I is for Infidel

[Seascamp]

I is for Infidel
From Holy War to Holy Terror: 18 years inside Afghanistan.
By: Kathy Gannon.
Published 2005, Public Affairs.



Every once in a while a member of the media restores my faith that professionalism is still alive and the practice of ho-ing for some US MSM editor?s political agenda isn?t necessarily always true. By way of introduction the Author, Kathy Gannon, is a Canadian and currently an Associated Press reporter in Tehran, Iran.

In her narrative she relates her eighteen tough years of experience in Afghanistan beginning with the communist invasion, then the coming of the Mujahedeen, the defeat of the communists, the civil war among the Mujahedeen. Then on to Pakistan?s developing, funding and equipping of the Taliban, the Taliban?s defeat of the Mujahedeen and then Al Qaeda?s high jacking of the Taliban, and then on to the post 9/11 events in Afghanistan.

Kathy stings like a bee and all parties, including the US, get a stinger. And even the oh so sacred cow, Mikhail Gorbachev, takes a well deserved and proper smashing for his insidious and deliberate war against the small children of Afghanistan*. For those interested in a narrative about how all things connect to our current situation, this is a good and concise history of events and introduction to all the players involved.

I do not perceive an overwhelming political bias in Kathy?s work, so there is a good bit of honesty and objectivity going on and a worthwhile read, at last.

Scamp


* Thousands of toy-shaped and brightly colored explosive devices were air dropped into the Hindu Kush. Of course, when an inquisitive child picked one up, they would loose a hand, be disemboweled or blinded or all of the above.