanity… this isn’t fiction. Listening to the story knowing every single person in the book lived these experiences is a bit… horrifying. It’s devastating. These people are now carrying invisible loads that could’ve been prevented.
The epilogue really brought it home for me and laid out what I’ve been carrying since this experience. I called every contact I could think of, and worked tirelessly with distant military connections over Signal to try to get my interpreter out, unsuccessfully. Our US “team” of people who have never met still carries the guilt of not being able to fulfill a commitment to get our team member and his family out.
What a frustrating failure of leadership, and what a waste of an opportunity to gather some bright minds and exit the right way. Thanks to this author for doing something to hold those responsible accountable, and for helping those of us left with confusion and guilt process some of our emotions on the subject.
The story is fast-paced and to the point. He provides enough context to help readers understand, but also has to be concise to get the full story told in a reasonable time frame. There were several times I found myself tense and engaged, like I was actually with him and his team trying to execute these plans.
I usually read actual books but listened to this one on Audible, I think listening to Scott tell the story made it more real and created a new level of intensity. This books helps connect the reader to real, actual Afghans and their humanity… this isn’t fiction. Listening to the story knowing every single person in the book lived these experiences is a bit… horrifying. It’s devastating. These people are now carrying invisible loads that could’ve been prevented.
The epilogue really brought it home for me and laid out what I’ve been carrying since this experience. I called every contact I could think of, and worked tirelessly with distant military connections over Signal to try to get my interpreter out, unsuccessfully. Our US “team” of people who have never met still carries the guilt of not being able to fulfill a commitment to get our team member and his family out.
What a frustrating failure of leadership, and what a waste of an opportunity to gather some bright minds and exit the right way. Thanks to this author for doing something to hold those responsible accountable, and for helping those of us left with confusion and guilt process some of our emotions on the subject.
December 20, 2024
In 2021 the United States was planning on leaving Afghanistan and as it was happening the Taliban became stronger and more dangerous and the former Afghan government began to collapse. As the collapse happened those Afghans who had helped the US government were in grievous danger.
When Nezam a former member of the Afghan National Army who had trained in the United States reached out to his former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott Mann, Mann worked to get him out of Afghanistan.
When this operation was successful, the many people in the US who were involved decided to continue working together to get as many endangered people out of Afghanistan as possible.
This is an amazing and nail-biting story. There were so many people involved and it reads like a thriller. Mann has thankfully provided a list of characters, but even so it was a bit difficult to keep them all straight.
The story was told chronologically, but I could imagine it told as individual stories as well.
If you have been at all interested in finding out more about the exit from Afghanistan this is a good book to start with.
When Nezam a former member of the Afghan National Army who had trained in the United States reached out to his former commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott Mann, Mann worked to get him out of Afghanistan.
When this operation was successful, the many people in the US who were involved decided to continue working together to get as many endangered people out of Afghanistan as possible.
This is an amazing and nail-biting story. There were so many people involved and it reads like a thriller. Mann has thankfully provided a list of characters, but even so it was a bit difficult to keep them all straight.
The story was told chronologically, but I could imagine it told as individual stories as well.
If you have been at all interested in finding out more about the exit from Afghanistan this is a good book to start with.
May 4, 2023
Whew, this was so hard to read. It’s well written and obviously deals with a terribly difficult topic. It’s covers some really important factors both in the US soldiers and the fall of Afghanistan, the politics, etc. I’d recommend the read, but be ready mentally for it. Would make a great book group book if your group can avoid political fights.
February 3, 2023
“Leaving these guys in the wind is also a massive national security threat.”
How an ad hoc rescue of one threatened Afghan morphed into an underground railroad which saved hundreds of Afghan men, women, and children from Taliban retribution as the United States of America deserted them. Told in third person by a key player in the exfiltration miracle worked by dozens of Americans operating without official support—in fact, occasionally despite official impediment.
“It appeared as if the entire Afghan special operations community was being abandoned. There was zero will among senior leaders to intervene on behalf of partner forces.”
Plenty of blame to spread over four presidential administrations. Our politicians live in a bubble of fantasy that their words alter reality. The language and emotions are raw. Sometimes unnecessarily so, but the author was armpit deep in the trauma.
“‘This was the greatest airlift in American history.’ [said General Mark Milley] In an instant Scott realized this was nothing more than political theater. Legacy damage control. Every ounce of hope he had felt coming in drained away. The buck had been passed—and saluted. This whole thing was bullshit.”
From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs down, we turned our backs on people who had kept our people alive in the field for twenty years. Ignoring not only a moral obligation but also potential compromise of the inner workings of American special operations.
