Wesley Morgan
@wesleymorgan.bsky.social
Writing about America’s post-9/11 wars
https://linktr.ee/wesleysmorgan
Author of THE HARDEST PLACE
https://tinyurl.com/yh9kbh5f
Please be either informative or funny in your replies
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https://linktr.ee/wesleysmorgan
Author of THE HARDEST PLACE
https://tinyurl.com/yh9kbh5f
Please be either informative or funny in your replies
Signal wesmorgan.01
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Wesley Morgan
@wesleymorgan.bsky.social
· Feb 25
My Afghanistan war book THE HARDEST PLACE is approaching its four-year anniversary.
Since I’ve mostly migrated from Twitter to Bluesky, over the next few months I’m going to recreate here a long thread of photos that many readers have enjoyed scrolling through as an accompaniment to the book.
Since I’ve mostly migrated from Twitter to Bluesky, over the next few months I’m going to recreate here a long thread of photos that many readers have enjoyed scrolling through as an accompaniment to the book.
Thread of photos illustrating THE HARDEST PLACE, sorted by chapter:
If you took one of these photos, let me know! Most were shared with me by unit commanders as part of big dumps of deployment photos, but I’d love to credit the individual veterans who took them.
If you took one of these photos, let me know! Most were shared with me by unit commanders as part of big dumps of deployment photos, but I’d love to credit the individual veterans who took them.
Peru continuing to impress as far as vultures
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Peru continuing to impress as far as vultures
I like a country that treats its Gatorade and Gatorade derivatives with respect
November 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I like a country that treats its Gatorade and Gatorade derivatives with respect
Initial impression of Lima—incredibly impressive density of vultures. Standing in this one spot in the Plaza Mayor, I counted 80+ in about three minutes (mostly airborne)
Those are practically crow numbers
Those are practically crow numbers
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Initial impression of Lima—incredibly impressive density of vultures. Standing in this one spot in the Plaza Mayor, I counted 80+ in about three minutes (mostly airborne)
Those are practically crow numbers
Those are practically crow numbers
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
As at Want, US soldiers died because senior officers had a hard time accepting withdrawal.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
May 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
As at Want, US soldiers died because senior officers had a hard time accepting withdrawal.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Bulldog Bite killed 7 Americans—the worst US KIA toll in the area since Want—and an ANA officer, and 100+ insurgents.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
May 2, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Bulldog Bite killed 7 Americans—the worst US KIA toll in the area since Want—and an ANA officer, and 100+ insurgents.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Team Darby (from 1/75 Rangers) flew up from Paktika and inserted outside Gambir along with TF East's 2/75 platoon.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
May 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Team Darby (from 1/75 Rangers) flew up from Paktika and inserted outside Gambir along with TF East's 2/75 platoon.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Abu Company was spent, so Ryan called for help from SOF. A Green Beret A-team and ANA Commando company (pictured) helped clear Katar, but SIGINT showed the enemy retreating up the mountainside to Gambir.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Abu Company was spent, so Ryan called for help from SOF. A Green Beret A-team and ANA Commando company (pictured) helped clear Katar, but SIGINT showed the enemy retreating up the mountainside to Gambir.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
These photos were taken in a house in Katar that one of the Abu Company platoons searched after entering the village the next day. The one on the right appears to show a rifle being fired at a Chinook (not sure what the boat is doing there below it).
May 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
These photos were taken in a house in Katar that one of the Abu Company platoons searched after entering the village the next day. The one on the right appears to show a rifle being fired at a Chinook (not sure what the boat is doing there below it).
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Five Abu Company soldiers were killed in the attack, in which the upper platoon—the one in the forest—was nearly overrun before air support could help.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
May 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Five Abu Company soldiers were killed in the attack, in which the upper platoon—the one in the forest—was nearly overrun before air support could help.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Katar was only a mile and a half north of Tsangar along the mountainside, but getting there took Abu Company two days.
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
May 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Katar was only a mile and a half north of Tsangar along the mountainside, but getting there took Abu Company two days.
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Here are two photos I took of the Watapur in 2010 and 2013, looking north from where it meets the Pech.
The events of Bulldog Bite in November 2010 took place along the mountainside in the upper right, culminating around Gambir—near where you can see the snow on either side of the .50-cal barrel.
The events of Bulldog Bite in November 2010 took place along the mountainside in the upper right, culminating around Gambir—near where you can see the snow on either side of the .50-cal barrel.
April 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Here are two photos I took of the Watapur in 2010 and 2013, looking north from where it meets the Pech.
The events of Bulldog Bite in November 2010 took place along the mountainside in the upper right, culminating around Gambir—near where you can see the snow on either side of the .50-cal barrel.
The events of Bulldog Bite in November 2010 took place along the mountainside in the upper right, culminating around Gambir—near where you can see the snow on either side of the .50-cal barrel.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
On Nov. 12, 2010, 1-327 launched its Watapur pilgrimage as its A Co (nicknamed Abu) flew up to Tsangar for Operation Bulldog Bite. A platoon was quickly nearly overrun and its medic killed, and Ryan re-directed the company northward, toward the village of Katar deeper in the valley (pictured).
