9-11 afghanistan central-asia cold-war diplomacy espionage history islam politics soviet-union taliban terrorism united-states usa war

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.