“Much of the trust in our political administrations, diplomacy, and security has been damaged by the ‘forever war’ in Afghanistan and in the botched withdrawal from it.”
If America hadn’t deserted Afghanistan in 2021, would Russia have invaded Ukraine in 2022?
“You’re wasting time with these lists that State keeps asking for. They’re going into a black hole. The only thing that’s working is the ad hoc groups.”
How an ad hoc rescue of one threatened Afghan morphed into an underground railroad which saved hundreds of Afghan men, women, and children from Taliban retribution as the United States of America deserted them. Told in third person by a key player in the exfiltration miracle worked by dozens of Americans operating without official support—in fact, occasionally despite official impediment.
“It appeared as if the entire Afghan special operations community was being abandoned. There was zero will among senior leaders to intervene on behalf of partner forces.”
Plenty of blame to spread over four presidential administrations. Our politicians live in a bubble of fantasy that their words alter reality. The language and emotions are raw. Sometimes unnecessarily so, but the author was armpit deep in the trauma.
“‘This was the greatest airlift in American history.’ [said General Mark Milley] In an instant Scott realized this was nothing more than political theater. Legacy damage control. Every ounce of hope he had felt coming in drained away. The buck had been passed—and saluted. This whole thing was bullshit.”
From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs down, we turned our backs on people who had kept our people alive in the field for twenty years. Ignoring not only a moral obligation but also potential compromise of the inner workings of American special operations.
“Much of the trust in our political administrations, diplomacy, and security has been damaged by the ‘forever war’ in Afghanistan and in the botched withdrawal from it.”
If America hadn’t deserted Afghanistan in 2021, would Russia have invaded Ukraine in 2022?
“You’re wasting time with these lists that State keeps asking for. They’re going into a black hole. The only thing that’s working is the ad hoc groups.”
September 30, 2022
Excellent read. An indictment of the grossly inept biden administration from page 1 to the end.
June 19, 2023
As a daughter of a green beret special operative that served in Afghanistan and a former military member myself, this entire event was hard to live through.
Scott Mann is a retired Green Beret who puts his experiences with the aftermath into words that salt the wounds of this travesty. Decisions were made with little consideration to many things outside American political news bullets for short-term appeasement to those who prefer to be force-fed opinion pieces instead of thinking for themselves.
The damage done is immeasurable. I felt sick inside when this happened. I felt empty. I felt like so much was wasted from decades of work and lives that were given in body, mind, and spirit. It is hard to have served with any allied nation that had any impact on this country, or even if you just interacted with someone who did, you have had a personal touch with this feat of monumental proportions.
This was a hard book to read/listen to. The epilogue tears open old wounds and even creates fresh new ones. I wouldn't consider this to be a great book to read if you are in a delicate mental state or have any sort of PTSD from the military.
And yet, Mann did what he could to continue to add a voice to those who have yet to be heard. It was painful, but it was necessary.
5 Stars.
Scott Mann is a retired Green Beret who puts his experiences with the aftermath into words that salt the wounds of this travesty. Decisions were made with little consideration to many things outside American political news bullets for short-term appeasement to those who prefer to be force-fed opinion pieces instead of thinking for themselves.
The damage done is immeasurable. I felt sick inside when this happened. I felt empty. I felt like so much was wasted from decades of work and lives that were given in body, mind, and spirit. It is hard to have served with any allied nation that had any impact on this country, or even if you just interacted with someone who did, you have had a personal touch with this feat of monumental proportions.
This was a hard book to read/listen to. The epilogue tears open old wounds and even creates fresh new ones. I wouldn't consider this to be a great book to read if you are in a delicate mental state or have any sort of PTSD from the military.
And yet, Mann did what he could to continue to add a voice to those who have yet to be heard. It was painful, but it was necessary.
5 Stars.
November 26, 2022
I stopped reading this book. I only read about 40%. There was too much offensive language for me. I found the story interesting and the language was probable realistic but I have made a commitment not to listen to such language if I do not have to and I don't have to read this book. I gave it 3 stars because I liked it except for the offensive language.
July 13, 2023
This is a remarkable story. No doubt about it. A two-star book about a five-star story. My recommendation would be to read an article about the event instead of spending hours reading this book. You’d get the same impressions in a fraction of the time.
