Product Description

In the last decade, two events have transformed the world: the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of militant Islam. This is the first book to explain the link between these two occurrences. George Crile spent nearly a decade researching and writing this original account of the biggest, most expensive secret war in history: the arming of the Afghan resistance to Soviet occupation. Moving from the secret chambers in CIA headquarters to stand-offs in the Khyber Pass, Charlie Wilson's "War" is one of the most thorough and vivid descriptions of CIA operations ever written. It is the missing chapter in the geopolitics of our time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #85547 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Review
"'The piece of investigative journalism that most impressed me this year.' Mark Mazower, New Statesman Books of the Year 'A gripping read' Economist 'Riveting, beautifully researched and profoundly disturbing... An astonishing glimpse into the world of the CIA.' Jason Burke, Observer"

About the Author
George Crile was an award-winning journalist and a producer for the American news programme 60 Minutes. He died in 2006.

Customer Reviews

Wilson wanted revenge for American blood spilled in Vietnam
"Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary story of the Largest Covert Operation in History," by George Crile is an eye-popping account of how a "rule-breaking" Congressman from the Bible Belt of east Texas took revenge on the Soviet Union for American blood spilled in Vietnam. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on December 27, 1979 and pulled out on February 15, 1989. All and all, 28,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. Charlie Wilson is the man that made it happen.

Charles "Nesbitt" Wilson is a 1956 graduate of Annapolis who worshipped Winston Churchill and entered politics in 1961 at the age of 27 as Texas State Representative. Wilson won a seat to Congress in 1973 as a Liberal. He regularly voted against Vietnam and eventually became of strong defender of Israel. Wilson's appointment to the House Appropriations Committee and a strategic alliance with irreverent street-wise CIA veteran named Gust Avrakotos ignited the biggest covert action since the Vietnam War. It wasn't easy...Wilson took on the CIA's regional masters and won. He did so by dramatically increasing CIA funding for the Afghan fighters. His primary mission was to find a weapon that could knock the powerful Russian Mi-24 Hind Helicopter gun ship out of the sky.

The author is knowledgeable. He reports the towering importance of revenge in Afghan society. He also details the cruel and disturbing side of the Afghan tribal warriors. To this end, Crile shows how the Afghans were seen as freedom fighters before 9/11 and as terrorists afterward. Moreover, Crile explains how the Afghans grew confident with the defeat of a superpower. Ultimately, this book is a strong account of how the CIA funded the war against Moscow's army and how the defeat at the hands of the Afghans contributed to the demise of the Soviet Union. Highly recommended.

Bert Ruiz

A fun read but limited insight...
I have read a few books about the covert war in 1980's Afghanistan. Recently I wanted to read a book that gave a greater critical overview of the operation to supply and support the mujahuddin. This, sadly, is not that book. This book seems more of an authorised biography of Congressman Charlie Wilson and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos. Huge sections of the book deal with their early careers and personal lives. There is quite a bit of unnecessary hero worshipping by the author towards Charlie and Gust. The author also paints an unflattering picture of all the other US agencies and politicians involved in the operation. It also seems that no criticism is made of the decisions the two men made, often in a frighteningly adhoc manner. Decisions such as their financial backing and arming of dubious people such as Zia ul Haq, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Jalaluddin Haqani and the Pakistani ISI. Backing which has had very serious consequences for peace in the region.

This book is a light hearted tale of two rather engaging and rebellious characters, rather than a critical 'warts and all' history of the biggest covert operation of the cold war. It is easy to read and fun but don't expect too much.

What really happened...
This is a really enjoyable book - a great read from start to finish and a fascinating account of how the CIA - together with Saudi Arabia - funded the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan. And how did it become possible for the CIA to mount its biggest ever covert operation? Well, it was largely down to two men - a maverick CIA field agent and an (equally maverick) American politician. Thoroughly recommended.