I didn't care for this book at all. I've read a few other books about women in Afghanistan and they've been excellent but this one was dry. This book reminded me of a textbook because it was so dull. I would recommend going to RAWA's website if you want more information.

This book provides less insight than the RAWA website (...), and very little background information. Not only that, but the website features RAWA's activities since Sept 11th - barely mentioned here - including its continuing fight against oppression. Nope, it wasn't the Taliban who instituted "gender apartheid" (though they wholeheartedly embraced it), and things aren't all nice and rosy now they're "gone". Women are still being arrested for walking outside without a chaperone, and being forced to endure humiliating public gynecological exams to prove their chastity; and life goes on just as it did under the Taliban. Things were bad before, bad during, and now they're still bad. Go to the website and get a clear view of what's what in Afghanistan. Now. And see what could happen if you don't actively work to retain your rights.

A very well-written book that provides good factual insights into the historical and operational aspects of RAWA while remaining entertaining to read. Some of the entertaining portions are those where the author's opinions shine through clearly, at times with powerful sarcasm, for instance in her description of the American press's role in perpetuating the mythology surrounding Afghan warriors.
A great, fun, and informative read. I can only recommend it.

This supposed guide to the "jihad" or holy war was a complete bust. Mr Carew (if that is who he really is) has duped us into believing that this book would serve as an insightful look at the war in afghanistan during the 1980's. It in fact is nothing but a poorly written story of one mans exploits as a so called operative for the SAS.
Mr. Carew bored me to tears with his self indulgent back patting.
Save your money!

As "Tom Carew", a S.A.S. soldier joins up with British and American intelligence he finds himself deep in the heart of the ultimate soldiers nightmare; Afghanistan. Its 1980 and soviet forces are wrecking the landscape, killing any unfortunate soul crossing their path. Tom is teamed up with the mujahideen and has a double task; search for specific military equipement and find ways and places to train the Afghan resistance against the Soviet forces. What happens next might very well be one of the best accounts of "modern" guerilla warfare and black bag operations,and written in a human point of view, this story is down to earth and has actually managed to capture the true feelings and pains of a soldiers life. Correct that, a human's life. One of the best books ever written about the S.A.S. and their way of life,a book worthwhile reading.

I bought this book at Heathrow Airport flying out to New York and I read the whole thing in one go. It is a really amazing story of a soldier fighting against communism at the height of the Cold war. Tom Carew - a British ex-soldier - was sent by the DIA to find out what was happening in Afghanistan. He's the first western soldier I came across outside the movies who actually fought the Russians. A real good story which takes you every step of the way through the mountains with him.

I have not read or seen this book yet so I can't review any thing on it. So please sand me any thing on this book. thank you

Salaam, I would like to read a summary of the topics covered in this book. Also, tell us more about the Author, Senzil K. Nawid.

A pretty pathetic mix of front line monotony and homeland poetry. The author either smoked way too much dope while in Afganistan or he just lacks any idea of what it was he was trying to get across to the audience. I kicked back and was all set to read what I thought would be a real down to earth description of war in one of the few armpits left in this world. But after about 15 minutes I realised this was another in a long string of Soviet/Afghan let downs. It seems very few, if any, of the soldiers who fought in this war have anything but the most rudimentary idea of how to put it down on paper. Bottom line, if your on a deserted island and this book washes up on shore, go ahead and enjoy it. Just don't part with any cash for it.

Perhaps I loved the book more because I read it on my recent visit to Afghanistan. Beginning with the first episode in Kabul Hotel, everything seemed so vivid and painful. I was really sorry for those who had to be on both sides in the period of the Soviet occupation, which turned out to be after all the beginning of a much more grave tragedy.

This short compilation of memoirs was published from the Karta Journal web site for Russian war veterans. The contributors include officers of the Spetznaz and air forces, and professional mercenaries. Basically, these are standard Soviet war memoirs: fairly impersonal accounts of battles, ambushes, casualties. Caravans of foreign weapons and jihadists constantly intercepted from Pakistan. The Afghan government forces ("tsarandoi") were considered soft targets by the rebel mujahedin ("dushmani"), and often proved to be of little help to their Soviet comrades. The book contains details of a couple of notorious massacres, in which Russian platoons were abandoned or even betrayed by their Afghan allies. And there are some curiously indifferent accounts of torture at the hands of mujahedin. Although translated from the veterans' own words, the anecdotes and interviews give little indication of their writers' emotions. The translation itself is barely adequate. The overall quality of the book is below average. It appears to have been printed on a Xerox machine. Pages alternate between text and illustrations, the latter consisting of small, badly-reproduced sketches and photos. There are approximately twenty different illos, which are repeated in series. Each one appears over a half-dozen times, apparently for the purpose of "padding" the contents. ...! Overall, these memoirs are interesting, and valuable as historical reference. ...

For much of this book, I learned much about the history of Afghanistan and the people who make up this troubled country. Up till the last chapter, it was a really interesting read. Then Griffiths starts talking about his viewpoint on the Taliban and why the West should negotiate with the Taliban government. Griffiths states that America is out for revenge following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and has picked on Afghanistan. I don't know much about Griffiths' politics, but I do know he didn't know anyone who died on September 11, 2001. Much of what the world knows about the Taliban after they lost control of the country show them to be a narrow minded religious party out to remake the modern world and turn the clock back. And Griffiths thinks we should negotiate with them.
For those who want to read this interesting book, rip out Chapters 14 and 15. They don't make much sense, so why read those chapters.

A ground-view account of a trip with the Hezb Party of Muhajidin during the Soviet War. Martin presents hellish marches, mortifying illness, exhilirating danger and brutal tedium while attempting to walk the line between romanticism and history.

The book doesn't give a broad view of the conflict, but it is a readable account which puts a human face on the primitive but valiant people we Americans are currently arrayed against.

I really enjoyed this book, and think others will enjoy it as much. I liked how the characters seemed to stand out, and come to life. Some points are confusing.... Like when itaz is talking to someone, and how the author jumps from person to person is annoying, but this is a book definately worth reading if you can understand what the underlying meaning is in the book. A GOOD BOOK TO READ!!!!

I read this book in the spring of 2001 and at the time I was somewhat interested in a war that I did not know a lot about. Given the events post 9/11 it would be interesting to reread the book. The book was ok, it offered some interesting facts of the British Special Forces operations, but it did not provide a good overall view of the conflict, country or people of Afghanistan. There are a number of books now coming out about this conflict and part of the world that would probably offer a better overview. If you are interested in British Special Forces then this would be a good book for you.