This might throw my intellect down the drain, but the books words were just too wordy. It didn’t use big, “brainy” words, but it just had so many acronyms, titles, names of characters, corporations, company names, and so on. It was distracting to read and impossible to keep up with every single character. (There’s actually a list of characters that is four pages long at the beginning of the book.) I freely admit that it is a matter of personal opinion that I did not enjoy the specific details of the book. Another reader would love the small, intimate details. I don’t think I’m interested enough in the event to want all of the information it provided. I realize that might sound privileged, and I don’t mean to suggest that I didn’t want ANY of the information, I just didn’t need all of it.
Also, the story is written strictly through actions. There is very little thought or reflection, which caused me to lose interest.
This might throw my intellect down the drain, but the books words were just too wordy. It didn’t use big, “brainy” words, but it just had so many acronyms, titles, names of characters, corporations, company names, and so on. It was distracting to read and impossible to keep up with every single character. (There’s actually a list of characters that is four pages long at the beginning of the book.) I freely admit that it is a matter of personal opinion that I did not enjoy the specific details of the book. Another reader would love the small, intimate details. I don’t think I’m interested enough in the event to want all of the information it provided. I realize that might sound privileged, and I don’t mean to suggest that I didn’t want ANY of the information, I just didn’t need all of it.
Also, the story is written strictly through actions. There is very little thought or reflection, which caused me to lose interest.
October 17, 2022
For anyone close to the Afghanistan problem set, this is a hard read. Failures abound at all levels but this book highlights the extraordinary efforts of a small group of committed individuals that moved mountains to evacuate Afghan partners out of the country. I look forward to a more exhaustive and systematic review of the events leading tk and surrounding the evacuation of and withdrawal from Afghanistan.
January 16, 2023
DNF says “f”word
October 15, 2024
A book everyone should read about retired special operations soldiers and others stepping in to keep their promises during the final days of the draw down in Afghanistan. It will make you equally proud of our service members and their families and mad at how it was left to them.
August 7, 2025
This may be the best book I have ever read completely changing the way I look at conflict in the Middle East. This book should be taught in schools and read by everyone.
June 4, 2024
The fall of Afghanistan will certainly go down in history as a scourge on our country. How our government treated our allies is/was despicable- leaving thousands, targeted by the taliban, to fend for themselves as best they can. Thank you to our valiant heroes who did what they could to rescue those they could.
March 27, 2024
At a time when West Point is considering dropping “Duty, Honer, Country “ from their motto and most of the Federal Government and upper ranks of the military have already removed those concepts from their lives, it is good to see they still live on in some of our countrymen.
November 18, 2022
Most can agree on keeping our promises, compassion, loyalty to others like our bosses, or a higher power, honor and respect. It's been a couple of weeks since finishing Operation Pineapple Express written by Lt. Col. Scott Mann( Ret.). How could such a book impact one so much? Through relationships. Through human connection and compassion. Commonality with a newfound phrase " backpack man".
After reading one woman's journey I highly recommend this book be immediately added to all high schools, colleges, and universities. Think " Me Too !" Think #survivor, #womens studies, #professors, #educators, #psychology, #mental health.
Operation Pineapple Express, delivers many insightful moments, quotes, memories, and testimony. Two of my favorite lines are the following because after reading them they gave me goosebumps, " Be as ready as possible for the worst day of your life" and " Bullets were still a necessity but tea was better ammunition." Lastly, a most tender line or prayer, comes from the same woman mentioned above, " You are my sixth brother. I pray for your long life with dignity. I pray that even the wind does not touch you".
There is a central theme of " throwing rank on the table" as also found in Stu Scheller's book Crisis of Command. These books must be read together. There is an agreement and an aguish, many left wondering what just happened ? and Who will ever be held accountable ?
I love the tactical approach real leaders like Scott Mann make and his description of the
"scheme of maneuver", it makes this book valuable to ANYONE in a leadership role. I want to acknowledge the stigma of mental health. Again, this is one man's story imagine how many others there are, it begs one to want to do more for our Veterans.
So why read this book ? Why did I finish it in just two days? Well, first because someone dear to me told me to do so. He holds three purple hearts. If it mattered to him, I knew I had to pick it up. I didn't expect it would be so hard to put down. Lastly, this is a brief list of matters/ issues/ Scott Mann unfolds, expresses and ties together: human decency, character, treasure, protection, quality prayers, moral responsibility, corruption, grudge of betrayal, accountability, strategic social capital, moral injury, courage and tenacious hope.
After reading one woman's journey I highly recommend this book be immediately added to all high schools, colleges, and universities. Think " Me Too !" Think #survivor, #womens studies, #professors, #educators, #psychology, #mental health.
