Life and Death at Abbey Gate: The Fall of Afghanistan and the Mission to Rescue Our Allies by Mikael Cook with Robert Conlin. Casemate, 2024, 192 pp.
Life and Death at Abbey Gate is a heartfelt story that explores the final days of the US military presence in Afghanistan during its tactical withdrawal in summer 2021. This book provides an anecdotal insider’s view of the efforts made to evacuate special immigrant visa applicants, allies, and vulnerable individuals from Kabul as the Taliban took control of the nation’s provinces with unprecedented speed. Drawing from social media, open-source reports, and personal testimonies of those on the ground, author Mikael Cook vividly portrays the dangerous operation at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA), including the tragic events at Abbey Gate, where a suicide bomber claimed the lives of 13 US service members and injured dozens more, bringing operations to a standstill.
Cook, a former US Army staff sergeant and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, was part of a team that coordinated the safe arrival of a small family of Afghan allies struggling to reach the evacuation point. The book is his collaboration with Robert Conlin, US Navy veteran, former news reporter and editor, and author most recently of The Lewiston Shootings: An All-American Tragedy (WildBlue, 2024).
The book underscores the bravery that military personnel and Afghan civilians demonstrated throughout this turbulent mission. Cook showcases tales of great moral courage and selflessness as proof of the unwavering commitment of those determined to help despite facing high threat levels.
The author presents his narrative in the following sequence: the intricacy of evacuation missions, acts of bravery and sacrifice, lapses in policy and procedures, and the human toll amid desperation. The evacuation is described with a heart-racing pace and depth that provides an immersive experience to readers who may not be familiar with the unprecedented efforts involved. Detailed conversations capture the tension and urgency at the airport, drawing readers into the tumultuous operational environment. While Cook focuses on retelling the events, he also showcases acts of grit and determination. One notable aspect of this section is its nuanced depiction of the events leading up to the safe evacuation of a small family from Afghanistan to the United States.
Cook augments his depiction of the efforts’ events with his frank analysis of its successes and failures. He openly criticizes the strategy and policy decisions that he believes caused delays in the evacuation process. He argues that a lack of planning, foresight, and coordination among US government agencies led to considerable challenges during the evacuation, potentially endangering the lives of key personnel, service members, and local civilians.
Yet he also acknowledges the challenges tactical decisionmakers faced at the critical intersection between what is morally right and what is possible. He demonstrates how tactical-level challenges and moral dilemmas emerged in the execution of large-scale evacuations amidst political, military, and social pressures. Despite detailed planning, rapidly evolving circumstances often required quick decision-making and maximum adaptability. Such an approach allows readers to reflect on the dynamics involved in such an operation without oversimplifying policy or placing blame on any one actor. By offering a range of perspectives from service members to civilians, Cook further enriches the story and sheds light on the complex geopolitics involved in the crisis.
Finally, Cook emphasizes the emotional toll of the operation, sharing stories of former Afghan US employees, individuals, and their families affected by the collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to authority. He also highlights their dire and desperate attempts to escape from the Taliban’s strict sharia rule.
Still, every great story can be improved. The emphasis on colloquial anecdotes can sometimes overshadow and oversimplify the complexity of classified military intelligence collection and analysis as well as the geopolitical environment during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. While the author opines into government procedural missteps, a deeper examination of historical facts and military and political circumstances that led to the Taliban’s swift provincial resurgence could have offered readers a more thorough understanding and balanced perspective. Further, the book’s pace of events occasionally falters when the narrative shifts between stories, anecdotes, timelines, and broader discussions involving open-source information and media outlets, causing a lack of coherence and logical flow. A seamless integration of all accounts, with interviews featuring key figures in the State Department, US Central Command Headquarters, and 82d Airborne command leadership could have improved reader engagement and the book’s overall impact.
To gain a deeper appreciation for the facts, strategy, and decisions surrounding this historic withdrawal and evacuation, readers might turn to retired US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie’s book, The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century (Naval Institute Press, 2024). McKenzie delves into details about policy guidelines, the ground truth of the situation in Afghanistan, and leadership decisions that ultimately led to the safe evacuation of over 124,000 people from HKIA, offering a near-real-time account of conversations with the president, the secretary of defense, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the decisions made to conduct the complex operation.
Still, Life and Death at Abbey Gate contributes to the literature on the evacuation despite not having the same kind of access to high-level interactions. The book effectively captures the urgency and emotional impact of the evacuation mission of a small part of the broader effort, offering readers insight into the military and humanitarian crises and demonstrating how people removed from the action can still provide help by deciding to act and not stand idle.
While a more in-depth exploration of the factual context would enhance its value, focusing on individual experiences and resilience offers a touching and emotional viewpoint. This book is thus indispensable for those who want to understand the human connections and camaraderie that are forged during contemporary combined and international military endeavors.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose Crespo, USAF