Book Review: Ghost Wars

[TheAnvil 0]

Hey folks. The JACKASS Vinny the Anvil here. I just returned this book to a friend today - finally - and it sparked a synapse to tell my dz.com friends with a political bent about it.

GHOST WARS by Steve Coll is a really good history of CIA/US activity in Afghanistan from the Soviet invasion up to 10 Sep 2001. It's extremely detailed and a long read, but really worthwhile if you're interested in the subject. Given the benefit of hindsight, you can really see where we screwed the pooch on a # of occasions with regards to our foreign policy in the region. Coll does a fairly good job of keeping any political bias out of his analysis until the last chapter, where I felt him a little harsher than necessary in some respects and not harsh enough in others.

Anyway, I've followed the news quite closely for years and read voraciously and I learned a lot by reading the book. If you've got the time to devote I recommend it - just be ready for a lot of details.

Beers to all,

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

where I felt him a little harsher than necessary in some respects and not harsh enough in others.

Let me guess, too harsh against republicans and not harsh enough against democrats?

That's been on my to read list. Heard it was good from a couple people.

[TheAnvil 0]

Good guess. I thought he was too hard on GWB's administration in some regards, not hard enough in others. Same with Reagan. He seemed right on with Clinton - and he DOES point out all the emphasis El Jefe Clintonista placed on getting bin Shitehead; it was not an insubstantial amount either. The last chapter he did go out of his way to bash Bush.


Highly recommended. Good book.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!