Operation Pineapple Express, delivers many insightful moments, quotes, memories, and testimony. Two of my favorite lines are the following because after reading them they gave me goosebumps, " Be as ready as possible for the worst day of your life" and " Bullets were still a necessity but tea was better ammunition." Lastly, a most tender line or prayer, comes from the same woman mentioned above, " You are my sixth brother. I pray for your long life with dignity. I pray that even the wind does not touch you".
There is a central theme of " throwing rank on the table" as also found in Stu Scheller's book Crisis of Command. These books must be read together. There is an agreement and an aguish, many left wondering what just happened ? and Who will ever be held accountable ?
I love the tactical approach real leaders like Scott Mann make and his description of the
"scheme of maneuver", it makes this book valuable to ANYONE in a leadership role. I want to acknowledge the stigma of mental health. Again, this is one man's story imagine how many others there are, it begs one to want to do more for our Veterans.
So why read this book ? Why did I finish it in just two days? Well, first because someone dear to me told me to do so. He holds three purple hearts. If it mattered to him, I knew I had to pick it up. I didn't expect it would be so hard to put down. Lastly, this is a brief list of matters/ issues/ Scott Mann unfolds, expresses and ties together: human decency, character, treasure, protection, quality prayers, moral responsibility, corruption, grudge of betrayal, accountability, strategic social capital, moral injury, courage and tenacious hope.
October 15, 2022
(3.75 rounded to 4.0)
Military memoirs are always compelling. The first person recount of details and reflection on the outcomes of the emissions. Similar to “13 Hours”, “Flight 93,” “The Only Plane in the Sky”, which provided the minute by minute accounting of what was accomplished, successes and failures, and who was responsible. These books are usually written from the vantage point of the people on the ground not one or more degrees removed. The people are dedicated and devoted to working for a cause hey believe is bigger than themselves.
This book tells the story of retired Special Forces operatives, retired and active duty Navy Seals, Green Berets, CIA officers, USAID advisors, embassy officials and Department of State personnel band together to organize one of the largest , most complex, voluntary rescue missions in modern times to get the Afghanistan collaborators, who over the last twenty years have worked side by side with US personnel, out before the fall. Operating out of basements, garages, on personal computers and cell phones, the men and women of Task Force Pineapple Express work to design an escape plan for Afghan soldiers, interpreters, at-risk women and children who are not on the priority list of evacuees of the CIA, US Department of State and current military and political leadership.
This book tells the story of the last two weeks prior to the US Withdrawal. It points out the failures of government to keep all of its promises and pledges to those who were most at risk for helping the US personnel. Operation Pineapple Express used an old method (Harriet Tubman) to outwit some of the. Current methods. Together they “shepherded” more than 600 people out of certain danger and death. I found this account riveting. I admired the devotion and dedication of each person to the people around them. Recommend to readers of works about Afghanistan, war, military.
Military memoirs are always compelling. The first person recount of details and reflection on the outcomes of the emissions. Similar to “13 Hours”, “Flight 93,” “The Only Plane in the Sky”, which provided the minute by minute accounting of what was accomplished, successes and failures, and who was responsible. These books are usually written from the vantage point of the people on the ground not one or more degrees removed. The people are dedicated and devoted to working for a cause hey believe is bigger than themselves.
This book tells the story of retired Special Forces operatives, retired and active duty Navy Seals, Green Berets, CIA officers, USAID advisors, embassy officials and Department of State personnel band together to organize one of the largest , most complex, voluntary rescue missions in modern times to get the Afghanistan collaborators, who over the last twenty years have worked side by side with US personnel, out before the fall. Operating out of basements, garages, on personal computers and cell phones, the men and women of Task Force Pineapple Express work to design an escape plan for Afghan soldiers, interpreters, at-risk women and children who are not on the priority list of evacuees of the CIA, US Department of State and current military and political leadership.
This book tells the story of the last two weeks prior to the US Withdrawal. It points out the failures of government to keep all of its promises and pledges to those who were most at risk for helping the US personnel. Operation Pineapple Express used an old method (Harriet Tubman) to outwit some of the. Current methods. Together they “shepherded” more than 600 people out of certain danger and death. I found this account riveting. I admired the devotion and dedication of each person to the people around them. Recommend to readers of works about Afghanistan, war, military.
December 6, 2022
Operation Pineapple Express is a heartbreaking and heartwarming account that tales three stories throughout the book in one smoothly flowing, edge of your seat timeline.
The first story is that of the colossal failure and betrayal at the hands of the United States government, turning its back on the promises it made over 20 years of armed conflict in Afghanistan. The brave Afghans who risked everything fighting alongside and assisting our forces were simply cast aside as politically insignificant pawns.
