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Winner of the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award for NonfictionLonglisted for the 2018 National Book Award for NonfictionFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ghost Wars, the epic and enthralling story of America's intelligence, military, and diplomatic efforts to defeat Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan since 9/11Prior to 9/11, the United States had been carrying out small-scale covert operations in Afghanistan, ostensibly in cooperation, although often in direct opposition, with I. S.I., the Pakistani intelligence agency. While the US was trying to quell extremists, a highly secretive and compartmentalized wing of I. S.I., known as "Directorate S," was covertly training, arming, and seeking to legitimize the Taliban, in order to enlarge Pakistan's sphere of influence. After 9/11, when fifty-nine countries, led by the U. S., deployed troops or provided aid to Afghanistan in an effort to flush out the Taliban and Al Qaeda, the U. S. was set on an invisible slow-motion collision course with Pakistan. Today we know that the war in Afghanistan would falter badly because of military hubris at the highest levels of the Pentagon, the drain on resources and provocation in the Muslim world caused by the U. S.-led invasion of Iraq, and corruption. But more than anything, as Coll makes painfully clear, the war in Afghanistan was doomed because of the failure of the United States to apprehend the motivations and intentions of I. S.I.'s "Directorate S". This was a swirling and shadowy struggle of historic proportions, which endured over a decade and across both the Bush and Obama administrations, involving multiple secret intelligence agencies, a litany of incongruous strategies and tactics, and dozens of players, including some of the most prominent military and political figures. A sprawling American tragedy, the war was an open clash of arms but also a covert melee of ideas, secrets, and subterranean violence. Coll excavates this grand battle, which took place away from the gaze of the American public. With unsurpassed expertise, original research, and attention to detail, he brings to life a narrative at once vast and intricate, local and global, propulsive and painstaking. This is the definitive explanation of how America came to be so badly ensnared in an elaborate, factional, and seemingly interminable conflict in South Asia. Nothing less than a forensic examination of the personal and political forces that shape world history, Directorate S is a complete masterpiece of both investigative and narrative journalism.

Details e-book Directorate S

🗸 Author(s): Steve Coll
🗸 Title: Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan
🗸 Rating : 4.6 from 5 stars (817 reviews)
🗸 Languange: English
🗸 Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
🗸 Supported Devices: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle

Readers' opinions about Directorate S by Steve Coll

Jenise Hope
This gripping thriller takes readers on a rollercoaster ride through the dark alleys of a crime-ridden city, where the protagonists must unravel a complex web of deceit to solve a murder. The plot twists are relentless, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final revelation. With its well-developed characters and gritty atmosphere, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre.

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Dive into a gripping thriller that takes readers on a pulse-pounding journey through the criminal underworld. Set in a gritty urban landscape, the story follows a determined detective as he races against time to catch a ruthless serial killer. With its twisty plot and nail-biting suspense, this book is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Ronae Berry
This captivating novel weaves together history and romance in a sweeping saga of love and loss set against the backdrop of war-torn Europe. As the world is torn apart by conflict, the lives of the protagonists are forever changed by the tumultuous events of the time. With its vivid imagery and poignant storytelling, this book is a moving tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.