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Afghanistan: A Military History From Alexander The Great To The Fall Of The Taliban | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephen Tanner
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Category: Book
List Price: $17.95
Buy Used: $4.48
You Save: $13.47 (75%)
New (28) Used (18) from $4.48
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 48875
Media: Paperback
Pages: 368
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0306812339
Dewey Decimal Number: 355
EAN: 9780306812330
ASIN: 0306812339
Publication Date: July 9, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Standard used condition.
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Product Description
Following the events of September 11, 2001, the world was riveted as American military power contested the legendary warrior culture of Afghanistan. By spring 2002, America began to draw down its forces, its mission accomplished: The Afghan Taliban regime has been overthrown and the terrorists it harbored were on the run. Was America's easy victory proof of its military superiority, or were the Afghans merely eyeing the newcomers as they have watched foreign armies in centuries past, knowing time is on their side?For over 2,500 years, the forbidding territory of Afghanistan has served as a vital crossroads--not just for armies but for clashes between civilizations--the Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, and Tartars, and in more recent times, Britain and Russia. Now America must face a new enemy on this land--a land that for centuries has become a graveyard of empires past.This first-ever complete military history of Afghanistan illuminates the broad historical context into which American forces have been drawn--a cautionary tale, perhaps, about the dangers that may lie ahead.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
Very good for the first 90%, then downhill rapidly. March 1, 2005
James H. Boschma III (The US of A)
18 out of 21 found this review helpful
This book is an excellent introduction to the "big" history of modern-day Afghanistan, providing an overview of empire building and collapsing (either Afghans pushing outward or others pushing inwards), succeeding waves of tribes and armies moving through the region, etc. For anyone interested in having an understanding of Afghanistan with some historical depth to it, this book is one I would, consequently, recommend.
Where the author falls flat, in my opinion, is when he begins to pontificate on how the United States should have pursued its intervention in that nation. In this instance he betrays a minimal level of understanding ("where were the light parts of the 1st Infantry Division?" being a question he asks, apparently unaware that the current answer is that such don't exist, for instance).
The book does redeem itself a bit in looking at the future of Afghanistan, with the author proposing a rather novel notion of modelling the Afghan government on that of Switzerland. The author makes a decent case for the idea, even if it might sound a bit odd.
Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban April 1, 2006
D. Rensema
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This book was very well researched and written. Even if you have very little knowledge of Afghanistan, you can understand and easily read this book. It is full of interesting history, along with it's excellent explanation of the military information that is the center if it's purpose.
Not being a military history buff, I was pleased to see that some of this country's history, it's native peoples, and some their customs were also covered.
It is good reading.
You must be interested in Afghanistan and it's history to read this book, and if you are this book is a winner for you.
The only drawback is that you can get lost in all of the names, battles and locations happening at once, especially during the Alexander period. If you have the patience to reread some passages over again, you'll be fine.
Lots of good information.
 Helpful for breadth, not for depth August 11, 2007
John W. Hagala (United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is an excellent book if you are just looking into the mindset of the region, and a basic history of Afghanistan. However, as another reviewer states, it does begin to fall flat on the more modern history. Again, Stephen Tanner acts as though the Taliban are gone forever toward the end of the book. He also makes a lot of assumptions, guesses, and does show that he lacks an understanding of our military and their strategies. For example, the suggestion that we were using Afghans as "cannon fodder" because we didn't give them combat boots, body armor, helmets and M-4s or M-16s. For a better understanding of why the Afghans wouldn't have accepted (or used) any of those things, I suggest reading Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. The short answers on both of those are "stealth" and "reliability". (The author actually refers to the AK-47 as RICKETY. Yikes.)
Becuase of this, for me, it does throw into doubt the rest of the book. If he could get so many basics wrong (again, the AK-47 - rickety? Really?) did he get any of the ancient history stuff right? Well, he doesn't cite any sources, so if you're looking for historical accuracy, you should pass on this. But I recommend this book if you want a somewhat slanted, entertaining, breadth-first basic approach to the military history of Afghanistan. It is rather easy to read.
If you want to really know what's going on in Afghanistan though, right now, there are better books out there. I highly recommend Luttrell's book above for a on-the-ground look at the Operation Enduring Freedom.
Overall I give this entertaining look at Afghanistan 3 rickety AK-47s out of 5.
 Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban July 8, 2005
David J. H. Nicoll
5 out of 10 found this review helpful
This is an excellent book that puts the history of Afghanistan into perspective. It explains the importance of thsi country and why it has been a center for turmoil.
Some corrections... January 24, 2007
Farruh Abdurahimzoda (OR, USA)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Very well researched and concisely written history book, however couple of mistakes made by the author should be noted: the correct present day name of river "Jaxartes" is spelled "Syr" or "Sir" as opposed to author's "Sri" on page 7. On page 8, second paragraph, author lists Tajiks as one of the Turkic ethnic groups, whereas Tajiks are completely different from Turks or other Turkic ethnic groups, such as Uzbeks and Turkmen. Ethnically, linguistically, and by physical features (facial appearance) Tajiks are Persian, thus, different from Uzbeks, Turkmen, Kyrgyz, and Kazakhs.
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