Brad, you shadowed a black ops team in Afghanistan to research THE APOSTLE.  Did you feel the soldiers were protective of you?  Did you sense any reluctance from any of them about your presence?  Are you still in touch with some of them?

The team was extremely protective of me.  I have no doubt they all would have given their lives for me.  These were men of incredible honor, courage, and skill.

The only reluctance I experienced was justified.  I wanted to visit a specific location, but the second-in-command was against it.  He said it was too dangerous.  Though the team leader also wanted to go, he eventually came around and we picked another location.  It was the right choice.  The Taliban hit the exact location at the exact time we had planned on visiting.  There was a staggering death toll.  Sometimes, the best trip is the one you never take.

I am still in touch with all of the team members.  I respect them immensely and will always be indebted to them.

What do you think the biggest misconception about our being over there is, both in our own country, and from an international perspective?  
 
We've been in Afghanistan almost eight years.  The Soviets were there for ten before they pulled out.  We're making a lot of the same mistakes.  The war will be won or lost on the village and district level.  This is a rural insurgency we're dealing with.

They key to winning is in being able to think like the Afghans.  The team I was with looked like Afghans, thought like Afghans and understood Afghan culture inside and out.  They have the respect and trust of village elders across the country and because of that are able to mine incredible intelligence.  It is important for us to get off the forward operating bases, get out into the villages and build better relationships.

If we can train village militias, accelerate the ability of the Afghan National Army, rebrand our efforts over there as less NATO and more UN (which is essentially the same thing, but more palatable for the Afghans), I think we'll see some big leaps forward.  We'll also need to address the rampant corruption in the Afghan government.  No one over there trusts them.

If you had to pick three words, which three words would you use to describe America's role there?

Great question.  Dignity.  Opportunity.  Partnership.

What was it like at night?

Both beautiful and terrifying.  The skies were clear; the stars incredibly bright.  It reminded me of the high mountain desert of the Intermountain West.  There were moments when I could almost forget that I was in Afghanistan.

It was also quiet; so quiet I could hear the burning of a cigarette yards away.  Your senses take on a heightened acuity that can rip your nerves raw.  Every sound is suspect.  Nothing can be taken for granted, yet you still need to quiet your thoughts enough to sleep.  It's a tough balancing act.

A lighthearted question:  Are MREs really all that bad?

LOL!  "Meals Rejected by Everyone" is what they're called.  I was lucky.  We predominantly ate Afghan food.  It was delicious.

Scot Harvath, your main character, has a real moral and ethical dilemma on his hands in THE APOSTLE.  Did you struggle with it yourself?
 
Yes, I did.  Robert Frost once said, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.  No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."
 
I wanted to explore how it would feel to be put in such a situation.  What happens when an exception to your moral code is forced upon you?  Can you ignore it?  Or must you question everything you have spent your life believing?

Brad really nails the issue with this answer.  Sooner or later, there comes a point in all of our lives--through crisis or tragedy--when we question our core beliefs.  It's something all of us can relate to and it makes for great conflict in fiction.  Scot Harvath's dilemma is on an international scale.  Thousands, if not millions, of lives depend on whether he makes the right decision.  It's a terrible burden for one man to face.  Loyalty.  Bravery.  Honor.  Sacrifice.  They aren't just words to Harvath, they're core beliefs, and they're about to be tested.

Is the safe return of one kidnapped woman, who happens to be the daughter of a politically well-connected family worth unleashing such a dangerous and blood thirsty al-Qaeda operative from a Kabul prison?  Afghanistan is our ally!  And what is the long term cost to America and rest of the world by setting Mustafa Khan free?  What if Scot fails, or is captured during the mission?  The negative fallout to America would be irreparable and become a scandal of unimaginable proportions.  It could undermine the entire war effort, not to mention destroy what little trust we've managed to develop with the Afghan people.  Then there's the political price the new American president would have to pay - and it isn't what you might initially think.  The Gallo family is using a very dangerous secret from the president's past against him.  To say the stakes are high would be a gross understatement.

THE APOSTLE is timely, and explores both critical and current issues while delivering a fast paced, suspenseful, and entertaining story worthy of reaching the top of the New York Times list.  If you liked THE LAST PATRIOT, you're going to love THE APOSTLE, but plan on losing some sleep.  If you think it couldn't happen in real life, think again!


Brad Thor is the author of seven previous thrillers:  THE LIONS OF LUCERNE, PATH OF THE ASSASSIN, STATE OF THE UNION, BLOWBACK, TAKEDOWN, THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, and THE LAST PATRIOT which became a New York Times #1 Bestseller.
 
Brad has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security's Analytic Red Cell Program.  He's appeared on The Fox News Channel, CNN, CNN Headline News, ABC, NBC, CBS, and on PBS as a national security expert to discuss terrorism, and how closely his novels of international intrigue parallel the real threats facing the world today.

Prior to writing novels, Brad was the award-winning creator, producer, writer, and host of the critically acclaimed Public Television travel series, Traveling Lite.

Brad enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, and hiking.  He continues to travel the world doing research, but takes time to do some deep sea fishing, fly fishing, hunting, and shooting. He is currently working on the next Scot Harvath adventure.

Contributing editor Andrew Peterson is working on the next novel in a planned series featuring Nathan McBride, a former Marine sniper. FIRST TO KILL is a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards for Best First Mystery.  Andrew enjoys flying helicopters, scuba diving, long range target shooting, and a very sad round of golf.  He also works as a volunteer firefighter.  Andrew and his wife Carla, live just north of Paso Robles, California. More information about First to Kill by Andrew Peterson, can be found at AndrewPeterson.com

Note: Brad Thor photo by Jan Cobb.