What will the post-Taliban government of Afghanistan look like? How will the war in Afghanistan affect the already unstable politics of Central Asi...
read full description
reviews
Mar 04, 2009
Bruce
rated it: 
This work is a combination, travelogue, history, and political commentary of the countries in the Himalayas and the plateaus surrounding them. The first country Margolis discusses is Afghanistan. Margolis notes that Russia’s grand strategy since Ivan the Terrible has been to gain warm water ports in the south. He tells of his foreboding on meeting with several Afghan mujahid in Toronto when they were on a money raising tour in the 1980s. They were faith based warriors in ‘the Secret War’ the US
More...
Oct 20, 2009
Pete
rated it:
Always fascinating, if sometimes frustrating and inconsistent. Margolis is a talented writer and he does a fine job of summarizing the various conflicts that have erupted and might explode in the future in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Tibet, Burma, and other nations straddling the roof of the world. The inconsistencies in tone are often frustrating, however. It's clear that colonial powers from Britain to Russia to China to the US are responsible for much of the strife in the region. However, it's
More...
Apr 09, 2009
Lumumba
rated it: 
Mr. Margolis' style of interweaving his journalistic insights into an ongoing diary-style narrative made this an easy and enjoyable read. He provides a first-hand observers account into the politics of a region of the world that seems destined to be a perpetual hot-spot of geopolitical activity. In a time when punditry has been mistaken for journalism, this is a must-read for anyone interested South-east Asian affairs, including the colonial adventure in Afghanistan that is often mistaken as def
More...
Aug 24, 2009
Another magnificent Margolis who is expert on war issues. He has spent 10 years in Afpak during Soviet war. His mother who covered whole 48 Israel-Palestine war in 50s and her son had covered whole war of soviet and he also went to Kashmir to cover K-war. It is also a brilliant book recommend to all who wanna seek sum good words about Afghanistan and Indian atrocities in Kashmir.
Feb 19, 2011
Bill
rated it:
Fantastic review of the geopolitical challenges in South Asia. Margolis's first hand accounts and experiences in the region make him the perfect person to write such a book.
Jan 14, 2008
Joe
rated it:
This book provides excellent insight into some of the personalities involved in the Afghan-Russian war in the 1980's, including those that are currently involved on both sides of the current war on terror. This is not an un-biased book, it is very much from the author's narrow point of view and he spends a lot of time ..., both in the struggle against the Russians, the Indians, and the American forces today.
The book is worth reading to gain some idea of the way of life in South Asia, bu More...
The book is worth reading to gain some idea of the way of life in South Asia, bu More...
Dec 18, 2007
Jessica
rated it:
I got this as a gift from a boss when I graduated high school (he knew I was studying journalism). It took me almost six years to read it, if that gives you any idea how much this particular subject inspired me.
It was helpful in understanding a lot of the historical context for what's happening now in that region, but definitely contained more information than I will ever need.
Also, pretty dryly written. The small tidbits of personal experience on the part of the author are More...
It was helpful in understanding a lot of the historical context for what's happening now in that region, but definitely contained more information than I will ever need.
Also, pretty dryly written. The small tidbits of personal experience on the part of the author are More...
Dec 16, 2009
Noura
rated it:
Important book to read to see the tangled connections in international politics in this part of the world...particularly noteworthy is that the Russians bombed themselves and framed the chechens.
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 07, 2012
Jan 17, 2012
Jan 09, 2012
Nov 13, 2011
Nov 05, 2011
Oct 23, 2011
Oct 09, 2011
Sep 15, 2011
Aug 20, 2011
Aug 10, 2011
Aug 09, 2011
Aug 05, 2011
Aug 04, 2011
