Synopses & Reviews
This completely revised edition examines the events of September 11th 2001, Osama bin Laden's role and the complex working of the Al Qa'ida terror network. This is the classic book on the history of the USA's involvement with Afghanistan that explains the devastating consequences of the alliance between the US government and radical Islam. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots of the current international crisis. Cooley marshals a wealth of evidence - from the assassination of Sadat, the destabilisation of Algeria and Chechnya and the emergence of the Taliban, to the bombings of the World Trade Center and the US embassies in Africa. He examines the crucial role of Pakistans military intelligence organisation; uncovers Chinas involvement and its aftermath; the extent of Saudi financial support; the role of ‘Americas most wanted man' Osama bin Laden; the BCCI connection; the CIAs cynical promotion of drug traffic in the Golden Crescent; the events in Pakistan since the military coup of October 1999; and, finally, the events of September 11th 2001 and their continuing impact on world affairs.
Review
'[A] masterpiece of reportorial thoroughness, painstaking research, and serious reflection.' --Edward W. Said 'Cooleys important and timely book examines a strange love affair that went disastrously wrong, the alliance between America and some of the most conservative and fanatical followers of Islam.' --Los Angeles Times Book Review 'The devil of John Cooleys unsettling book is in the detail ... A persuasive argument against one-night stands in international alliances and makes clear that there will be an intolerable price to pay if Islam replaces communism as the next ‘Satanic foe”. --Independent on Sunday
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 233-242) and index.
Synopsis
'[A] masterpiece of reportorial thoroughness, painstaking research, and serious reflection.' Edward Said
About the Author
David Chandler is Professor of International Relations, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster. He has written widely on democracy, human rights and international relations and is also the author of From Kosovo to Kabul: Human Rights and International Intervention (Pluto Press) and Constructing Global Civil Society: Morality and Power in International Relations (2004), editor of Rethinking Human Rights: Critical Approaches to International Politics (2002) and Peace without Politics: Ten Years of State-Building in Bosnia (2005), and co-editor of Global Civil Society: Contested Futures (2005).
Table of Contents
Carter and Brezhnev in the Valley of Decision -- Anwar al-Sadat -- Zia al-Haq -- Deng Xiaoping -- Recruiters, trainers, trainees and assorted spooks -- Donors, bankers and profiteers -- Poppy fields, killing fields and druglords -- Russia: bitter aftertaste and reluctant return -- The contagion spreads: Egypt and the Maghreb -- More contagion: the Philippines -- The contagion spreads: the assault on America -- Epilogue.