Charlie Wilson's War

Rating:
Summary: A Book Two Wars Too Late...
Review: I first heard about the book through some positive reviews--in fact I have heard of no 'bad' reviews--and the book more than lived up to my high expectations. Had the book been published three years ago and been required reading for the policy wonks in Washington dealing with Foreign Policy decisions concerning the 9/11 aftermath, it is hard for me to believe that the foreign invovlvements would have followed the same lines. Hindsight is 20/20, so it is easy to connect the dots in retrospect, but the book explains so much--machinations in Washington, the Congress, the CIA and Pakistan that almost predetermined what has happened in the last three years. Yet, because of the single-minded focus of people and policy all warning signs along the way were ignored and the greatest covert 'success' story of them all yeilded a failure and disaster of such epic proportions that it defies description. History itself is the greatest epilogue for Crile's fantastically engrossing and detailed work. The 'characters' come to life and I found myself reading and watching in horror at times. The book should be mandatory reading for everyone of voting age--the ultimate responsibility for the actions of those who act in our name falls to us. Read this book! I am glad I did.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping Tale of the "other" CIA op of the 1980s
Review: While most of the United States, citizens and politicians alike, were embroiled in the controversy over the Nicaraguan Contras and the schemes to keep them funded, Charlie Wilson et al concocted quite the operation. When one steps back and looks at how one man was able to fund the Afghan resistance at a level previously thought untenable, the boldness of the operations clearly comes to light.
While Crile's view of who was on the right side and wrong side of this operation (in CIA and Congress) may have been slightly tainted by some of the larger-than-life characters who are the main players in this narrative, the story is still remarkable.
I would have liked to have seen more to the conclusion than what was presented. For instance, what hand did the CIA play after the war was over with the still well-funded budget to counter Najibullah's regime. This budget was a carry over from Wilson's days. Additionally, what happened to WIlson to force him from politics?
For those who like gripping storys of the covert world of the CIA and other intelligence organizations, this book is for you. DOesnt necessarily get into the operational details of how/why, but gives a more broadbrush approach of how Wilson and his CIA counterparts conducted this operation.
Five stars for Crile's book...an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: A book that tells us how we are in the current mess
Review: This book, and those like it, tells us exactly why we are in the current mess - it is what the writer Chalmers Johnson calls "blowback", or the law of deeply unintended consequences. We meant well - we were absolutely right to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in the light of all that could then have happened if we did not - but alas some of the people whom we supported have now returned to attack us and all we believe in. A sobering and essential story. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)

Rating:
Summary: War History Women Will Find Riveting!
Review: Were more war histories written this way, I believe that fewer women in the book would have simply been the Congressman's girlfriends and more (i.e., more than one) would have been among the key players shaping world history.

As a stereotypical woman, I usually consider books about war history to be a dull collection of grim facts. Nonetheless, I randomly looked at the jacket of this book at our local bookstore only to find THE MOST RIVETING BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! It's an extraordinarily engaging narrative of the personal relationships leading to events that not only do I remember (as in, many occurring during my lifetime), but that profoundly affect my life today as an American.

The book is ingenius on many levels. But the one that meant the most to me is how the author explained the interplay of characters' backgrounds, perceptions, beliefs, and feelings so that I could see how individuals and relationships have shaped decisions. Had military policy and history been presented in this manner while I was still in school, I would not have been turned off to the subject, and I would know a lot more today about the world we live in. One of the many things this book shows is how important it is that women be educated about international military issues. My being so thrilled while reading proves that stereotypical women like me can be just as enraptured by the drama as so many men seem to be!

I could go on, but the truth is that I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about this book. I am extrordinarily grateful to the author and those who helped him write it.

Rating:
Summary: Best History of Recent Afghanistan History
Review: This book should be required classroom reading in Asian Studies, Psychology, Feminist Studies and Government classes. Nevertheless, it is one of the most interesting, thrilling adventure, history books of recent times. There are significant lessons to be learned regarding the psychology of the Afghanistanis, the Taliban, the war industry in general, the way government works in our country, and yes, the role women can play in instigating war. The book is surprisingly well documented, researched and written. George Crile has outdone himself with this book. The unintended consequences of the American role in helping the Afghans does not detract from the immense amount of good which was done during this time. Put aside your banal novels and read the real stuff. I've been telling family and friends if they can only read one book this year: make it this one! It is certainly the most interesting book I have read for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Best example of one sided "journalism"
Review: "Charlie Wilson's War" serves as best example of the direction which American "free" press shifts in the last few years. The direction of one sided, pro-government "journalism" which serves as one of the tools used to brainwash average American. No wonder to see it in the book written by George Crile, long time producer of the TV show "60 minutes".
I read this book not from "average American" point of view. I read it as former Russian Airborne soldier, who was drafted at the age of 19 and sent to Afghanistan in 1984. 621 days of war I didn't want. 217 days of combat I couldn't forget.
I read it as a soldier who had to watch his friends getting killed. Friends who was same as me, 18-19 years old. Who was drafted and didn't want to go to that war. But we had no choice. Friends who had to kill not for the triumph of USSR, but in order to survive. We were soldiers.
I read this book as a Veteran who became journalist after the war and fought propaganda machine in the USSR, who was telling the truth about a war and had to leave his home in order not to get arrested for doing so.
Mr. Crile is a very good writer and it is sad to see that he is an excellent "demagog" at the same time. He proudly presents Congressman Wilson as some kind of hero. The hero, who went around the legal system of the USA and built up a machine to train and finance extremists to fight "Evil Soviets" in Afghanistan. But he forgot to mention 75% of the side effects of his doing:
1. For the first few years of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, this was no war in existence. Not until US money started flowing and new "Hero Wilson's" trainees begun attacking Soviet troops and their supporters. As result of this war? Over ONE MILLION Afghans was killed and over 50.000 Russians.
2. The "Evil Russians" was mostly 18-19 years old kids, who were drafted and didn't want to be at this war. But Mr. Crile carefully forget to mention that.
3. Same as he carefully forget to mention that "Soviet supporters" then are now on the American side during antiterrorism fight in Afghanistan. Where American soldiers have to fight "formally known as freedom fighters", well grown on Wilson's financial and training "Miracle Whip".
4. Mr. Crile has interesting point:
"After the last Soviet commander crossed the bridge back into what was then the USSR, '60 Minutes' asked Pakistan's President Zia ul-Haq: how was all this possible? Zia's simple reply: "Charlie did it."
But he forgot to mention that this was not Wilson who did it. But President Gorbachev, who gave the orders for Soviet troops to leave Afghanistan and who stopped the bloodshed in torn apart country.