The second story follows a group of deeply wounded and conflicted combat veterans, as well as a few other individual government workers, who could not and would not stand idly by as their government betrayed the very people it had promised to protect. They banded together and set up an incredible network amongst the chaos and uncertainty to keep the promises they had made to their brothers and sisters in arms throughout their careers deploying to Afghanistan.
The final story of this book is the sheer chaos of those final days throughout Afghanistan, in Kabul and at HKIA; the bravery and desperation of the Afghans seeking a better life, the returning brutality of an oppressive Taliban regime, and the selflessness and morality of the individual U.S. troops on the ground.
Operation Pineapple Express highlights the incredible call to arms by a group of individuals that refused to turn their backs on a sacred oath. It is an inside look into one of the greatest blunders in our generation, one we watched play out on headline news programs across the globe. Task Force Pineapple’s heroics saved countless lives amongst our coalition partner community and kept a promise that should never have been jeopardized.
The first story is that of the colossal failure and betrayal at the hands of the United States government, turning its back on the promises it made over 20 years of armed conflict in Afghanistan. The brave Afghans who risked everything fighting alongside and assisting our forces were simply cast aside as politically insignificant pawns.
The second story follows a group of deeply wounded and conflicted combat veterans, as well as a few other individual government workers, who could not and would not stand idly by as their government betrayed the very people it had promised to protect. They banded together and set up an incredible network amongst the chaos and uncertainty to keep the promises they had made to their brothers and sisters in arms throughout their careers deploying to Afghanistan.
The final story of this book is the sheer chaos of those final days throughout Afghanistan, in Kabul and at HKIA; the bravery and desperation of the Afghans seeking a better life, the returning brutality of an oppressive Taliban regime, and the selflessness and morality of the individual U.S. troops on the ground.
Operation Pineapple Express highlights the incredible call to arms by a group of individuals that refused to turn their backs on a sacred oath. It is an inside look into one of the greatest blunders in our generation, one we watched play out on headline news programs across the globe. Task Force Pineapple’s heroics saved countless lives amongst our coalition partner community and kept a promise that should never have been jeopardized.
December 11, 2022
“When government failed our partners in Afghanistan, the best of America showed up.” - This is a paraphrase of what one participant in the Pineapple Express says towards the end of this excellent book and boy is it true.
In the last days of the US in Afghanistan, the US government, the State Department, and the Department of Defense were all working together to rescue those in Afghanistan and their families who had risked their lives for United States forces, right? Eh, no. Far from it and we discover from this book,that portions of the DOD and State were actively working against these people, especially those who had helped out our Special Forces soldiers like the Green Beret.
In stepped an ad hoc group of ex-Green Berets, current government officials working on their own (in some cases anonymously lest the government find out) and active duty soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan to rescue these people who were (and are) at risk from the Taliban. What they accomplish with little to no support from the government is truly amazing and these men and women truly were “the best of America.”
The government? The state department? The DOD? This is one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the US government where promises were broken to people who had served our country at high risk to themselves and their families. The government basically abandoned them and in some cases actively worked against saving them. Unbelievable.
Great book and it’s heartening to know that the best men and women in America were willing to step in and work to save lives when the US government was not.
In the last days of the US in Afghanistan, the US government, the State Department, and the Department of Defense were all working together to rescue those in Afghanistan and their families who had risked their lives for United States forces, right? Eh, no. Far from it and we discover from this book,that portions of the DOD and State were actively working against these people, especially those who had helped out our Special Forces soldiers like the Green Beret.
In stepped an ad hoc group of ex-Green Berets, current government officials working on their own (in some cases anonymously lest the government find out) and active duty soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan to rescue these people who were (and are) at risk from the Taliban. What they accomplish with little to no support from the government is truly amazing and these men and women truly were “the best of America.”
The government? The state department? The DOD? This is one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the US government where promises were broken to people who had served our country at high risk to themselves and their families. The government basically abandoned them and in some cases actively worked against saving them. Unbelievable.
Great book and it’s heartening to know that the best men and women in America were willing to step in and work to save lives when the US government was not.
October 8, 2022
Narrated by the author, this book shares some of the details leading up to and following the US extraction from Afghanistan in late summer 2021. It is shocking, sad and heartwarming. A group of veterans including the author Scott Mann, band together to help select Afghans leave Afghanistan.
Foul language.
Foul language.
September 11, 2022
EVERY American should read this book about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan last year. The media was so misleading on what actually happened. This is a true story about some very brave people.
February 23, 2024
Afghanistan will always have my heart and reading this was a roller coaster of emotions.
