Traces the involvement of the Taliban resurgence to sponsorship - overtly and covertly, by our supposed Allies in Pakistan. Makes a good argument that we have been fighting the wrong enemy but the cast of characters is impossible to keep track of. ( )

As a recent connoisseur of information on the US history of incursions into Afghanistan and Pakistan, this books stands out as a clear history of mistakes that seems obvious in hindsight, as most do, I suppose. But it seems unlikely that the US military nor the executive branch could not have suspected that they were doomed to repeat the miserable history of Vietnam and guerilla warfare and of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Gall's book is chapter and verse of the total ignorance of the tribal system and the wretchedness of Pakistan's playing both sides of the fence to maintain their power in the region, especially against India. Detail about Pakistani support of Osama bin Laden is especially painful.

Carlotta Gall was there and does us all the favor of sharing her dangerous path through the various tribal areas and providences. And with the resurgence of the Taliban at the US/NATO withdrawal, and Pakistan's continual sub rosa support of "good terrorists" vs "bad terrorists", there's no good end in sight. ( )