Strangest of Places : Building Castles Made of Sand in Afghanistan

"The Strangest of Places" offers an unvarnished look at the U.S. Military's folly and failed effort to build Afghan institutions in the U.S. image. It dives into the complexities and ineptitudes that have transpired during the war in Afghanistan, and the misleading messaging to the American People. The book explores the fundamental problems with understanding the complex Afghan culture and the danger of ignoring the lessons of history, including Winston Churchill's writings on the topic over a hundred years ago.

Author Gerald (Jerry) Carozza wrote this book between 2011 and 2012, shortly after completing his one-year tour as the Senior Legal Advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Defense and Army. Shortly after, he testified before Congress about the scandalous events he witnessed. Consistent with his message to Congress, it calls out the dire consequences to our Nation if the approach to Afghanistan were allowed to continue and the damage to the military's reputation that took years to rebuild since the Vietnam war.

Jerry also gives insight into the culture of U.S. military and civilian personnel who served their nation that was fighting two wars at the same time for almost two decades.

Gerald (Jerry) Carozza is a retired Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve's Judge Advocate General Corps, "the Army's law firm." He was also qualified as a Civil Affairs officer at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School and Center. Jerry held a wide variety of legal and non-legal assignments during his 26-year career. His most recent assignment was as the senior legal advisor to the Afghan National Army as part of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan. Jerry also manages fidelity and surety bond claims for a major carrier. He is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars. Jerry earned a bachelor of arts from Boston University and a juris doctorate from Villanova University. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal and the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal. Jerry and his wife live in beautiful northeast Pennsylvania and have five wonderful children.