March 4, 2024
I'm very conflicted on this book thus have taken a few days to process it before writing. Having spent a year in Afghanistan, I am invested in part with what happened there. I operated mostly at the operational/strategic level however, while the author and his buddies were mostly handling tactical missions... with obviously a strategic aim being in the Special Forces. Since they had that very personal experience I can understand their angst throughout the book with how the mission in Afghanistan (AFG) ended.
I am a bit of a realist and thus state that regardless of when the AFG mission ended, and irrespective of who was in the Oval Office at the time, the place was going to fall like a house of cards. My buddies saw this in 2015. We were constantly questioning the money being spent on capabilities in the AFG military and civilian bureaucracy, but the money was spent. President Trump signed a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban without informing or included the AFG government, and with a specific withdrawal date; very dumb. President Biden had to execute the withdrawal from the previous administration, and obviously it could have been conducted much better. I've personally questioned for years why HKIA was the last base standing vs Bagram. Saw both places; Bagram was a far less populated area in which to take the flag down for the last time.
I understand why our senior leaders tried to proclaim the withdrawal as a success; there were many tactical/personal successes... but ultimately the U.S. ended the mission and 20 years of work produced very little. Many presidents are to blame for this. I still question if then VP Biden was right way back at the beginning of the Obama presidency when Biden advocated for a targeted SF based mission vs a larger troop surge. I wonder what insight he had back then, what info he had that proved his instincts correct... and yet that wasn't the course of action approved by Obama and the generals.
The author did write an excellent book. It was very informative and the reader definitely feels the passion that the civilian leaders of Operation Pineapple had in trying to rescue our allies in AFG. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but I wonder if this book has resulted in some of my recent restless nights thus AFG veterans should be careful when reading.
While the leaders of Operation Pineapple pass blame to many, to include the 82nd ABN DIV soldiers sent in to assist in the non-combatant evacuation (NEO), I think those leaders and soldiers did the very best they could in an impossible situation.
When the author described the multi-week chaos at the gates of HKIA over many chapters, I wonder what such an operation would be like today. As I've been watching the "flying IED" drones being used in the war between Russian and Ukraine, I wonder if in a present day NEO the soldiers on the last line of defense would have an additional enemy threat to counter. Again, seems like an impossible mission.
I am a bit of a realist and thus state that regardless of when the AFG mission ended, and irrespective of who was in the Oval Office at the time, the place was going to fall like a house of cards. My buddies saw this in 2015. We were constantly questioning the money being spent on capabilities in the AFG military and civilian bureaucracy, but the money was spent. President Trump signed a withdrawal agreement with the Taliban without informing or included the AFG government, and with a specific withdrawal date; very dumb. President Biden had to execute the withdrawal from the previous administration, and obviously it could have been conducted much better. I've personally questioned for years why HKIA was the last base standing vs Bagram. Saw both places; Bagram was a far less populated area in which to take the flag down for the last time.
I understand why our senior leaders tried to proclaim the withdrawal as a success; there were many tactical/personal successes... but ultimately the U.S. ended the mission and 20 years of work produced very little. Many presidents are to blame for this. I still question if then VP Biden was right way back at the beginning of the Obama presidency when Biden advocated for a targeted SF based mission vs a larger troop surge. I wonder what insight he had back then, what info he had that proved his instincts correct... and yet that wasn't the course of action approved by Obama and the generals.
The author did write an excellent book. It was very informative and the reader definitely feels the passion that the civilian leaders of Operation Pineapple had in trying to rescue our allies in AFG. I'd recommend this book to anyone, but I wonder if this book has resulted in some of my recent restless nights thus AFG veterans should be careful when reading.
While the leaders of Operation Pineapple pass blame to many, to include the 82nd ABN DIV soldiers sent in to assist in the non-combatant evacuation (NEO), I think those leaders and soldiers did the very best they could in an impossible situation.
When the author described the multi-week chaos at the gates of HKIA over many chapters, I wonder what such an operation would be like today. As I've been watching the "flying IED" drones being used in the war between Russian and Ukraine, I wonder if in a present day NEO the soldiers on the last line of defense would have an additional enemy threat to counter. Again, seems like an impossible mission.
April 27, 2024
This book tells the story of a Herculean effort by volunteer veterans and other civilians to help get people out of Afghanistan in the midst of the crumbling government and military of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 during the lead up to the US withdrawal. The first part of the book tracks Nezam a former special operations Afghan soldier who partnered closely with Army Green Berets over many years. He reached out to Retired Lt Colonel Scott Mann who assembled a group of people both in the US as well as on the ground to help him get out as the Taliban was taking over. Much of the book reads like a thriller but was a retelling of the actual events.
