Product Description

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. Prize-winning journalist Steve Coll has spent years reporting from the Middle East, accessed previously classified government files and interviewed senior US officials and foreign spymasters. Here he gives the full inside story of the CIA's covert funding of an Islamic jihad against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, explores how this sowed the seeds of bn Laden's rise, traces how he built his global network and brings to life the dramatic battles within the US government over national security. Above all, he lays bare American intelligence's continual failure to grasp the rising threat of terrrorism in the years leading to 9/11 - and its devastating consequences.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8209 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 736 pages

About the Author
Steve Coll, winner of a 1990 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism, has been managing editor of the Washington Post since 1998 and covered Afghanistan as the Post's South Asia bureau chief between 1989 and 1992. Coll is the author of four books, including On the Grand Trunk Road and The Taking of Getty Oil.

Customer Reviews

A great book that reads like a novel

Most political histories are a little dry and dull but this book is brilliant, so detailed and so well researched it reads like a Tom Clancy novel.

It covers the entire background to CIA involvement in Afghanistan and the rise of Bin Laden there. Its totally gripping and so informative, the only frustration is that it ends on 8 Sept just before 9/11.

If you are interested in the CIA and Afghanistan then read this book.

Afghan Insights
This is truely the most well documented and insightful book I have read on the current and recent political history of Afghanistan and the US's involvement in the region. Coll's access to sorce material as well as politicians is remarkable and he displays a thorough understanding of political and religious currents nuances.

Even more importantly, the book comes across as unbiased and objective yet still throughly analytical. Coll casts so much light on issues important to the region that I would recommend it to anybody intersted in understanding one of today's centres of conflict...not least politicians and government officials.

EXPLOSIVE READING
This literary masterpiece from Pulitzer prize winning author Steve Coll will blow your mind.The apparent relentless and exhaustive research that made this book shows Colls dedication to bringing the full story to the reader.Beginning with the US support of the Afghan fighters during the Soviet invasion and finishing just days before the attacks on 9/11 Coll will take you on a mind boggling journey encompassing delicate matters such as:the US support of the taliban,the CIA attempts to buy back Stinger missiles it had given to the Mujaheddin for $150,000 apiece!! hare brained and expensive attempts to remove Osama Bin Laden and constant policy changes and in-fighting within the CIA.Throw in the main characters:an impeached president,a president with no clue on foriegn policy,tribal leaders more concerned with personal enrichment than the liberation of their people and radical jihadists like Osama the world hide and seek champion!!Add to this mix the ineptitude of the CIA and you have an extremely interesting plot.Read this book for the story and you will become more informed on the origins of al-Qaeda,the history of Afghanistan and the entanglement of the US government.Study this book and you will see layer upon layer of CIA incompetence,could 9/11 have been prevented?