The Fifth Act

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A powerful eyewitness account of the American collapse in Afghanistan, its desperate endgame, and the war's lasting legacy. Elliot Ackerman, a former military and CIA paramilitary officer, was deeply affected by his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the Taliban advanced on Kabul in August 2021, he was drawn back into the conflict, witnessing Afghan nationals who had collaborated with the U.S. military facing brutal reprisals and desperately trying to flee with their families. The U.S. government's evacuation process was a bureaucratic failure that resulted in a humanitarian crisis. Ackerman, alongside journalists and veterans, engaged in an urgent effort to arrange flights and negotiate with both Taliban and American forces to secure the safe evacuation of hundreds. This endeavor, taken during the chaotic end of America's longest war, offered a measure of redemption and a chance for Ackerman to reconcile his past with his present. This narrative captures twenty years of war through the lens of a single week at its tragic conclusion. Ackerman intertwines the dramatic rescue efforts in Kabul with his personal history, beginning with the initial invasion after 9/11. Rather than assigning blame, it highlights the courage and dedication of American and Afghan characters who fought at great personal cost. Balancing the experiences of combatants with the complexities of the post-9/11 wars, Ackerman's storytelling reveals hard-