Operation Snakebite: The Explosive True Story of an Afghan Desert Siege [Hardcover]

Magnificent... the fear, the courage, the uncertainty and the sheer mayhem of two days intensive fighting is frequently more vivid than any film (Misha Glenny Misha Glenny, Mail on Sunday 20090518)

Superb, fast-paced. Captures the grit and the gore, the exhaustion and emotion, the killing and the dying (Raymond Bonner Raymond Bonner, The Guardian 20090801)

This is an uncommonly vivid portrait of battle, matched by sharp investigation of purposes, intrigues and cock-ups... Grey's descriptions of firefights are exemplary (Max Hastings Max Hastings, Sunday Times 20090518)

A fascinating insight... a catalogue of doubt, criticism and anger (David Crouch David Crouch, Financial Times )

A gripping and moving account (Dr Rodney Atwood Dr Rodney Atwood, Soldier Magazine )

An exceptional piece of reportage (Michael Smith Michael Smith, New Statesman )

'An uncommonly vivid portrait of battle, matched by sharp investigation of purposes, intrigues and cock-ups.'

In December 2007, Stephen Grey, a Sunday Times reporter, was under fire in Afghanistan as British and US forces struggled to liberate the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala. Taking shelter behind an American armoured Humvee, Grey turned his head to witness scenes of carnage. A car and a truck were riddled with gunfire. Their occupants, including several children, had died. Taliban positions were pounded by bullets and bombs dropped on their compounds. A day later, as the operation continued, a mine exploded just yards from Grey, killing a British soldier.

Who, he wondered in the days that followed, was responsible for the bloodshed? And what purpose did it serve? A compelling story of one military venture that lasted several days, Operation Snakebite draws on Grey's exclusive interviews with everyone from private soldiers to NATO commanders. The result is a thrilling and at times horrifying story of a war which has gone largely unnoticed back home.

(20090405)

Stephen Grey is a 41-year old journalist based in London UK, writing mainly about national security issues. He is best known for his world-exclusive revelations on the CIA's secret rendition program.

A former editor on the Sunday Times' investigations unit, the Insight team, he has continued to contribute to the that newspaper, as well to the New York Times, Guardian, Times, Independent, New Statesman and Newsweek. He has reported for Channel 4's Dispatches, BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio Four and the World Service. His book on the CIA rendition program, Ghost Plane, was published in 2006. He has been nominated for, and won, several major press awards.

(20090425)