Title
The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War
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A Washington Post Best Book of 2021The #1 New York Times bestselling investigative story of how three successive presidents and their military commanders deceived the public year after year about Americas longest war, foreshadowing the Talibans recapture of Afghanistan, by Washington Post reporter and threetime Pulitzer Prize finalist Craig Whitlock.Unlike the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had nearunanimous public support. At first, the goals were straightforward and clear: defeat alQaeda and prevent a repeat of 9/11. Yet soon after the United States and its allies removed the Taliban from power, the mission veered off course and US officials lost sight of their original objectives.Distracted by the war in Iraq, the US military become mired in an unwinnable guerrilla conflict in a country it did not understand. But no president wanted to admit failure, especially in a war that began as a just cause. Instead, the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations sent more and more troops to Afghanistan and repeatedly said they were making progress, even though they knew there was no realistic prospect for an outright victory.Just as the Pentagon Papers changed the publics understanding of Vietnam, The Afghanistan Papers contains fastpaced and vivid (The New York Times Book Review) revelation after revelation from people who played a direct role in the war from leaders in the White House and the Pentagon to soldiers and aid workers on the front lines. In unvarnished language, they admit that the US governments strategies were a mess, that the nationbuilding project was a colossal failure, and that drugs and corruption gained a stranglehold over their allies in the Afghan government. All told, the account is based on interviews with more than 1,000 people who knew that the US government was presenting a distorted, and sometimes entirely fabricated, version of the facts on the ground.Documents unearthed by The Washington Post reveal that President Bush didnt know the name of his Afghanistan war commanderand didnt want to meet with him. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted that he had no visibility into who the bad guys are. His successor, Robert Gates, said: We didnt know jack shit about alQaeda.The Afghanistan Papers is a searing indictment of the deceit, blunders, and hubris of senior military and civilian officials (Tom Bowman, NRP Pentagon Correspondent) that will supercharge a longoverdue reckoning over what went wrong and forever change the way the conflict is remembered.
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- Q: What is 'The Afghanistan Papers' about? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' is an investigative book by Craig Whitlock that reveals how three U.S. presidents and their military leaders misled the public about the progress of the war in Afghanistan, detailing mistakes and failures in strategy.
- Q: Who is the author of 'The Afghanistan Papers'? A: The book is authored by Craig Whitlock, a Washington Post reporter and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.
- Q: How many pages does 'The Afghanistan Papers' have? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' contains 408 pages of in-depth analysis and revelations regarding the Afghanistan War.
- Q: When was 'The Afghanistan Papers' published? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' was published on August 30, 2022.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' is available in a paperback binding.
- Q: Is 'The Afghanistan Papers' suitable for readers interested in military history? A: Yes, 'The Afghanistan Papers' is highly suitable for readers interested in military history, particularly those wanting to understand the complexities and failures of the Afghanistan War.
- Q: What are some features of 'The Afghanistan Papers'? A: The book features firsthand accounts from over 1,000 individuals involved in the war, including military leaders, soldiers, and aid workers, offering a comprehensive view of the conflict.
- Q: What is the item condition of 'The Afghanistan Papers'? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' is sold as a new item.
- Q: Does 'The Afghanistan Papers' include personal accounts from military personnel? A: Yes, the book includes personal accounts from military personnel and other key figures involved in the Afghanistan War, providing a diverse perspective on the conflict.
- Q: Why is 'The Afghanistan Papers' considered a significant book? A: 'The Afghanistan Papers' is considered significant because it challenges the narrative of success in the Afghanistan War and provides critical insights into the decisions made by U.S. leaders.