As the book develops there are numerous vignettes of others attempting to escape the country and the volunteer and active duty teams assisting them which were scaled up beyond just helping one person. They named the task force Pineapple Express which was partly based on the code word they used and partly a an allusion to the Underground Railroad that Harriet Tubman led to help people escape slavery. While it added a sense of the massive effort by the volunteer community, from a narrative perspective the multiple story lines made it a little challenging to follow everything.
The desperation of people trying to leave the country was indicative of the oppressive treatment they had experienced previously and feared from the Taliban. Many people were beaten and brazenly killed including women and children.
For those who remember the news around that time, while many people were evacuated there seemed to be a massive mismanagement of the withdrawal and betrayal of important Afghan partners in not helping them escape despite being valuable allies. In the epilogue, Mann asks many hard questions about both military and political leadership. While it can come across as having an ax to grind, it does give a sense of the emotional let down and real consequences to both the military veterans and local Afghans who bore the weight of missteps and unwise decisions of leadership.
Other notes include that there was a substantial amount of military acronyms which for civilians could be harder to track though there was a glossary in the back to define them. There’s also quite a bit of profanity though out. It’s a hard story to read emotionally but there’s a sense of thankfulness and future hope for the people they were able to help escape.
As the book develops there are numerous vignettes of others attempting to escape the country and the volunteer and active duty teams assisting them which were scaled up beyond just helping one person. They named the task force Pineapple Express which was partly based on the code word they used and partly a an allusion to the Underground Railroad that Harriet Tubman led to help people escape slavery. While it added a sense of the massive effort by the volunteer community, from a narrative perspective the multiple story lines made it a little challenging to follow everything.
The desperation of people trying to leave the country was indicative of the oppressive treatment they had experienced previously and feared from the Taliban. Many people were beaten and brazenly killed including women and children.
For those who remember the news around that time, while many people were evacuated there seemed to be a massive mismanagement of the withdrawal and betrayal of important Afghan partners in not helping them escape despite being valuable allies. In the epilogue, Mann asks many hard questions about both military and political leadership. While it can come across as having an ax to grind, it does give a sense of the emotional let down and real consequences to both the military veterans and local Afghans who bore the weight of missteps and unwise decisions of leadership.
Other notes include that there was a substantial amount of military acronyms which for civilians could be harder to track though there was a glossary in the back to define them. There’s also quite a bit of profanity though out. It’s a hard story to read emotionally but there’s a sense of thankfulness and future hope for the people they were able to help escape.
December 29, 2023
This story gets five stars although the book only garners three. It is the account of the heroic efforts of former U.S. military and government personnel during one of the most shameful episodes by the U.S. administration in recent memory. President Trump had reached a peace accord with the Taliban in Afghanistan and then President Biden suddenly and abruptly withdrew from that country leaving thousands of American citizens and Afghans who had assisted the decades-long war efforts without any recourse and facing the cruel and violent rule of the Taliban left governing the country in the aftermath.
Scott Mann is the book's author and himself helped navigate command operations of the so-called Pineapple Express from his home in Tampa, Florida. Together with others who had contacts in Afghanistan, this loosely affiliated network coordinated efforts to shepherd scores of individuals and families to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul where they were fished out of crowds seeking to escape the forthcoming terror at the hands of Taliban which would fatefully ensue following the retrograde departure of U.S. officials.
The books is a real page-turner filled with real-life suspense and painstaking uncertainty about who would stay and who would go. The Pineapple Express developed a reputation as effective navigators and operatives and drew the attention of General Mark Milley who called Mann for a meeting in Washington, D.C., which the latter assumed would result in pledges for support and ongoing resources to complete the job the U.S. had left behind. Sadly, Milley instead proclaimed a stunning airlift victory in a spin on history intended to justify himself and other careerists who cared more about their own livelihoods and legacies than the truth.
This was a vivid but sad reminder that the U.S. has let down its allies and signaled that it cannot be relied upon, let alone that its own power and moral authority on the world stage are in decline.
Scott Mann is the book's author and himself helped navigate command operations of the so-called Pineapple Express from his home in Tampa, Florida. Together with others who had contacts in Afghanistan, this loosely affiliated network coordinated efforts to shepherd scores of individuals and families to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul where they were fished out of crowds seeking to escape the forthcoming terror at the hands of Taliban which would fatefully ensue following the retrograde departure of U.S. officials.
