Plews, Derek A. Shamrocks among the Poppies

Musa Qal'eh 2006. A bloody Siege and the Failures behind it

A harrowing account of the siege of Musa Qal'eh in Afghanistan in 2006, told in the words of the men who fought there. Shamrocks among the Poppies describes how a small group of soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment and other units isolated and outnumbered fought to defend a dilapidated mud-brick complex against determined and well-armed Taliban insurgents who were bent on their destruction. The book not only provides a vivid description of life and death in the compound during more than five weeks of heavy Taliban attacks, but also sheds light on the controversial background and consequences of Britain's decision to shift its focus to Afghanistan while still heavily involved in the US-led invasion of Iraq. It highlights the failures of the intelligence services and political and military decision-makers that led to the deployment of a force that was too small and understaffed for the tasks at hand, and how British soldiers found themselves scattered in small groups in northern Helmand, fighting for their lives against a fierce and fearless enemy while trying to prop up a weak and frightened provincial governor. Equally important, however, is the author's highlighting of the long-term impact of the sustained, intense fighting on the mental health of many of the soldiers deployed there, and his criticism of the government's shameful failure to provide the veterans of Musa Qal'eh with the necessary medical care upon their return.