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    The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan
    Unavailable
    The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan
    Unavailable
    The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan
    Ebook435 pages7 hours

    The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan

    By Gregory Feifer

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    “Fascinating….A highly readable history of the conflict.” —New York Times Book Review

    In The Great Gamble, a groundbreaking account of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, former NPR Moscow correspondent Gregory Feifer vividly depicts the war that contributed greatly to the demise of the USSR, and that offers striking lessons for the 21st century, as well. Told from the perspective of the Russians who fought it, The Great Gamble offers valuable insight into the history of Afghanistan’s troubled government and the rise of the Mujahideen and Al-Qaeda. In the words of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “Feifer has done truly extraordinary research… For all its heft, [The Great Gamble] is an effortless read—an unusual and gratifying combination.”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780061984389

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    Reviews for The Great Gamble

    4/5

    40 ratings2 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Its impossible to read this book and not see similarities in our own invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. This book in its own right and its own subject matter is an incredibly informative and easy to read book on the Soviet involvement, invasion, and occupation of Afghanistan. The book flows excellently from each subject and transitions easily from political, world, and individual accounts. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and sadly it would appear that those who orchestrated the Coalition invasion of Afghanistan didnt bother to read up on their Soviet history.
    • 4/5
      A quick and entertaining read. More of a collection of war stories from the Soviet expedition into Afghanistan than the title would suggest. Feifer's backgrounding is most suitable for those unfamiliar with the subject. While it risks losing information in generalizations, it manages to keep up with the rest of the book's pace. The ending seemed hurried with only already expected conclusions presented.There were two prominent drawbacks. The first is that the CIA's role is delegated to that of sideline mention as part of aid contributors to the mujahideen along with China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Operation Cyclone is not even mentioned by name and Feifer presents confusing goals for US foreign policy towards the Soviet invasion. The second being Feifer's ideological tilt towards "the free world".