April 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
On Nov. 12, 2010, 1-327 launched its Watapur pilgrimage as its A Co (nicknamed Abu) flew up to Tsangar for Operation Bulldog Bite. A platoon was quickly nearly overrun and its medic killed, and Ryan re-directed the company northward, toward the village of Katar deeper in the valley (pictured).
Operation Bulldog Bite ended 15 years ago this weekend.
During the 5 days of fighting on the mountain above the Watapur, the 101st Airborne’s 1-327 Infantry and the Ranger Regiment’s Team Darby saw some of the closest-quarters infantry fighting of the Afghan war and lost 7 Americans and 1 ANA KIA.
During the 5 days of fighting on the mountain above the Watapur, the 101st Airborne’s 1-327 Infantry and the Ranger Regiment’s Team Darby saw some of the closest-quarters infantry fighting of the Afghan war and lost 7 Americans and 1 ANA KIA.
Five Abu Company soldiers were killed in the attack, in which the upper platoon—the one in the forest—was nearly overrun before air support could help.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
November 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Operation Bulldog Bite ended 15 years ago this weekend.
During the 5 days of fighting on the mountain above the Watapur, the 101st Airborne’s 1-327 Infantry and the Ranger Regiment’s Team Darby saw some of the closest-quarters infantry fighting of the Afghan war and lost 7 Americans and 1 ANA KIA.
During the 5 days of fighting on the mountain above the Watapur, the 101st Airborne’s 1-327 Infantry and the Ranger Regiment’s Team Darby saw some of the closest-quarters infantry fighting of the Afghan war and lost 7 Americans and 1 ANA KIA.
Got three paragraphs into this article before realizing that it wasn’t a bat like the animal, it was a bat like a baseball bat
Law enforcement officials said on Saturday that they had arrested a man who earlier this week brought a bat to the office of Alina Habba, the acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
Man Arrested After Appearing at Alina Habba’s Office With Bat, U.S. Says
Authorities said Keith Michael Lisa had a bat when he showed up at the office of the U.S. attorney for New Jersey on Wednesday. He was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility.
nyti.ms
November 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Got three paragraphs into this article before realizing that it wasn’t a bat like the animal, it was a bat like a baseball bat
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
See how Donald Trump is creating his own police force
Immigration agents are operating in cities with few legal constraints
www.economist.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
No shortage of stories this week that will make you want to take a shower. Add this to the list:
November 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
No shortage of stories this week that will make you want to take a shower. Add this to the list:
The Navy rear admiral was Brian Bennett, the Joint Staff’s deputy director for special operations. He has a lot of experience with previous *congressionally authorized* drone strike campaigns in Afg/Yemen/Somalia from his time as SEAL Team 6’s deputy commander, Black Squadron commander, and J-3.
November 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The Navy rear admiral was Brian Bennett, the Joint Staff’s deputy director for special operations. He has a lot of experience with previous *congressionally authorized* drone strike campaigns in Afg/Yemen/Somalia from his time as SEAL Team 6’s deputy commander, Black Squadron commander, and J-3.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Quite a double standard here: "Despite concluding that an armed conflict is underway, the memo also says the operation is not covered by the War Powers Resolution" www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Quite a double standard here: "Despite concluding that an armed conflict is underway, the memo also says the operation is not covered by the War Powers Resolution" www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
"Before November ends, Russia will probably suffer its millionth casualty since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, based on current trends of about 1,000-1,200 soldiers killed or injured every day."
Vladimir Putin’s sickening statistic: 1m Russian casualties in Ukraine
His regime uses payouts to salve Russian families’ grief
www.economist.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"Before November ends, Russia will probably suffer its millionth casualty since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, based on current trends of about 1,000-1,200 soldiers killed or injured every day."
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Here are Rafah and Khan Younis without the Yellow Line overlay, so it's clearer that the area between them is farmland and not undemolished urban neighborhoods
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Here are Rafah and Khan Younis without the Yellow Line overlay, so it's clearer that the area between them is farmland and not undemolished urban neighborhoods
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Central Gaza (Deir al-Balah, Bureij, Nuseirat, prewar population 310,000) has not seen sustained IDF ground operations since early 2024 so it's the most intact, except for the smaller towns of Juhor ad-Duk and Mughraqa that were fully demolished in 2024 for the Netzarim Corridor
November 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Central Gaza (Deir al-Balah, Bureij, Nuseirat, prewar population 310,000) has not seen sustained IDF ground operations since early 2024 so it's the most intact, except for the smaller towns of Juhor ad-Duk and Mughraqa that were fully demolished in 2024 for the Netzarim Corridor
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
In the north, the Gaza City/Jabaliya/Beit Hanoun metro area (prewar population ~1.2 million) has had about two-thirds of its 24-square-mile area demolished: a belt 0.5-1.5 miles deep around Gaza City, Jabaliya reduced to pockets, Beit Hanoun completely gone
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
In the north, the Gaza City/Jabaliya/Beit Hanoun metro area (prewar population ~1.2 million) has had about two-thirds of its 24-square-mile area demolished: a belt 0.5-1.5 miles deep around Gaza City, Jabaliya reduced to pockets, Beit Hanoun completely gone