PS: When did real journalism switched to one sided propaganda machine? When would we understand that cutting off the branch we are sitting on usually brings bad luck? I don't have an answer, but if I would want to read books by real American journalists? I would read books by Mark Hertsgaard.
Reviewed by "russianwriter.net"

Rating:
Summary: The essence of what the CIA calls 'blowback'
Review: There are two books in here. The first is George Crile's masterful recounting of a buried episode in American history: how a relatively (and perhaps purposely) obscure Congressman from Lufkin, Texas got religion over the plight of Afghanistan's mujahideen getting pounded by Russian Hind helicopters. Almost singlehandedly, he pushes, prods, schemes, and connives a year-upon-year escalation funding a secret covert war directed by the CIA.

After the last Soviet commander crossed the bridge back into what was then the USSR, '60 Minutes' asked Pakistan's President Zia ul-Haq: how was all this possible? Zia's simple reply: "Charlie did it."

It's an amazing story. And for guy known as a producer (of '60 Minutes') not a writer, Crile has written the tale wonderfully. He's captured the personalities, paid attention to the narrative, adhered to the timeline. It's a delight to read.

And coming soon to a theater near you. Tom Hanks' Playtone Pictures has acquired the rights to the book, and Hanks himself will play Wilson. Look for it in 2004.

The other story deals with the law of unintended consequences, or what the CIA calls blowback. When 9/11 happened, the roots were traced back to the void that developed in Afghanistan after the war was 'won'. As Wilson himself says: "we (messed) up the endgame."

And, as Crile notes at the conclusion of the book, the complete story of blowback hasn't ended yet. Those Stinger missiles that play so prominently in the story have raised their head again. Only this time, they're not aimed at the Hinds.

Rating:
Summary: The Best History Book I Have Ever Read
Review: Superbly researched including extensive interviews with almost all the principals, this history of the US role in the only defeat of the Red Army in the 20th century is compelling and compulsive reading. Focusing on two key players, Congressman Charles Wilson and CIA executive Gust Avrakotos, George Crile avoids the normal 60 Minutes tell-only-one-side-of-the-story approach to present a comprehensively detailed picture of how funding to the mujaheddin grew from $5 million per year to more than $1 billion. He reveals the role of the Saudis in matching the US contribution and effectively documents the role of President Zia of Pakistan and Pakistan's ISI spy agency in delivering the weapons, food and materiel. Pakistan's ISI selected the warlords to whom aid was provided, setting the scene for the rise of the Taliban when victory over the Red Army was achieved. This part of the story is key to understanding how the Taliban got into power.

Entertaining and informative, one comes away from this book with a clear understanding of what happened, why it happened, and the forces driving the personalities behind the US funding. The power of a few key Congressmen to change US foreign policy without the involvement of the Executive Branch is astonishing.

This is a book that anyone interested in foreign affairs or history must read.

Rating:
Summary: Insiders View of Afghanistan and the Cold War
Review: This is a very unusual book in that not only do the politics involved with a funding project like the war in Afghanistan come from an unusual means such as a single, swinging, hard drinking congressman from a small district in Texas but that so much inside information is divulged about CIA operations. Its very surprising that this much detail could be provided for a book with not only actions, names but all the plans of how the US supported the freedom fighters through dubious means such as funneling weapons through Pakistan who should get real credit for standing up to the bear. Wilson is almost schizophrenic in is his hard partying and womanizing, although he was single, and his legitimate interest in Afghanistan and his incredulous ability to wind up on an appropriations committee and commandeer funding to overwhelm the CIA to step up its operations. Also some back biting tales of CIA personalities that are not very complimentary which may be colored by some bitterness. Very worthwhile read on how the US breaks the Soviet Union with a huge surplus of secretly funneled high tech weapons and even Tennessee mules through the CIA and the driven and drinking Wilson. Very inside look on the realities war and revenge and after reading some of the details of combat, you have to have compassion for the soldiers of both sides. The Russians gave the Afghans no quarter and Afghan revenge was seemingly worse for the captured Russian. One great absence is President Reagan's role, which is not accounted for although his man, CIA Chief Casey, seems to purposely blur his own direction of the Afghanistan project according to the author through his sources.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Life James Bond
Review: You must read this book! It may be non-fiction, but it's highly entertaining. Women, alcohol, explosives, top-secret missions: Charlie Wilson is a real life James Bond. This book is a must read for anyone who's interested in learning more about our recent history, or who's just looking for some EXCITEMENT.