Jawbreaker

The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander

By: Gary Berntsen, Ralph Pezzullo

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

In Jawbreaker Gary Berntsen, until recently one of the CIA’s most decorated officers, comes out from under cover for the first time to describe his no-holds-barred pursuit of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.

With his unique mix of clandestine knowledge and paramilitary training, Berntsen represents the new face of counterterrorism. Recognized within the agency for his aggressiveness, Berntsen, when dispatched to Afghanistan, made annihilating the enemy his job description.

As the CIA’s key commander coordinating the fight against the Taliban forces around Kabul, and the drive toward Tora Bora, Berntsen not only led dozens of CIA and Special Operations Forces, he also raised 2,000 Afghan fighters to aid in the hunt for bin Laden.

In this first-person account of that incredible pursuit, which actually began years earlier in an East Africa bombing investigation, Berntsen describes being ferried by rickety helicopter over the towering peaks of Afghanistan, sitting by General Tommy Franks’s side as heated negotiations were conducted with Northern Alliance generals, bargaining relentlessly with treacherous Afghan warlords and Taliban traitors, plotting to save hostages about to be used as pawns, calling in B-52 strikes on dug-in enemy units, and deploying a dizzying array of Special Forces teams in the pursuit of the world’s most wanted terrorist. Most crucially, Berntsen tells of cornering bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains - and what happened when Berntsen begged Washington to block the al-Qaeda leader’s last avenue of escape.

As disturbingly eye-opening as it is adrenaline-charged, Jawbreaker races from CIA war rooms to diplomatic offices to mountaintop redoubts to paint a vivid portrait of a new kind of warfare, showing what can and should be done to deal a death blow to freedom’s enemies.

CIA Commander Gary Berntsen on...

His eyebrow-raising style: “Most CIA Case Officers advanced their careers by recruiting sources and producing intelligence, I took a more grab-them-by-the-neck approach...I operated on the principle that it was easier to seek forgiveness than ask for approval. Take risks, but make sure you’re successful. Success, not good intentions, would determine my fate.”

Doing whatever it took: “I didn’t just want to survive: I wanted to annihilate the enemy. And I didn’t want to end up like one of my favorite historical characters - Alexander Burns...He was one of the first of more than 14,000 British soldiers to be wiped out by the Afghans in the First Afghan War. Like Burns before me, I was also an intelligence officer and spoke Persian. This was my second trip into Afghanistan, too. The difference, I told myself, was that Burns had been a gentleman and I would do whatever it took to win.”

Dealing with a Taliban official who controlled American hostages: “Tell him that if he betrays me or loses the hostages I’ll spend every waking moment of my life hunting him down to kill him. Tell him I’m not like any American he has ever met.”

The capabilities of his Tora Bora spotter team: “Working nonstop, the four men directed strike after strike by B-1s, B-2s, and F-14s onto the al-Qaeda encampment with incredible precision. Somehow through the massive bureaucracy, thousands of miles of distance [and] reams of red tape...the U.S. had managed to place four of the most skilled men in the world above the motherlode of al-Qaeda, with a laser designator and communications system linked to the most potent air power in history…As I listened over our encrypted radio network, one word kept pounding in my head: revenge.”

Also available as a Random House AudioBook

©2006 Gary Berntsen and Ralph Pezzullo (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Jawbreaker is both a thrilling read and a timely reminder of why America needs a clandestine service." (James Dobbins, Director of International Security and Defense Policy, Rand Corporation; Former U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan)

Brilliant

Amazing book and as accurate as you can get under the strict rules and redactions by the head shed. If you are interested in knowing what truly happened the first couple months of our invasion this book is a must read! Take it from me who took part in ops during this time frame.

Excellent book about [deleted]

Amazing how the teams were teamed up with [section deleted]. Finally hearing that [section deleted]. Would recommend if wanting to find out about [section deleted].

Excellent account of the CIA Jawbreaker team’s hunt for bin Laden after 9/11.

I read this book years ago and absolutely loved it. I considered it the most accurate account of the CIA’s hunt for bin Laden after 9/11, and an example of the excellent work of the CIA Jawbreaker team in coordination with Special Forces to decimate the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
At the time, I blamed George W. Bush for the failure to deliver Army Rangers on the ground along the boarder of Pakistan to prevent bin Laden’s escape over the mountains of Tora Bora.
Since my first read of this book I have since read half a dozen books on the war on terror and accounts of others on the CIA’s response to 9/11, including many of those referenced in this book. “First In” is an excellent account of the Jawbreaker team’s initial days in Afghanistan when they were led by Gary Schroen.
A few things struck me on my second “read” of this book. First, the CIA redactions in Jawbreaker are ridiculous. Much of the redacted information I read in other books, and I could fill in the information in my head, so I don’t understand why the CIA gave this author such a hard time.
Second, Berntsen is extremely critical of President Bill Clinton and CIA Director George Tenant for their failure to take decisive action against Al-Qaeda prior to and after 9/11, but he places the blame for allowing bin Laden to escape into Pakistan on Central Command, General Tommy Franks, and Director Tenant and gives President Bush a total pass.
Third, despite the remarkable job done by the Jawbreaker team and Special Forces, the lack of cooperation and coordination between CIA and the military remains deeply concerning.
Finally, the decision at CIA headquarters to replace Berntsen as the chief of the Jawbreaker team after only six weeks in Afghanistan despite achieving quick victory but before we were able to catch or kill bin Laden is baffling.

A favorite

I read this book over 10 years ago, and just re-read it. It’s just as informative and thrilling now as it was then.

We must learn from this, outstanding must listen

Well written, excellent narration, hello excellent history with much to teach all free men going forward.

Great Audiobook

Fantastic audiobook. This is a must listen if you want to get an understanding of events in the Middle East.
It's very unfortunate that the CIA felt was it necessary to take a censorship axe to what could be an excellent tool for educating listeners to recent historical events in a very troubled part of the globe.

A great read (err - Listen)

This audio book had me rivited to my speakers - I learned so much about our actions in Afganistan and at the same time was amazed by the actions, firepower and just how close we came to capturing Bin Laden. Unfortunately, the CIA sensored REDACTED so many parts of the book - I felt teased. I am DYING for an uncencored revision.

Great book

Even with the many redactions mandated by the CIA, this book is still enjoyable. The insider account is amazing!

The CIA at the tip of the spear

Although Gary did his best to paint the picture of the frequent and numerous reductions by the CIA, it still was tiresome to listen to. On the other hand, he painted a vivid picture of the early part of the war in Afghanistan, with just CIA operative and special forces personnel.

Fasinating

I really enjoyed this book, although it would of been so much better if there had been less censorship by the CIA. The frustration of about the censorship was only heightened because there was information removed that I had already heard in other books or had already been published in the media.