Final Engagement

"Praise for Final Engagement by Christopher L. Izant ""Americans should read this book to understand better the service and sacrifices of those who served on a modern-day frontier between barbarism and civilization in Afghanistan. Christopher Izant sheds light on the courage, sense of honor, and dedication to duty of those who fought there as he lays bare the contrast between the true character of the war on the ground and the unreal depiction of it in Washington, DC."" —Lt. General H.R. McMaster (Ret.), former United States National Security Advisor, and New York Times bestselling author of At War with Ourselves, Battlegrounds, and Dereliction of Duty ""Izant delivers a refreshingly honest, much-needed account of the failures of US policy in Afghanistan—and the effect those failures had on the warriors sent into harm's way to carry out this (lack of) policy. A must-read for anyone interested in the real-world consequences of Beltway chaos."" —Maurice ""Chipp"" Naylon, Marine veteran and author of The New Ministry of Truth: Combat Advisors in Afghanistan and America's Great Betrayal ""In Final Engagement, Izant weaves a gripping narrative that transcends the written word, striking deep into the heart of those who've stood on the front lines. As a former Army Ranger, I found myself transported back to the rugged terrains and the raw emotions of service—where every page turned is a step back into the camaraderie, the adrenaline, and the poignant moments that define a soldier's journey. This book doesn't just tell a story; it evokes the very essence of sacrifice and victory, leaving an indelible mark on the soul. A must-read that captures the complex tapestry of war with authenticity and emotional depth."" —Dr. Tony Brooks, author of Leave No Man Behind< ""The most adventurous job on the battlefield is combat advisor. Before he was an FBI agent, Izant was a Marine lieutenant in Afghanistan trying to teach Afghan soldiers how to fight and win in a future without Americans. That future arrived tragically in 2021. Detailing his war in a remote piece of Afghanistan preceding the withdrawal of US troops, Izant delivers a searing account of adventure, frustration, and success in a world far removed from his Millennial peers, in a war far removed from common sense. All US advisors should read Final Engagement.""  —Owen West, Marine veteran, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, and author of The Snake Eaters: Counterinsurgency Advisors in Combat ""A fervent, and above all honest, account of one Marine's tour of duty in Afghanistan, Final Engagement provides sorely needed ground truth about the debacles that plagued the longest war in US history. Like countless other Americans who reported for duty after 9/11, Christopher Izant did his part to accomplish the US mission in Afghanistan, only to discover that those in charge of the war had deluded themselves and the public about a path to victory."" —Craig Whitlock, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War ""An honest, compelling narrative that vividly describes why Afghanistan was a lost cause, with our grunts heedlessly directed by our incompetent senior leaders."" —Bing West, Marine veteran, former Assistant Secretary of Defense, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead written with General Jim Mattis, and author of national bestseller The Wrong War: Gritty Strategy, and the Way Out of Afghanistan"