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Lead book review

Do the Americans know who they’re fighting in Afghanistan — or why?

3 February 2018

9:00 AM

3 February 2018

9:00 AM

Early every morning through the spring of 2002, US troops at Bagram airfield on the Shomali plains north of Kabul assembled on a makeshift parade ground. After the daily briefing, an officer announced the number of days since 9/11, read a short obituary of a victim of the attack and reminded the troops of their mission: to capture or kill those responsible for the worst terrorist strike ever in the US.

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