Ghost Wars Is Certainly Scary
I first saw Steve Coll's Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invations to September, 10, 2001 in a bookstore in Dublin, Ireland. The title itself is intriguing. When I got back to the States I saw it at a local bookstore and haven't wondered why I bought it. At the time, the Bush administration was coming under increasing criticism for the war in Iraq and it was soon clear that the US had entered the war under false pretenses. This book is an unbiased looked at US and Mid-East relationships that greatly strengthens the arguments of protestors.
Coll did a tremendous amount of research, evident in the details he weaves in a narrative format and the almost 100 pages of notes at the end of the book. It also demonstrates a clear lack of communication not just between intelligence agencies, but among them as well. From those who saw Islamist radicalism as a problem before it was on the US radar to those who did nothing despite reports outlining the rise of Islamist radicalism and rising terrorism, too many wires were crossed and information did not meet the right people. It reminded me of the game telephone. You pass a message along down the line, and it is a gross mutation of the original message by the time it gets to the end.
Ghost Wars also demonstrates how Afghanistan was a priority during the Russian invasion, and then slowly slipped under the radar and out of the budget at America slipped into a state of denial. A bi-product of our support and subsequent pull-out left Muslim countries fending for themselves. A rich man by the name of Osama Bin Laden turned the frustration of Muslims into angry action against the US; the entity responsibile for their down-trodden, poverty state.
I was appalled when I read that America pulled out before following-through on the promise of establishing democracy and security. American politics dictated that America pull out even though the job wasn't done. The US left behind a skeleton crew, people scattered about to monitor anything of interest. There certainly was interest. Middle Eastern politics is fascinating. The structure is interesting, and being part of the royal family has benefits but also causes a good deal of in-fighting, leading to overthrows and what seems like a continuous change in power. America establishes a relationship with the ruler only to have it crumble as the ruler is ousted and replaced. America learned to walk a thin line between waring factions, appeasing one and fighting the other, then vise versa in order to keep favor.
Coll does an excellent job in illustrating all the different factors that came into play prior to September 11, 2001. Staying the middle so as not to upset either side that might be in power the next day was no easy task, and caused for many missed opportunities in developing relationships.
This is not a book for the faint hearted. There are parts that are very difficult to read and often too realistic. For example, I had just read about a bombing only to hear the following morning about the Underground bombing in London. That was much too close for comfort. The depth of detail is astounding, and not what you will find in a history book. You'll learn more about the US government as well as its place in recent global events than you will by reading the news or history books.
You may, as The New York Time quote states on the cover, "want to rip the page and yell at the American counterterrorims officials he describes" but you may also gain a better understanding in why it is important for America to remain in Iraq, even if the understanding is still jaded like mine.
Ghost Wars will open a new set of doors into the world of America and its place, from a politicial as well as economic viewpoint. Sums of money change hands that only few can imagine. Ghost Wars will make you question what those large sums of cash bought, and if September 11, 2001 was an invetiable by-product of American involved in the Middle-East.
Broaden your mind and check it out the next time you're at the library or browsing in a bookstore.
Rating: G$_G$_G$_G$
Coll did a tremendous amount of research, evident in the details he weaves in a narrative format and the almost 100 pages of notes at the end of the book. It also demonstrates a clear lack of communication not just between intelligence agencies, but among them as well. From those who saw Islamist radicalism as a problem before it was on the US radar to those who did nothing despite reports outlining the rise of Islamist radicalism and rising terrorism, too many wires were crossed and information did not meet the right people. It reminded me of the game telephone. You pass a message along down the line, and it is a gross mutation of the original message by the time it gets to the end.
Ghost Wars also demonstrates how Afghanistan was a priority during the Russian invasion, and then slowly slipped under the radar and out of the budget at America slipped into a state of denial. A bi-product of our support and subsequent pull-out left Muslim countries fending for themselves. A rich man by the name of Osama Bin Laden turned the frustration of Muslims into angry action against the US; the entity responsibile for their down-trodden, poverty state.
I was appalled when I read that America pulled out before following-through on the promise of establishing democracy and security. American politics dictated that America pull out even though the job wasn't done. The US left behind a skeleton crew, people scattered about to monitor anything of interest. There certainly was interest. Middle Eastern politics is fascinating. The structure is interesting, and being part of the royal family has benefits but also causes a good deal of in-fighting, leading to overthrows and what seems like a continuous change in power. America establishes a relationship with the ruler only to have it crumble as the ruler is ousted and replaced. America learned to walk a thin line between waring factions, appeasing one and fighting the other, then vise versa in order to keep favor.
Coll does an excellent job in illustrating all the different factors that came into play prior to September 11, 2001. Staying the middle so as not to upset either side that might be in power the next day was no easy task, and caused for many missed opportunities in developing relationships.
This is not a book for the faint hearted. There are parts that are very difficult to read and often too realistic. For example, I had just read about a bombing only to hear the following morning about the Underground bombing in London. That was much too close for comfort. The depth of detail is astounding, and not what you will find in a history book. You'll learn more about the US government as well as its place in recent global events than you will by reading the news or history books.
You may, as The New York Time quote states on the cover, "want to rip the page and yell at the American counterterrorims officials he describes" but you may also gain a better understanding in why it is important for America to remain in Iraq, even if the understanding is still jaded like mine.
Ghost Wars will open a new set of doors into the world of America and its place, from a politicial as well as economic viewpoint. Sums of money change hands that only few can imagine. Ghost Wars will make you question what those large sums of cash bought, and if September 11, 2001 was an invetiable by-product of American involved in the Middle-East.
Broaden your mind and check it out the next time you're at the library or browsing in a bookstore.
Rating: G$_G$_G$_G$
posted by Gwynne at
8:36 PM
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