#077: Operation Pineapple Express - Founder LTC (R) Scott Mann

A year ago the United States withdrew from Afghanistan officially ending the 20 year Global War on Terror. We may never find agreement on whether we failed or succeeded in Afghanistan. 

For this episode, Fran Racioppi returned to the place where the Global War on Terror began on the blue sky day of September 11th, 2001 in lower Manhattan. He asked retired LTC Scott Mann to join him on a balcony overlooking the Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial for a conversation on the withdrawal from Afghanistan and his new book, Operation Pineapple Express. 

Operation Pineapple Express pulled hundreds to freedom through a hole in a gate in the final days on the ground in Afghanistan. 

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Watch the full video version of Fran’s conversation with Scott overlooking the Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial on YouTube. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. 

Learn more about Scott at rooftopleadership.com and scottmann.com. Get a copy and read Operation Pineapple Express where ever you get your favorite books. And follow Scott on social media @rooftop_leadership.

Highlights:

-0:00 Intro & welcome to Ground Zero

-6:10 Scott’s 9/11 story & the evolution of the Afghanistan Mission

-16:35 The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

-22:55 Scott decides to get involved & his two questions

-30:00 The hole in the fence and the decision to leave

-40:49 Abby Gate explosion

-43:08 What it all means

-59:04 Recommendations to step up and lead from the front

-1:06:30 Last Out, The Hero’s Journey & Rooftop Leadership

-1:20:54 Scott’s three daily foundations to success

Quotes: 

-”It started by working by, with and through true indigenous clans and tribes.” (7:47)

-”I think it’s a real shame that we left that force abandoned because I think they could have held the line.” (10:30)

-”I don’t understand that our partner force is getting left behind.” (15:17)

-”Why didn’t someone just throw their stars on the table and say ‘not on my watch.’” (22:01)

-”Everything about my time in Afghanistan hinged on whether he lived or died.” (24:49)

-”What does a promise mean to you? And how far would you go to honor it.” (27:20)

-”They were gonna pull people in until the very end.” (41:47)

-”There are people who are trying to fall this tower.” (46:30)

-”To leave them…in the way that we left them…I don’t know how you can live with that.” (56:11)

Scott Mann’s 3 Daily Foundations to Success

-Prepare for every engagement

-Connect with people where they are

-Recover between engagements

This is episode is in honor of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom in the Global War on Terror…and their families. De Oppresso Liber.

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness, and Analytix Solutions