I just finished Sean Naylor’s excellent “Not a Good Day to Die“. Major Donald E. Vandergriff reviews the book here.

As Sean so vividly describes, at dawn on March 2, 2002, America’s first major battle of the 21st century began. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions flew into Afghanistan’s Shahikot valley and into heavy enemy defenses. They were about to pay a bloody price for high level strategic miscalculations that underestimated the enemy’s strength and willingness to fight. Sean’s book highlights that despite a mountain of historical evidence that is now available in the 21st Century via the Internet, our nation continues to make strategic and operational mistakes that, fortunately, an enemy has not yet been able to totally exploit.

A must read for those interested in our Foreign Affairs. Lind’s “Of Cabbages & Kings” provides some useful perspective as well. Meanwhile, the war continues in Afghanistan.

Ex CIA agent and author Charles McCarry posted an online chat recently.

Major Donald E. Vandergriff, US Army:

Sean Naylor has just published one of the best battle narratives ever written, but more than that, he has written a powerful story of the people behind the decisions and of those charged with their execution. The book is Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda (Berkley Books, March 2005), and it is now reaching the larger bookstores.

I just finished reading Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights.

The bestselling story of life in the football-driven town of Odessa, Texas, explores how the town’s passion for the team inspires–and sometimes shatters–the young men who wear the Panther uniform.

Having lived in Texas some years ago, Bissinger presents a very accurate picture of Texas High School Football. Read David Bernhardt’s thoughts on K-12 sports for another perspective.

James F. O’Gorman reviews Ada Louise Huxtable’s new Wright book.

Walter A. McDougal’s Freedom Just Around the Corner is a fascinating look at the genesis of the American Condition. Very worthwhile read, particularily during this election season.