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Descent Into Chaos: The US & The Disaster In Pakistan, Afghanistan & Central Asia (2009)

by Ahmed Rashid(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

014311557X (ISBN13: 9780143115571)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Penguin

review 1: One of the best accounts of the war in Afghanistan. Totally engaging from cover to cover. Rashid was cognizant of the total picture and had been involved in the conflict from the very outset. He carefully and objectively examines the intricate complexities of an endless conflict and the dangers that it poses to world stability. He looks into the personalities of the different actors From the ISI to Musharaf and from the CIA to Bush and the neo cons. Rashid examines the disappearance of the Taliban regime and the establishment of the questionable new government under Karzai. Rashid flips easily back and forth through history covering the Marxists under Taraki the deposed Shah Zahir,Reagan and his support of General Zia, Bushes fawning ludicrously over Musharaf. Ha also ... morerightfully lashes out at such incompetents as Hilary Clinton, Rice, Christina Rocca, Armitrage, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Cheney Bush, Powell Brahimi, Rabbani and Qanuni among others. He gives them all a well deserved literary slap up side the head for their negligence and gross incompetence. Some of the successes, not often mentioned are increased educational opportunities, returning refugees and the return of the media and free press, not insignificant accomplishments by any means.There is a lot of information in this book to absorb, and no doubt I will re read this interesting and fascinating account.In short this is a definitive book on the topic of the war in Afghanistan since 9/11 and a must read for any serious student of the topic.
review 2: If you want to start to dig deep into the strategic and political issues behind the war in Afghanistan and that region in general, then this book is a must read. Whilst Rashid has some biases in his presentation, he pulls his punches for no one and places the blame where he feels it lies wherever they are from, so in short everybody gets their fair share of the blame; America, NATO, Western Europe, Afghanistan and Pakistan and all their representatives at the big stage. A must read on the duplicitous double-dealing from the Pakistani military and intelligence community, the book is informative and knowledgeable. less

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