The journalist and author Jake Tapper discusses his recent book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor (Little, Brown, 2012), about America’s deadliest battle in Afghanistan at the Combat Outpost Keating in 2009, the conflict in Afghanistan, his new program at CNN, and more, with Joseph Planta.

The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper (Little, Brown, 2012). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Outpost

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Jake Tapper joins me now. His recent book, The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor has been a bestseller and has gotten great notices. It’s a profoundly moving book, sometimes tough to read but a necessary read. Canadians know full well the sacrifice made in Afghanistan, and this book tells the story of one of America’s deadliest battles there. On 03 October 2009, Taliban fighters assault the American Combat Outpost Keating in the town of Kamdesh in the Nuristan province of eastern Afghanistan. There were more than 400 Taliban insurgents attacking that remote outpost. And for more than 12 hours, 53 Americans fought back. In the end eight soldiers died, 20 were wounded, and in the course of this book you meet these men, those that survive, their families and the aftermath of this, most deadliest of battles. The book sketches out the folly of the placement of this outpost—it was at the bottom of three mountains—which many knew one day be overrun; as well, we get a sense of the decision-making and debates that went on internally. Focusing on one part of the war as Mr. Tapper has, one might gain an understanding of the whole Afghanistan conflict, the sacrifice and tragedy; as well as the dignity, bravery and valor of those abroad and at home, who’ve given so much. We’ve known Jake Tapper as a television personality and forget he was a terrific writer at Salon and Talk Magazine. He is the Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN, and soon to be the anchor of a weekday program on the network. He was formerly the senior White House correspondent for ABC News. This book is published by Little, Brown. I’m very pleased to welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in Washington, Jake Tapper; Mr. Tapper, good morning.

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