Desert Sniper

First the non-spoiler part: If you are interested in the situation in Syria, and if you are interested in the inner workings of a modern-day civil war and all the good and bad that goes with it, then this is an OK book. The author is comprehensive and detailed. The narrator is good. HOWEVER, if you are looking to read a SNIPER story, then go elsewhere! \”Sort of\” spoiler part: This is a book wherein a normal guy with no training is given a snipers weapon and told to do stuff. He is NOT a sniper and this is NOT a sniper book. Throughout the whole book, there is a total of TWO times where he MIGHT have killed someone. There is no confirmed kills, no skilled shooting, and mostly just a guy banging away at buildings and hoping he got someone. The book has some redeeming qualities, but if you are looking for a snipers story, this is not it.

A little politically tricky, but what a story! I hope someone interviews Mr. Nash sometime, so I can associate his real voice instead of the narrator\’s.

This absolutely riveting first hand perspective had me gripped from beginning to end. If you would like to learn about the political / military situation regarding the Kurds in Syria and their war against ISIS this book is highly recommended.

A British volunteer motivated to fight some really bad guys and have an adventure sees a little bit of combat alongside a ragtag leftwing militia group. The story of going to a foreign land to volunteer in its civil war is interesting and the narration by the author himself is very good, however, Ed Nash is not really a sniper so much as a guy with a scoped rifle who on a few occasions sends some rounds into spots the enemy may be using as cover. If you are looking for a book following the escapades, tactics and technical knowhow of an actual professional sniper, this really isn\’t the book for you.

This one is going to hook you from the start and feel like easy listening, because of the clarity of writing and professional narration. Now I understand why it took so long to put ISIS down despite massive effort and expense. I think this book could go on to win some awards. Ed Nash had been a journalist covering the conflict in Myanmar. He got inspired to fight ISIS (Daesh) in Syria, a fight against evil (e.g., rape on a scale that\’s impossible to comprehend). With no military training, he simply showed up to see what he could do to support the Kurds. That may sound impulsive, but his experience in Myanmar helped him figure out his presence itself would be powerful. He wasn\’t the only one; there were others. Nash got placed in a unit of foreign volunteers and literally learned on the job how to be a competent sniper, although not on the precision level of U.S. military snipers. He and his unit of foreigner volunteers were, in my view, entrepreneurial in their approach. The found ways to make a difference, and the Kurds were grateful. Nash used several anti-material rifles, among the many weapons he carried and used. Nash\’s brigade of foreigners transmitted the sense that the world hadn\’t forgotten about the Kurds. You know how timing can be everything? The Kurds had their own foreigners amongst them, up close and personal, right when they needed a morale boost. They made progress when the world was looking for a way to defeat ISIS. Seeing this, coalition forces rallied to them. It followed that Kurdish forces went on a long campaign, over-watched by A-10 Warthogs, AC-130 Spectre Gunships and drones providing support from above. Nash tells what that was like. What a series of events! US, UK and French special forces next arrived. That all sounds great, so why did it take years and loads of money to defeat ISIS? Well, the media didn\’t tell us why, and wasn\’t that the big question? Nash tells why. ISIS enjoyed unlimited support from Turkey and therefore had the best infantry weapons, supplies and as we all know, a steady stream of dedicated fighters willing to die for the cause. ISIS had access to very well-schooled military minds. It even had its own drones. And nothing could turn off the tap. During Nash\’s time in country, it wasn\’t prudent to cut the supply lines into Syria from Turkey for fear of bringing the Turkish military itself into Syria. It took Nash to tell the story in a way that makes it intuitive. ISIS was a heavyweight, much stronger than the media was letting on. Nash makes it all easy and interesting. This book communicates. Narration was also spot-on.

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