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Defense

Charlie Wilson's War

Contributor:  Joe Buz
Posted:  11/01/2010  12:00:00 AM EDT  |  0

Rate this Book: (4.0 Stars | 1 Vote)

Tags:   OEF | Afghanistan

Don't let the movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts shape your opinion before picking up this book.  George Crile provides an eye-opening perspective on the War in Afghanistan and the chain of events leading up to the U.S. led invasion.

In the book, Crile shows how a CIA agent on the outs and a renegade Congressman from Texas teamed up to fund a rag-tag army that took it to the Soviets in the 1980's.  This group called the Mujahideen fought and eventually drove the Soviets from Afghanistan.

This group was heavily funded with billions of dollars of U.S. tax payer money and was provided the latest weapons to include stinger missiles and was also given training in advanced ground combat tactics.  These hi-tech weapons and hi-level training made the difference and brought about a major shift in the Cold War.

As Americans celebrated victory and the Soviet Union collapsed shortly thereafter; the Mujahideen leadership took control of a war ravaged Afghanistan and quietly morphed into what became the Taliban.

Years later U.S. forces fight in Afghanistan against leaders they likely trained and armed 20 years prior.  Crile chronicles this twist of fate and how quickly it is forgotten that American forces supplied the exact group they now attempt to eliminate.  Men once heralded as the "heros, patriots, and freedom fighters" of Afghanistan are now branded "terrorists".

Political feelings aside, Crile provides incredible insight into the situation in Afghanistan over the last thirty years and how events of the past have shaped the fight of the 21st century.

 

  



Joe Buz Contributor:   Joe Buz

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