Summary

The American press got word Special Forces were in Afghanistan but the news they shared with the public was dismal. They reported that American and Afghanistan troops were outnumbered and were low on supplies. For these reasons, they were not able to make lasting progress against the Taliban. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld asked when progress would be made. Nelson returned to camp after the first victory to a message asking, “When are you guys gonna get off your ass and do something?” (171). In his anger, Nelson replied to the message sharing how the Afghans were happy the Americans had come and were willing to give their lives for the cause. His email became what Lambert called “the most famous intel report of the war” (172).

Meanwhile, medic Scott Black was woken to deal with a medical emergency, a teen boy shot in the...