Description
Book SynopsisWinner of the the National Book Critics Circle Award for Non-Fiction
''Spellbinding ... a magisterial account of the great tragedy of our age ... it is a classic'' Evening Standard
''In the finest traditions of American investigative journalism'' The Times
''Spectacular ... makes Bourne movies pale in comparison'' Financial Times
From the Pulitzer Prize winning of the acclaimed Ghost Wars, this is the full story of America''s grim involvement in the affairs of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2016. In the wake of the terrible shock of 9/11, the C.I.A. scrambled to work out how to destroy Bin Laden and his associates. The C.I.A. had long familiarity with Afghanistan and had worked closely with the Taliban to defeat the Soviet Union there. A tangle of assumptions, old contacts, favours and animosities were now reactivated. Superficially the invasion was quick and efficient, but Bin Laden''s successful escape, toget
Trade Review
Every assertion is carefully sourced and checked. This book is in the finest traditions of American investigative journalism. Coll is the thinking man's Michael Wolff. -- Sherard Cowper-Coles * The Times *
A masterful and entertaining account ... the story is delivered with a literary prowess that has been absent in previous western accounts of America's longest running war -- Rafia Zakaria * Guardian *
Spectacular ... Directorate S has a cast of characters that makes Bourne movies pale in comparison -- Demetri Sevastopulo * Financial Times *
Impressively detailed, stylishly crafted and authoritative... as gloomy as it is compelling * Economist *
