Operation Pineapple Express

By: Scott Mann

Narrated by: Lt. Col. Scott Mann

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An edge-of-your-seat thriller about a group of retired Green Berets who come together to save a former comrade—and 500 other Afghans—being targeted by the Taliban in the chaos of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In April 2021, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. The message was clear: Get Nezam out of Afghanistan now. Nezam was part of the Afghan National Army’s first group of American-trained commandos; he passed through Fort Bragg’s legendary Q course and served alongside the US Special Forces for over a decade. But Afghanistan’s government and army were on the edge of collapse, and Nezam was receiving threatening texts from the Taliban. The message reached Nezam’s former commanding officer, retired Lt. Col. Scott Mann, who couldn’t face the idea of losing another soldier in the long War on Terror. Immediately, he sends out an SOS to a group of Afghan vets (Navy SEALs, Green Berets, CIA officers, USAID advisors). They all answer the call for one last mission.

Operating out of basements and garages, Task Force Pineapple organizes an escape route for Nezam and gets him into hiding in Taliban-controlled Kabul. After many tense days, he braves the enemy checkpoints and the crowds of thousands blocking the airport gates. He finally makes it through the wire and into the American-held airport thanks to the frantic efforts of the Pineapple express, a relentless Congressional aide, and a US embassy official. Nezam is safe, but calls are coming in from all directions requesting help for other Afghan soldiers, interpreters, and at-risk women and children. Task Force Pineapple widens its scope—and ends up rescuing 500 more Afghans from Kabul in the three chaotic days before the ISIS-K suicide bombing. Operation Pineapple Express is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of service and loyalty amidst the chaos of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

©2022 Scott Mann. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excellent true story of important acts of bravery

EVERY American should read this book about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The media was so misleading on what actually happened last year. This is a true story about some very brave people.

Excellent Telling of What Happened in Afghanistan

Best and most wholistic telling of events before, during, and after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Pulls no punches with where responsibility was passed off by “leadership” to junior staff and retired vets. Exposes our government’s ineptitude to a sickening level.

Hero’s

America’s finest stepping up when our corrupt American government failed us and the citizens of Afghanistan.

The Afghan Final Debacle

One of several books written about the debacle of our last days in Afghanistan this account provides an in depth account of one of the successful efforts from the chaos at the gates to the small team in the US coordinating a highly complex effort to get those who served with our Special Forces in Afghanistan, The Afghans held green cards or other promises of safe transit to the United States as thanks for their service.

The book captures the chaos in the streets of Kabul, the disinterest among America's political leaders and the courage and creativity of those who went into harms way to try to uphold their nation's promises.

Far from an overview. It takes readers into the chaos of Kabul, the inhumanity in the crush of refugees at the gates of the airport, the atrocities of the Taliban directed against those who wanted to leave.

I'll leave the significance of the Pineapple to readers but it plays a critical role in the successful escape of many.

Our political and military leaders must learn from this debacle. That will only happen if enough citizens demand accountability of their political and military leaders.

Highly recommended but you'll probably need a stiff drink along the way.

Incomparable Bravery

Operation Pineapple recounts with dignity and courage, the struggle to save comrades in arms in the face two of the fiercest enemies our soldiers faced in the last weeks before the fall of Afghanistan: the Taliban and the U.S. political and military leaders whose moral compasses were stuck in cover-your-ass-mode.
Thanks to the author and the many organizations of the Moral Compass Foundation for contributing to the ongoing efforts to make right what should have been built into the exit strategy from the beginning.

great insight to what passionate people can accomp

this book was great example of the difference between the American Government and the American People. thank you for sharing the story and to you and the members of operation pineapples service and integrity

Every American needs to read

Yes, every American needs to read this to know what really happened in the horrible Biden administration pull out of Afghanistan.
To see what all these men faced. How many of our brave service men were betrayed by their top leaders.
To see how corrupt and inept our government has become. It needs fixing.

And it's a harrowing story of survival that educates and entertains too.

Amazing…thank you

Thank you for telling the story. Thank you to everyone involved for stepping up when our government stepped aside. Thank you for modeling leadership and promise keeping to all generations.

First Hand account

Scott Man tells the inspiring story of how an ad hoc group came together to rescue hundreds of people stranded by the precipitous withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. His reading is gripping and well produced. Kudos to all!

ONE BEIGHT SPOT IN THE DISASTROUS END OF THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

Extremely well researched. Detailed and organized. A gripping real life story love, courage, and devotion.