by Steve Coll
First published 2004
In the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the CIA launches a covert operation to arm and train the mujahideen resistance. Coll charts the complex web of alliances, betrayals, and shifting loyalties that unfold as the superpowers vie for influence, fueling a conflict that will shape the modern Middle East. At the heart of this epic struggle are the Afghan fighters, driven by faith and nationalism, who rise up to defend their homeland against the world's most powerful military. "Ghost Wars" is a riveting account of a crucial chapter in the history of U.S. foreign policy and the ongoing battle for control of Central Asia.
Genres: history, politics, non-fiction, military-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: Afghanistan, Kabul, Pakistan, Peshawar, Saudi Arabia
Period: 1979-2001, 1989-2001, Soviet occupation, 1979-1989
712 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books (London)