AUSA’s Thought Leaders webinar series—an extension of our Thought Leaders podcast—focuses on contemporary military authors and senior military leaders. Thought Leaders seeks to educate the public on critical issues affecting land forces and strategy.
Please join us on Thursday, 9 December 2021, at 1400 EST, to hear a presentation by: N.W. Collins, author of Grey Wars: A Contemporary History of U.S. Special Operations; Jessica Donati, author of Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War; and Tony Brooks, author of Leave No Man Behind: The Untold Story of the Rangers’ Unrelenting Search for Marcus Luttrell, the Navy SEAL Lone Survivor in Afghanistan. Collins, Donati and Brooks will speak about their books and share their thoughts on the future role of Special Operations Forces in the U.S. Army.
SPEAKERS
N.W. Collins
Author of Grey Wars: A Contemporary History of U.S. Special Operations
Jessica Donati
Author of Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War
Tony Brooks
Author of Leave No Man Behind: The Untold Story of the Rangers' Unrelenting Search for Marcus Luttrell, the Navy SEAL Lone Survivor in Afghanistan
Moderator
About the Books
Grey Wars: A Contemporary History of U.S. Special Operations
This book presents a comprehensive, authoritative analysis of U.S. Special Operations. These forces undertake select military activities, often for the purposes of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. Since 9/11, these forces have been a central instrument of America’s military campaign—operating in about one hundred countries on any given day. This manner of fighting was launched as a new type of global war in 2001 and has since splintered into a spectrum of regional conflicts. The result is our nation’s grey wars: hazy and lethal. This contemporary history, incorporating extensive interviews and archival research by security studies expert N. W. Collins, delves deeply into the transformation of these forces since 9/11.
Eagle Down: The Last Special Forces Fighting the Forever War
In 2015, the White House claimed triumphantly that “the longest war in American history” was over. But, for some, it was just the beginning of a new war, fought by Special Operations Forces, with limited resources, little governmental oversight and contradictory orders. With big picture insight and on-the-ground grit, Donati follows individual Soldiers and shares the stories of the impossible choices they must make. Through successive policy directives under the Obama and Trump administrations, America has come to rely almost entirely on Special Forces; Eagle Down is a riveting account of the heroism, sacrifice and tragedy experienced by those who fought in America’s longest war.
Leave No Man Behind: The Untold Story of the Rangers' Unrelenting Search for Marcus Luttrell, the Navy SEAL Lone Survivor in Afghanistan
On June 28th, 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team under Operation Red Wings was ambushed in northeastern Afghanistan. A quick reaction force was dispatched; but Turbine 33, carrying eight Navy SEALs and eight members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. Commanders called on the largest element of U.S. Special Forces, the 75th Ranger Regiment, to run a rescue mission: Operation Red Wings II. Brooks gives a first-hand account of the daring recovery of Turbine 33 and the subsequent search for the remaining compromised Navy SEAL recon team.