The books is a real page-turner filled with real-life suspense and painstaking uncertainty about who would stay and who would go. The Pineapple Express developed a reputation as effective navigators and operatives and drew the attention of General Mark Milley who called Mann for a meeting in Washington, D.C., which the latter assumed would result in pledges for support and ongoing resources to complete the job the U.S. had left behind. Sadly, Milley instead proclaimed a stunning airlift victory in a spin on history intended to justify himself and other careerists who cared more about their own livelihoods and legacies than the truth.
This was a vivid but sad reminder that the U.S. has let down its allies and signaled that it cannot be relied upon, let alone that its own power and moral authority on the world stage are in decline.
July 22, 2024
This book about the atrocious Biden administration leaving thousands of partner Afghans behind was infuriating. Our utterly worthless Defense Secretary and piece of shit General Milley made no effort to secure Hamid Karzai airport properly in order to get key personnel out of the country. With the asshole terrorist Taliban taking over the country anyone special forces or pro American forced being left behind was a death sentence; in all likelihood by torture. Meanwhile Isis K was preparing a massive suicide bomb that would later result in the deaths of 13 US soldiers. The same soldiers that piece of shit Joe Biden would be caught looking at his watch when the bodies were returned home. In order to get as many Afghans out before time ran out Colonel Scott Man formed a private non government group called you guessed it The “Pineapple Express” which managed to get several hundred compromised people and their families out of Afghanistan before time ran out. This effort was done with zero help or support from our turd government. In fact at times they blocked the Pineapple Express when it was being too effective. Meanwhile our southern border is letting in terrorists. Ironic I finish this book on the day the shit stain in Chief announces he is not seeking re-election. Good. This country and many others including Afghanistan have suffered enough with this turd in charge. Read this book but be prepared to get pissed off.
November 9, 2022
The Afghanistan conflict has defined my generation. I am one of a handful of graduates of the class of 1999 from a military school system for children of military families to have not enlisted or been given a commission in the Armed Forces of the United States. I chose a different path as a historian. Unfortunately, the leadership of the military has repeated the same tragic lessons of Iraq and Vietnam. We fight the war poorly from a strategic place of weakness and pass all the blame down the chain of command as well as the suffering. While I watched those poor people literally falling from the wheel well of C-17s taking off from Hamid Karzai International Airport all I could do was feel shame as well as gratitude that my father had retired and that my wife and friends had not been called to help facilitate the pull-out or N.E.O. as it is called. This was a real factor for my wife at least due to her flying platform. It also made me think of one of my oldest friends who was stationed at al-Asad airbase in Iraq which was overtaken by ISIS after he left, and the doubt that he had as to the purpose of him being there. I will not pass judgment upon civilian or military leadership in this review. I will allow history to do that as well as the conscience of those that made the decisions that caused this humanitarian catastrophe.
February 23, 2024
“There is little doubt that the Afghan evacuation failed, in part, to decisions made at the highest level of our government: President Trump’s wrong-headed peace deal with the Taliban where he excluded the Afghan government and our allies, President Biden’s inept withdrawal plan…” Lt. Col. Scott Mann
After having invested 20 years in Afghanistan, with more than 800,000 Americans having served in the country and close to 2,500 Americans having paid the ultimate price for the invasion of the nation in 2001, the US recklessly abandoned it all and betrayed thousands of Afghan special operation forces and they families in the summer of 2021. All this has ended as irresponsibly as it had begun.
If the US could have done it to Afghanistan, is there any wonder for a waning interest in supporting Ukraine? Ukraine situation is vastly different from Afghanistan and under a decisive and swift leaderships of NATO, a lid could’ve been firmly and quickly placed on russian aggression. But again, American dawdling and vacillating (with outright GOP opposition to continuing support of Ukraine as of late) are not surprising at all, even though it goes completely against American self-interests. If Russia wins, the US will become isolated as the EU will fall apart and Russia-China union will corner the one-time great nation.
After having invested 20 years in Afghanistan, with more than 800,000 Americans having served in the country and close to 2,500 Americans having paid the ultimate price for the invasion of the nation in 2001, the US recklessly abandoned it all and betrayed thousands of Afghan special operation forces and they families in the summer of 2021. All this has ended as irresponsibly as it had begun.
If the US could have done it to Afghanistan, is there any wonder for a waning interest in supporting Ukraine? Ukraine situation is vastly different from Afghanistan and under a decisive and swift leaderships of NATO, a lid could’ve been firmly and quickly placed on russian aggression. But again, American dawdling and vacillating (with outright GOP opposition to continuing support of Ukraine as of late) are not surprising at all, even though it goes completely against American self-interests. If Russia wins, the US will become isolated as the EU will fall apart and Russia-China union will corner the one-time great nation.
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