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Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America and International Terrorism
Analyzes the recent developments stemming from the 1980s alliance between the United States and Islamic nations, focusing on Osama Bin Laden, the emergence of the Taliban, and the violence resulting from Afghani conflicts.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 4, 2012
Cooley knows his stuff and the book has a "been there, interviewed him" feel to it. It could use a little editing and organization, but by the end, I had a far better picture of how we got to where we are now.
When given the choice of a number of books to read for a class on the law of war and terror, I chose this one, and I was not disappointed. Primarily concerned with US action in Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban and later Osama bin Laden in the mire left by the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.
Cooley has an incredible amount of information and relies on interviews he conducted with key players over the last 30 years. He sees the rise of terror in that state as largely a result of the unchecked flow of weapons and money to the mujaheddin from the United States to support the guerrilla war against the Soviets. With the exodus of Soviet tanks from Afghanistan, the US left also, closing, almost overnight, intelligence operations and diplomatic presence. The result was a disastrous civil war between warlords and religious fanatics that allowed the rise of the Taliban.
Citing the US as a culprit in the quagmire, a significant amount of responsibility is placed on the actions of the Pakistani intelligence services. Controlled by religious ideologues, the Pakistani intelligence services operated nearly autonomously from other Pakistani government branches, and often in opposition to stated policy. It's ostensible purpose was create a religiously friendly state on Pakistan's western border so as to take weight off of pressure created by the often contentious, and occasionally violent, relationship with India on it's other side.
Eventually, it leads to the exportation of the "holy warriors" around the world, and followed later by opium as a cash crop supporting the somewhat outcast Taliban government.
In short, a must read.
The book suffers from a lack of editing and a somewhat choppy organization. However, the sheer volume of information easily makes the difficulty following the reading well worth the challenge.
When given the choice of a number of books to read for a class on the law of war and terror, I chose this one, and I was not disappointed. Primarily concerned with US action in Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban and later Osama bin Laden in the mire left by the Soviet occupation in the 1980s.
Cooley has an incredible amount of information and relies on interviews he conducted with key players over the last 30 years. He sees the rise of terror in that state as largely a result of the unchecked flow of weapons and money to the mujaheddin from the United States to support the guerrilla war against the Soviets. With the exodus of Soviet tanks from Afghanistan, the US left also, closing, almost overnight, intelligence operations and diplomatic presence. The result was a disastrous civil war between warlords and religious fanatics that allowed the rise of the Taliban.
Citing the US as a culprit in the quagmire, a significant amount of responsibility is placed on the actions of the Pakistani intelligence services. Controlled by religious ideologues, the Pakistani intelligence services operated nearly autonomously from other Pakistani government branches, and often in opposition to stated policy. It's ostensible purpose was create a religiously friendly state on Pakistan's western border so as to take weight off of pressure created by the often contentious, and occasionally violent, relationship with India on it's other side.
Eventually, it leads to the exportation of the "holy warriors" around the world, and followed later by opium as a cash crop supporting the somewhat outcast Taliban government.
In short, a must read.
The book suffers from a lack of editing and a somewhat choppy organization. However, the sheer volume of information easily makes the difficulty following the reading well worth the challenge.
August 17, 2017
Well written and comprehensive book on post 9/11 unholy wars in Afghanistan....
America and its allies are responsible for surge of terrorisms around the world
America and its allies are responsible for surge of terrorisms around the world
December 2, 2014
A great number of extremely important facts, but almost unreadable. So poorly written and looks like not edited at all - it's a real shame! Very strange, considering that the author is a journalist - I find this book rather as historic textbook written by some scientist, who doesn't care about his readers. Pity.
April 1, 2016
one of the standard 9/11 references, along with Rashid's Taliban.
July 3, 2008
Written before 9/11/2001, this is a detailed analysis of how the US complicity in organizing al-Queada. This is the book that got everything started.
Notice how its published by a small progressive press with which the University of Michigan is now severing relations.
Notice how its published by a small progressive press with which the University of Michigan is now severing relations.
April 22, 2019
Although it is evident that Cooley knows his subject, this is a rather tiring read. Other reviewers have mentioned the lack of editing and disorganisation of this book and I have to say that I am in agreement.
There is a wealth of irrelevant detail as Cooley tries to cram in as much background and links as possible. The end result is a lack of clarity.
I came across 'Unholy Wars' as it was cited by John Pilger or Mark Curtis, who used it as source material for more incisive writing, and as such, it is a valuable book.
I felt that it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
There is a wealth of irrelevant detail as Cooley tries to cram in as much background and links as possible. The end result is a lack of clarity.
I came across 'Unholy Wars' as it was cited by John Pilger or Mark Curtis, who used it as source material for more incisive writing, and as such, it is a valuable book.
I felt that it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
November 4, 2021
I recommend it for much, sometimes boring, details.
November 9, 2014
I really want to give this one five stars, but I just can't. There are some authors who present their thesis in such way, that I get to feel overwhelmed of all the information. I have the feeling that he took every single note he had and threw it at me. Complete lack of organization.
It does indeed provide a very, very detailed analysis of the events behind closed doors and I do agree with many of the points Cooley made. However, in order to be convincing (and memorable) it needs a lot of edition. Beyond that, one can see that the author had done his homework with plenty of research. He had protected some of the sources, done interviews and connected key figures with certain events. The very fact that the introduction begins with a review by Samuel Huntington is pretty impressive anyway, it can tell you about the impact this book can have (and who knows, probably had to some extent).
Good one in general. A must-read.
It does indeed provide a very, very detailed analysis of the events behind closed doors and I do agree with many of the points Cooley made. However, in order to be convincing (and memorable) it needs a lot of edition. Beyond that, one can see that the author had done his homework with plenty of research. He had protected some of the sources, done interviews and connected key figures with certain events. The very fact that the introduction begins with a review by Samuel Huntington is pretty impressive anyway, it can tell you about the impact this book can have (and who knows, probably had to some extent).
Good one in general. A must-read.
September 4, 2013
This book is highly impressive if taken in context: A tale of America's intertwined and morally duplicitous relationship with Al-Quaeda and and other cells in Afghanistan BEFORE 9/11. For me, this book often comes off like one of those pivotal movie scenes, with a character sucking back a cigarette while divulging the crux of hidden wars to an eager listener. Cooley really comes off like he's been in the shit, and knows how to tell it. This book shows how our view of international politics is very at odds with what actually goes on.
November 29, 2016
A very detailed and informative analysis of a major threat to the modern world. Hard to keep up with all the information blast which book gives. Some more organisation should have been done. BTW his depictions are turning out to be true. I would love to have a book by the author on the same subject after 2000.
November 12, 2014
Magnífica obra sobre las causas y las consecuencias de la i yet encino americana en Afganistán en apoyo de los talibanes contra la invasión soviética. Todos los lados de un complejo rompecabezas que encajan poco a poco hasta dibujar la realidad actual.
February 13, 2015
this is essential reading along with Jason Burke if you want to know more on the hypocrisy of US imperialism and break with its ideological imperatives posing their power as a 'missionary prophetic mission'.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews