Gregory FeiferReseñas

A little dated now but good overview.

A new look at why Russia doesn't go the way the western world thinks it logically should. Why not? Because there is little or no logic involved in the way Russian leaders think. There is no experience with abiding by rational laws. It's always been "whatever the leader says, goes". And, there is no reason to look for that to change. Whatever is best for Russia is what Russia will pursue. The story of the author's parents' romance--Russian mother, American father-- is woven throughout the book.

Its impossible to read this book and not see similarities in our own invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. This book in its own right and its own subject matter is an incredibly informative and easy to read book on the Soviet involvement, invasion, and occupation of Afghanistan. The book flows excellently from each subject and transitions easily from political, world, and individual accounts. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and sadly it would appear that those who orchestrated the Coalition invasion of Afghanistan didnt bother to read up on their Soviet history.

Indeholder "Introduction", "1. Invasion Considered", " A Short, Victorious War", "2. Storm-333: The Invation", "3. The Soviets Dig In", "4. The Mujahideen Fight Back", "5. The Soviets Seek Victory", "6. The Tide Turns", "7. Endgame", "8. Aftermath", "Epilogue", "Acknowledgments", "Glossary of Names", "Notes", "Bibliography", "Index".

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"1. Invasion Considered, A Short, Victorious War" handler om tiden lige inden invasionen hvor Amin overtager fra Takiri med lusk, fup og fysik vold på Amins side og godtroenhed og naivitet på Takiris side. Russerne ser målløse til, mens det afghanske kommunistparti bliver revet i småstykker langs med stammeskel.
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Forfatteren beskriver russernes indtog og exit i Afghanistan. Landet er ca 100 år gammelt og grænserne er Englands og Ruslands skyld. De ville blandt meget andet svække pashtunerner og skar deres naturlige territorie over. Titlen er et ordspil på The Great Game, som er betegnelsen på det geopolitiske spil mellem England og Rusland om magten i området.

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A quick and entertaining read. More of a collection of war stories from the Soviet expedition into Afghanistan than the title would suggest. Feifer's backgrounding is most suitable for those unfamiliar with the subject. While it risks losing information in generalizations, it manages to keep up with the rest of the book's pace. The ending seemed hurried with only already expected conclusions presented.

There were two prominent drawbacks. The first is that the CIA's role is delegated to that of sideline mention as part of aid contributors to the mujahideen along with China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Operation Cyclone is not even mentioned by name and Feifer presents confusing goals for US foreign policy towards the Soviet invasion. The second being Feifer's ideological tilt towards "the free world".