Outside the Wire
On The Front Line With The SAS In Australia's War In Afghanistan
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
A SAS soldier's journey from trainee to elite warrior fighting Islamic militants in Afghanistan, only to be betrayed by his own senior leaders at home.
'I've had more than my share of close calls. Truth is, it's f*cking thrilling. But the fear can hit just as hard, especially when you see mates wounded or killed. Or civilians caught in the crossfire – people who had nothing to do with the fight, but still paid the price.'
This is the story of Andy White and his two years in Tarin Kot with the Australian SAS, towards the end of the war in Afghanistan, when the fighting was at its most intense. These are vivid recollections of combat, leadership, bravery, errors and dark humour.
Andy reveals how the men planned their missions, how they rapidly adjusted to changing conditions on the ground and operated alongside Uruzgan's warlords. He also shows how strategic and political decisions shaped the way the SASR, alongside the 2nd Commando Regiment and the Special Operations Engineer Regiment, fought Australia's longest war.
Outside the Wire is an insider account of SAS operations like no other, from one of Australia's most experienced soldiers.
'An incredible story of endurance, sacrifice and courage.' John Cantwell AO DSC, Major General (Retd)
'An expert, unflinching account of the SASR in Afghanistan, a powerful story that needed to be told.' Wayne Weeks CSM, former Regimental Sergeant Major, SASR
'Andy's book exudes a rare authenticity and a genuine cry from the heart to all those who the system has failed.' Nick Kaldas AO APM, Chair, Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
'A raw insight into the 21st-century warfighting experience of the Australian SASR.' Major Vando DSM, SASR SQN Commander (Retd)
'Outside the Wire is authentic, powerful, and needed.' Brigadier Dan Fortune DSC and Bar (SASR Retd)
'Far more than an engrossing read; it is a sophisticated demonstration of how tactical decisions made in the dust and chaos of operations can reverberate with strategic, national consequences.' Major Brett Sangster, 2CDO (Retd)
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
As purely an account of bravery in the line of fire, Outside the Wire would be impressive enough. But as Australian SAS solider Andy White takes us behind the scenes of his war-torn two years in Afghanistan, there’s much more to appreciate here. We get not just the most direct action, but also White’s intense training and his eventual conflict with forces at home. There are also insights into military strategy and logistics on the ground level during the last chapter of Australian’s longest war, in which White and his fellow fighters were pitted against a formidable enemy indeed. In White’s debut as a writer, he shares a wealth of inside knowledge from someone who has truly seen it all. These may not be the easiest stories to hear, but they form an essential portrait of modern warfare.
