Charlie Wilson's War

**Roguish Lawyer** · 10-06-2004, 20:32

By a 60 Minutes producer named George Criles. I'm only about 1/4-way through, but it is very well written and interesting.

The gist of the book seems to be that the CIA really deserves a lot of credit for the Soviet failure in Afghanistan, and that two extremely colorful figures deserve the credit for what the CIA did -- Congressman Charles Wilson and CIA operative Gust Avrakotos. Wilson was a hard-partying womanizer from Texas who used his power on key House Appropriations subcommittees to increase US support for the mujaheddin. He also did a lot of other stuff one typically associates with the Executive Branch, like brokering arms deals between Israel and Pakistan. Avrakotos was a "rogue" CIA operations guy who helped Wilson. Very colorful guy who hated the Ivy League "cake eaters" at CIA and did not try to hide it.

I am looking forward to reading the rest and was going to wait to finish to post a review, but I know we have some folks who know a lot about Afghanistan here. Jimbo, I see from an old SOCNET post that you read it and liked it. I hope you'll say more here about the book. AL, have you read it? Anyone else?

**Team Sergeant** · 10-06-2004, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

The gist of the book seems to be that the CIA really deserves a lot of credit for the Soviet failure in Afghanistan, Anyone else?

Good for them...

I guess someone should take the credit...

TS
Quiet Professional

Huey14 · 10-06-2004, 21:15

I'm reading a book on the exact same thing, "My Enemies Enemy."

Bloody good book, though I can't say I approve of some the things Wilson did as...recreational activites.

None · 10-06-2004, 21:34

Like most everything, it's good to have a number of points of view. Charlie Wilson's war was definitely a great read. Out of all I've read on Afhganistan...I'd say the following build a pretty good picture once you've read them all and cross checked facts (Charlie Wilson's War, Soldiers of God, The Hidden War, and Holy War INC are well written and by far the easiest to read/enjoy):

American point of view:
-----------------------------

Charlie Wilson's War
Ghost Wars

Reporter's travels/POV (both American and Soviet):
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Soldiers of God
The Hidden War

Mujahideen POV:
----------------------

Afghan Guerrilla Warfare

Pakistan's ISI POV (at least the one brigadier):
-----------------------------------------------------------

Afghanistan The Bear Trap

Afghan related (Al Qaeda/Taliban centric):
-----------------------------------------------------

Holy War, Inc.
Taliban
9/11 Commission Report
Masterminds of Terror

**Roguish Lawyer** · 10-06-2004, 21:41

None:

Thanks for the reply. I'd like it if you would put some more information in your profile. We like to know with whom we are conversing.

**Roguish Lawyer** · 10-06-2004, 22:38

From the book site:

Quote:

Charlie Wilson's War, the New York Times bestseller, has been purchased by Tom Hanks to make into a movie. Hanks intends to play the Texas Congressman himself.

For more information, go to:
http://movies.go.com/movies/C/charli...004/index.html

Huey14 · 10-06-2004, 22:48

I've just looked at my copy and it seems we're talking about the exact same book LOL. Just a different title.

D9 (RIP) · 10-07-2004, 00:24

I'm reading this now and fast coming to the conclusion that Joann Herring deserves at least 50% of the credit.

**Airbornelawyer** · 10-07-2004, 11:46

Once you're all finished, come back to me and I will factcheck it for you. I have a moderately good opinion of Charlie, but he takes credit for a lot of stuff other people (including close friends of mine) did and undervalues their contributions.

Oh, Tom Hanks as Charlie Wilson would be almost as miscast as Tom Hanks as Dick Winters (Maj. Winters threatening to walk from BoB aborted that).

**Roguish Lawyer** · 10-29-2004, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbornelawyer

Once you're all finished, come back to me and I will factcheck it for you. I have a moderately good opinion of Charlie, but he takes credit for a lot of stuff other people (including close friends of mine) did and undervalues their contributions.

OK, I'm done.