Wholesome History Reads Group discussion

In this thread folks can post and discuss any book that covers the War on Terror and aspects associated with that theme.

I figured I would add this thread as some folks may like to post about some good books that they have read on this subject. I recently saw this new book by Steve Coll; "Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001–2016" and it looked really interesting so I have ordered a copy as well as his early book; "Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001". I am really looking forward to reading both books as soon as I can.

Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Steve Coll

Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001–2016 by Steve Coll

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I figured I would add this thread as some folks may like to post about some good books that they have read on this subject. I recently saw this new book by Steve Coll; "Directorate S: The C.I.A. an..."

I read Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, but I think that was before I was on Goodreads so I didn't write a review. If I remember correctly, it was an interesting read and I learned a lot. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks A.L., it does look like a very interesting book.

Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 does look very interesting.

My contribution is 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer which I thought was excellent (and harrowing, and moving).

Looks like another interesting book Tony. I noticed that "Ghost Wars" won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.

Another book that I recently purchased that covers the War on Terror was; "The Exile":

The Exile: The Stunning Inside Story of Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Flight by Cathy Scott-Clark

Hmmm, which one to read first :)

I found this information very interesting in regards to information sharing between various US agencies and departments, this is after the first World Trade Centre bombing:

"Prosecutors and police, including the FBI, were also discouraged from sharing with the CIA leads or evidence they collected in domestic criminal cases. In many cases if an FBI agent or federal prosecutor passed along to the CIA files or witness statements obtained during a terrorism investigation before a grand jury - no matter how important that evidence might be to American national security - he or she could go to jail."

Some more very interesting information from the book; "Ghost Wars":

" ... Even at this late stage the American government and its intelligence services lacked a complete understanding of covert Pakistani support for the Taliban - an ignorance born mainly from lack of interest and effort. A December 1996 State Department cable reported that Pakistani intelligence was secretly supplying cash, equipment, and military advisers to the Taliban, and that high-level Pakistani officers from ISI were fighting inside Afghanistan along with uneducated recruits from Pakistan. 'We recently have received more credible information about the extent and origin of Pakistani assistance and support to the Taliban,' the Islamabad embassy reported. But the question was uncertain enough within confidential American government channels that ambassador Tom Simons could report to Washington just a few weeks later that Pakistani aid to the Taliban was 'probably less malign than most imagine' and probably amounted to much less than rumoured. 'Military advice to the Taliban may be there, but is probably not all that significant,' Simons concluded. Long practiced at covert programs in Afghanistan, the Pakistanis had deceived Washington about the Taliban for two solid years."

Does anybody know if there is a book kinda like the film Zero Dark Thirty?

That's a good question Paul. I'm not too sure. I've heard about this book but I have not read it myself; "Countdown bin Laden: The Untold Story of the 247-Day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice". It may be worth while checking out some online reviews to see if its what you are looking for.

Countdown bin Laden: The Untold Story of the 247-Day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice by Chris Wallace

thank you I think I've actually found one called No Easy Day

by Mark Owen

Paul wrote: "thank you I think I've actually found one called No Easy Day"

Glad you found one :)