About this title: In this prehistory of the 2001 war in Afghanistan, Steve Coll, a Washington Post editor, pieces together the alliances, intrigue, and failures of intelligence that allowed Al Qaeda to get a foothold in that country. He chronicles the disturbing role of America's supposed ally, Saudi Arabia, in building up Osama bin Laden. And he examines the historical record of the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations in regard to counterterrorism policy. Here he includes much insider information and analysis about the various intelligence agencies, their agendas and rivalries. Coll connects America's ...
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Your search:Books»Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001(95 available copies)
Description: Acceptable. Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges and creases. read more
Description: Good. GOOD with average wear to cover and pages. We offer a no-hassle guarantee on all our items. Orders generally ship by the next business day. Default Text. read more
Edition: First Edition ~1st Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The
Date Published: 2004-02-23
ISBN-13:9781594200076ISBN:1594200076
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Trade Paper
Publisher: Penguin
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780385242486ISBN:0385242484
Description: Good +/No Jacket as Issued. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall 0385242484 no internal markings, binding is tight. very light wear at edges, small chip at head of spine. read more
Description: Fine; Collectible. Excellent condition. Appears unread. No marks/underlines/writings. Pages are very nice and clean. Minor mark on front page. Free track. Fast! Satisfaction guaranteed! read more
Description: New. 1594200076 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! NEW Book! May have remainder mark. Most orders ship within 1 BUSINESS DAY with ORDER CONFIRMATION. Great Book at a Great Value! read more
Description: Acceptable. Less than standard, but still an acceptable copy. May have underlining, margin notes, or significant shelf wear. We are the Twin Cities' largest independent book store. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: PENGUIN BOOKS LTD Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780141020808ISBN:0141020806
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 736 pages. (736 pages) the news-breaking book that has sent schockwaves through the white house, ghost wars is the most accurate and revealing account yet of the cia's secret involvement in al-qaeada's evolution. maps (Paperback) read more
"Stunning and Amazing. In some light it gives hope for our clandestine services. In another light it sends shivers down your spine as an American being targeted. The lesson learned from the 9/11 commission are quoted but not used to write this book. The author Steve Coll takes us from the Soviet and Mujahideen battle during the 1980's to the days prior to 9/11.
Missteps and inaction are the two words which come to mind as our State Department and CIA wrangle over how to deal with the growing Taliban/Al Qaeda/Osama threat while not stepping on the toes of our international "partners" Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., and most vividly Pakistan.
I certainly hope our current leaders have read this book."
"Mr. Coll does an incredible job with this book. It painstakingly details the long and sordid history of our dealings in Afghanistan, and the horrible ineptitude with which we turned a blind eye to that benighted corner of the world, which became a refuge for our most talented, and audacious enemies in recent memory.
If nothing else, this book exposes the fact that we greviously underestimated Osama bin Laden. The man, while a fanatic and extremely arrogant, was also immensely clever, and it proved our undoing."
"Oh yeah - this is a big 'un and definitely not for a timid reader looking for big type and lots of pictures. Ghost Wars is for serious students of late Cold War US policy and the proxy wars of the super powers and provides an excellent history of US involvement in Afghanistan. Events, people, policy are all chronicled in great detail from the 1979 Islamabad riots to the retreat of the Russians. Ghost Wars names all the names and fills in the blanks on where some of the 9/11 players started including Bin Laden. If you read or saw Charlie Wilson's War, Ghost Wars provides the detail and depth lacking in the former. The upside to this 500 page tome is that Steve Coll writes with style but has produced a great non-fiction book that reads like a novel. Believe it or not, I thought Ghost War was a page turner."
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