A great guide for anyone who wants background information on a volatile country ... This book is a well-rounded assembly of facts, timelines, definitions, and general information that covers an array of topics from the origin of Muslim influence in Afghanistan, to the current state of the Taliban rule and its affects on its people. We also get background information on Osama Bin Laden leading up to and following his declaration of war on the United States. Overall, I give this book a very high rating. It both summarized what I've already learned about Afghanistan..., and has also given me a broader understanding of the region and its history.

This two-sided map easily outperforms other maps that are commercially available either on-line or in stores. The only map that comes close is the Afghanistan map in the Nelles Maps series, and the legend of the Nelles map cuts out the areas in Pakistan bordering the Afghan provinces of Paktia and Paktika, where considerable military action is taking place. This map serves as an outstanding teaching tool, enabling teachers to physically show the range of Pakhtun territory without sacrificing detail of topography and settlement. As a bonus, the map shows a substantial chunk of northern and western India, including all of Kashmir, all of Punjab, and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Afghanistan does not exist in isolation, and this map is a good starting point for exploring Afghanistan's connections to the rest of the world. One hopes that the "limited availability" of this map does not indicate that it is no longer in print. Otherwise one is left with detailed maps of an Afghanistan detached from its neighbors or with the useless, data-poor, primary-color maps available on the web.

"AFGHANISTAN a country study", Dept Army Pamphlet 550-65 5th edition, January 1986, 400+ pp. As I write this review, I see that an updated November 2001 edition of this book has only just now become available. The 5th edition was written during the Soviet occupation and war against the mujahidin resistance.

As usual with this excellent series, the author gives a concise summary of the nation's historical, geographical, cultural, political, economic, and military aspects for his readers. What I especially found most helpful, in light of more recent events, were both his detailed description and analysis of the previous 10 years of history and political developments through the end of 1985 as the Soviet Union came to dominate, invade, occupy, and devastate Afghanistan and the detailed explanation of the differences and relationships between the 15+ major Afghani ethnic groups separated by language, religion, geography and history. The author includes an extremely astute analysis of Soviet political, economic, and military strategy and tactics which led to their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, defeat of the Najibullah regime in 1992, and the subsequent fundamentalist Islamic state ruled by the Taliban.

Having read several other DA pam 550 Area Handbooks, I was struck also by the author's appropriate use of humor in many places, which is not usually found in other area handbooks or in federally funded documents in general. Unfortunately, this series is not updated as frequently as I would like it to be. Obviously, an annual edition is not necessary since other government agencies perform that function but I would like to see more frequent revisions of titles in the series which incorporate the most recent current events and available economic data on a 4 or 5 year cycle whenever possible.

"Afghanistan: Lifting the Veil" is well-titled, as it helps educate what and why the people, the Taliban, bin Laden, al Qaeda could be what they are in Afghanistan.

Reuters is one of the best positions possible to see what is going on. As the top int'l news agency, they know the lay of the land, and the issues surrounding things.

It is not overly academic, and is accessible by the intelligent reader. It brings more to the table than simple American anger, or sadness for the loss of the WTC. Instead, Reuters shows the whole of the matter, demonstrating the grays and well as the black and whites of the circumstance.

I fully recommend "Afghanistan: Lifting the Veil" by Reuters.

Anthony Trendl

This is perhaps the best ever book I have read on the Afghan "problem", ever since it erupted in 1978. Not only is it clear and concise, but it is an impartial, to-the-point and commonsense scholastic analysis which gives an all round description of the episode--its nature, causes and history. As well as this, it details the multifaceted implications of this issue for the world from various angles at a time when high level falsifications and general confusion rule the day, so it is really welcome. I leave it to the reader to substantiate what I have said concerning this book. Although written in 2001--and the world nowadays tends to move very rapidly and unpredictably--this in no way reduces the reference value or indeed the contextual currency of this treastise for scholars and strategists. G.D.Bakshi is to be praised and thanked for this present of his.

Dr. J. Bruce Amstutz was the U.S. charge d'affaires in Kabul from 1977 to 1980. He begins with an historical overview of the years of Russian meddling and then follows with a first-hand report of the 1979 invasion. He also discusses the numerous Afghan political factions.

Through photographs, book tells the story of the country's struggle since 9/11 to recover from its saddest day. Each photo stands on its own and delivers a message without words. Rather than focusing on sensational photos of the towers burning and falling, book chooses to document how the world has changed. Just as LIFE magazine had always done, book uses photography not only to illustrate but to inform and inspire.

This book is a detailed account of the lives of many British soldiers while the British East India Company was in existence. It includes the conflict with Russia and other countries. I liked this book because of its twists and turns. It leaves you hanging and wondering what is going to happen next.

If you liked Into Thin Air or The Perfect Storm, search out all of Ella Maillart's books. She was a female adventurer back when women didn't even travel to civilized places, much less uncivilized ones. Her books are inspiring to read. I'm amazed at all the places she sought out around the globe. What a woman!