Synopsis
Just as U. S. soldiers and diplomats pulled out of Afghanistan, supposedly concluding their role and responsibility in the two-decade conflict, the country fell to the Taliban. In The Long War, award-winning BBC foreign correspondent David Loyn uncovers the political and military strategies—and failures—that prolonged America’s longest war.
Three American presidents tried to defeat the Taliban—sending 150,000 international troops at the...
Details
21 September 2021
9781250283436Reviews
"Loyn’s pages are steeped in tragic misinterpretation and always with a sympathy for ordinary people who deserved much better. A well-executed and dispiriting study of imperial overreach and cultural collision." —Kirkus (starred review)
"This deeply reported chronicle of America’s “forever war"...offers blunt and persuasive assessments...Distinguished by its granular detail and insider access, this is an authoritative study of where things went wrong." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for In Afghanistan:
“It would be naive to suggest that the odds favour success. Loyn's excellent primer explains why, and should be slipped into President Obama's Christmas stocking.” —Max Hastings for The Sunday Times (UK)
“The US will have a new leader by 2009, as perhaps will Britain. He should read this superb book before he makes matters worse.” —Daily Telegraph (UK)
“[There are] terrific—and terrifying—tales in this short, sharp book. . .In Afghanistan targets the educated general reader, but it could educate generals.” —New York Post
“I could not have enjoyed it more and think it quite excellent. It is a great pity some of those who involved us in what is going on now did not understand what we would be up against.” —General Lord Guthrie, Head of Britain’s armed forces when the Afghan war was launched in 2001
“Gripping” —Daily Mail (UK)
“Excellent” —The Times (UK)
“This is a terrific reminder of how effective a book can be when the place it depicts is beyond the average traveller’s reach” —Irish Times
