'Ghost Wars' by Steve Coll unravels the intricate web of covert operations in Afghanistan leading up to the September 11 attacks. It delves deep into the shadowy world of espionage, highlighting the CIA's involvement and the rise of the Taliban. With vivid storytelling, Coll exposes the complex interplay between global politics and local conflicts. The book reveals how these hidden narratives shaped not only Afghanistan but the entire geopolitical landscape. Readers are left questioning the consequences of our choices on the world stage.
By Steve Coll
Published: 2004
"In the shadows of history, the true battles are fought not just on the ground, but in the unseen corridors of power where decisions shape destinies and silence speaks louder than words."
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction • A New York Times bestseller “The CIA itself would be hard put to beat his grasp of global events . . . Deeply satisfying.” —The New York Review of Books From the award-winning and bestselling author of Directorate S and The Achilles Trap comes the explosive first-hand account of America's secret history in Afghanistan. To what extent did America’s best intelligence analysts grasp the rising thread of Islamist radicalism? Who tried to stop bin Laden and why did they fail? Comprehensively and for the first time, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Coll recounts the history of the covert wars in Afghanistan that fueled Islamic militancy and sowed the seeds of the September 11 attacks. Based on scrupulous research and firsthand accounts by key government, intelligence, and military personnel both foreign and American, Ghost Wars details the secret history of the CIA’s role in Afghanistan (including its covert operations against Soviet troops from 1979 to 1989), the rise of the Taliban, the emergence of bin Laden, and the failed efforts by U.S. forces to find and assassinate bin Laden in Afghanistan.
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“In the shadows of history, the true battles are fought not just on the ground, but in the unseen corridors of power where decisions shape destinies and silence speaks louder than words.”
Ghost Wars
By Steve Coll
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Steve Coll is an award-winning American author, journalist, and academic, renowned for his insightful analysis of international affairs, particularly in relation to the Middle East and South Asia. He is the author of several influential books, including "Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001," which won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 2005. Another notable work is "The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century," which delves into the history of the Bin Laden family and their ties to global events. Coll's writing is characterized by rigorous research, clarity, and a compelling narrative style that weaves together personal stories with broader historical context. He is also the former president of the New America Foundation and has served as the managing editor of The Washington Post.
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