CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ORIGINS

Into the Place of the King

The “Afghan Arabs” and the rise of al-Qaeda

INITIAL STRATEGY

Enduring Freedom

Special Operations Forces

Advanced Force Operations

Into the Shahikot

The enemy

Infiltration

First contact

Task Force Hammer

H-Hour

THE RAID

Initial infiltration of RAZOR 03

MAKO 30

RAZOR 03

Roberts

The rescue attempt

Back on the peak

QRF

Ambush

The battle of Takur Ghar

Chalk 2

The final battle

The fate of Chapman

Getting off the mountain

The end of Anaconda

A postscript – Operation Wolverine

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS

Technology

Command and control

Anaconda

BIBLIOGRAPHY