A National Public Radio reporter covering the last stand of the Taliban in their home base of Kandahar in Afghanistan's southern borderland, Sarah Chayes became deeply immersed in the unfolding drama of the attempt to rebuild a broken nation at the crossroads of the world's destiny. Her NPR tour up in early 2002, she left reporting to help turn the country's fortunes, accepting a job running a nonprofit founded by President Hamid Karzai's brother. With remarkable access to leading players in the postwar government, Chayes ...
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A National Public Radio reporter covering the last stand of the Taliban in their home base of Kandahar in Afghanistan's southern borderland, Sarah Chayes became deeply immersed in the unfolding drama of the attempt to rebuild a broken nation at the crossroads of the world's destiny. Her NPR tour up in early 2002, she left reporting to help turn the country's fortunes, accepting a job running a nonprofit founded by President Hamid Karzai's brother. With remarkable access to leading players in the postwar government, Chayes witnessed a tragic story unfold-the perverse turn of events whereby the U.S. government and armed forces allowed and abetted the return to power of corrupt militia commanders to the country, as well as the reinfiltration of bands of Taliban forces supported by U.S. ally Pakistan. In this gripping and dramatic account of her four years on the ground, working with Afghanis in the battle to restore their country to order and establish democracy, Chayes opens Americans' eyes to the sobering realities of this vital front in the war on terror.
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An exceptional assessment of post 9/11 Afghanistan
If your thinking about buying this book, do yourself a favor, BUY IT! Regardless of your motives, this book is worth reading. Sarah Chayes has produced a revealing and intelligent Occidental glimpse into post 9/11 Afghanistan. Chayes experiences reporting for NPR and her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco has given her the deft to negotiate the notoriously suspicious and misogynistic culture that permeates the Middle East. She is an observant and adept diplomat who does not mince words or appear to be beholden to any government agency or Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Afghanistan, Chayes observes, is ?an entire nation comprised of generations suffering the effects of PTSD.? I had never considered such a possibility and if Americans realized this concept, perhaps we could be a bit more productive in our re-construction and social efforts. For the military, Chayes?s analysis of the county?s centuries old ?yaghistan reflex,? which has salvaged generations of Afghans from raiding empires is both brilliant and of important note. Chayes also reveals the not-so-subtle influences of Pakistan on Afghan political and social instability. This is all wound around the story of Chayes?s experiences and her brief but telling assessment of Afghan history. Chayes includes a perceptive and frank quote by one of her associates, Ayse Yildiz, that could surmise the situation there at least as much as the book?s title, ?Here we are, a bunch of kids from dysfunctional families, working at a dysfunctional organization, trying to fix a dysfunctional country.? REVIEW EVERY BOOK YOU READ.
MFEC
May 26, 2007
If Afghanistan intrigues you, read this!
Sarah Chayes is an extraordinary woman. I knew of her before I bought the book - first, through her NYT blog a year ago, then through Google. For anyone who is concerned or involved in Afghanistan currently, this is an important book. It will open your eyes to the politics that push and pull this country. It is also well written and moving. When I finished it, I immediately lent it to an advisor who is leading a capacity building project here. To Sarah, her soap cooperative, and her sincere attempts to help Afghanistan, Godspeed!
