The Only Thing Worth Dying For
How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan
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The Only Thing Worth Dying For
Buy Now for $27.99
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Narrated by:
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P.J. Ochlan
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By:
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Eric Blehm
About this listen
On a moonless night just weeks after September 11, 2001, U.S. Special Forces team ODA 574 infiltrates the mountains of southern Afghanistan with a seemingly impossible mission: to foment a tribal revolt and force the Taliban to surrender. Armed solely with the equipment they can carry on their backs, shockingly scant intelligence, and their mastery of guerrilla warfare, Captain Jason Amerine and his men have no choice but to trust their only ally: a little-known Pashtun statesman named Hamid Karzai who has returned from exile and is being hunted by the Taliban as he travels the countryside raising a militia.
The Only Thing Worth Dying For chronicles the most important mission in the early days of the Global War on Terror, when the men on the ground knew little about the enemy - and their commanders in Washington knew even less. With unprecedented access to surviving members of ODA 574, key war planners, and Karzai himself, award-winning author Eric Blehm cuts through the noise of politicians and high-level military officials to narrate, for the first time, a story of uncommon bravery and terrible sacrifice, intimately exposing the realities of unconventional warfare and nation-building in Afghanistan that continue to shape the region today.
©2010 Eric Blehm (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishersthoroughly enjoyable
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its a good leadership book
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Blehm’s writing style is sharp and emotionally grounded. Though occasionally hard to follow due to the sheer number of names and operational shifts, the author does an excellent job of capturing the personalities, tensions, and unshakable loyalty within the team. One of the most moving aspects is how Blehm portrays the relationship between Captain Jason Amerine and Karzai. Their mutual respect and trust are the emotional core of the story.
Amerine is shown as the epitome of the quiet professional—humble, morally grounded, tactically brilliant, and deeply committed to his men and mission. His leadership, compassion, and cultural awareness earned him the respect of both his team and Karzai. I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie between Amerine and JD, which brought warmth and humanity to an otherwise high-stakes narrative.
While Blehm doesn't shy away from the darker aspects—the devastating friendly fire airstrike, the refusal of Marine leadership to render aid, and the lack of coordination between the CIA, Special Forces, and State Department—he also honours the courage and professionalism of the ODA. He highlights their humility, resilience, and tactical brilliance. These were men who were not sent to conquer, but to empower Afghan people to liberate themselves. Their mission represented the best version of what foreign intervention could look like: partnership, not occupation.
Blehm also pays tribute to the Afghan tribal fighters—men who risked their lives, homes, and families to join Karzai and ODA 574 despite uncertain loyalties and enormous danger. He reminds readers that while Afghan politics are complex, many local fighters showed real courage and vision for a freer future.
And then there's Karzai himself. Blehm is generous—but not naïve—in his depiction of Karzai’s personal bravery. He entered the country with only a few loyal followers, survived ambushes, betrayals, and serious wounds, yet remained committed to the mission even when he could have fled. His actions on the ground, paired with his growing alliance with ODA 574, were instrumental in gaining early momentum against the Taliban.
Yes, the book is a sobering critique of how fragmented the U.S. approach to Afghanistan was—but it is also a testament to what can happen when courage, conviction, and relationships are prioritised over politics. It’s a heartbreaking and inspiring story of sacrifice, missteps, brotherhood, and belief in something greater than oneself.
Highly recommended for readers interested in military history, post-9/11 geopolitics, and character-driven true stories of war and leadership.
Empowering mission, brave leadership
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