Afghanistan : graveyard of empires, a new history of the borderlands

Veteran defense analyst and Afghanistan expert David Isby provides an insightful and meticulously researched look at the current situation in Afghanistan, its history, and what he believes must be done so that the US-NATO coalition can succeed in one of the poorest countries in the world, rife with divisions that dwarf current schisms in Iraq, led by warlords who fight over control of the drug trade as much as they do over religion. After seven years and billions of dollars, the task of implementing an effective US policy and cementing Afghani rule is hampered by what Isby sees as separate but overlapping conflicts between terrorism, narcotics, and regional rivalries, each requiring different strategies to resolve. Pulling these various threads together will be the challenge for the Obama administration, yet it is a challenge that can be met.--From publisher description.;Out of the vortex -- pt. 1. Lands in the vortex. Afghanistan: a country defined by conflicts -- Dwellers in the vortex -- Pakistan in the vortex -- pt. 2. Threats from the vortex. Transnational terrorism -- Afghan insurgents -- Afghan narcotics -- Afghanistan's internal conflicts -- Pakistan's insurgency -- pt. 3. Winning the conflicts. Countering Afghanistan's insurgency -- Aid and development -- Conclusion: the future. A startling history of modern Afghanistan—the story of a country caught in a vortex of terror Veteran defense analyst David Isby provides an insightful and meticulously researched look at the current situation in Afghanistan, her history, and what he believes must be done so that the U.S. and NATO coalition can succeed in what has historically been known as “the graveyard of empires.” Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world with one of the lowest literacy rates. It is rife with divisions between ethnic groups that dwarf current schisms in Iraq, along with conflicts between rogue factions from Pakistan, with whom relations are increasingly strained. The task of implementing an effective American policy and cementing Afghan rule is hampered by what Isby sees as separate but overlapping conflicts between terrorism, narcotics, and regional rivalries, each presenting separate yet equally challenging issues to resolve. This book provides the road map to overcoming these obstacles and finding a way forward for the U.S. and the Afghan nation. Cover; Title Page; Dedication; Copyright; Epigraph; Map; Contents; Glossary; Chronology; Prologue; PART ONE; Chapter One; Chapter Two; Chapter Three; PART TWO; Chapter Four; Chapter Five; Chapter Six; Chapter Seven; Chapter Eight; PART THREE; Chapter Nine; Chapter Ten; Chapter Eleven; Acknowledgments; Sources; Index