Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan, 1979-89

Long overdue English language account of a war the West profoundly misunderstood, and a wonderful read to boot. The author presents a scrupulously fair description of the Soviet Union's bloody and painful campaign from their reluctant overthrow of the dictatorial Amin regime, through successive failed campaigns to crush the mujerhadin, to their army's escape from Afghanistan a decade later as the Soviet Union was literally crumbling around them. No punches are pulled, brutality on both sides is scrupulously detailed, as well as the horrendous effect on the Afghan population itself, but perhaps the book's greatest strength is the insight it gives into the war from the perspective of the mostly conscript soldiers, the Aghantsy as they show more termed themselves, both during and after the war, when they struggled to get what they were entitled to in the economically crippled former Soviet Union. The author examines the often drawn parallel with Vietnam, noting the similarities, some of the way things panned out are eerily similar (the Soviets' desperate flight from their embassy in Kabul just as the Americans had to in Saigon is especially haunting), but also highlighting the considerable differences. He also notes the unexpected general respect that the Russians have in Afghanistan today compared to the Western forces who came in 2001, and concludes the Soviets probably fought their war better than the US and its allies have subsequently done. This is a fascinating, informative and thought-provoking book, certainly one of the better books I have read about the "small wars" of the 20th century. Highly recommended. show less

This was a balanced and sympathetic account of the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. The author draws many parallels with the much larger American involvement in Vietnam, with one important difference - whereas the North Vietnamese regime was disciplined, coherent, and united, the Afghan mujaheddin were (and are) anything but. The author drives home the raw deal handed to the troops on the ground in a fresh and lucid manner.

This was absolutely superb. It was an excellent descriptive, highly readable account of what happened, with great interludes describing individuals experiences on the ground as well as the effects that political decisions had on the conflict. Required reading for anyone with an interest in the Cold War

Great insight. We need more books like this.