The US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had near-unanimous public support: defeat al-Qaeda and prevent a repeat of 9/11. Yet soon after the United States and its allies removed the Taliban from power, the mission veered off course. The US military became mired in an unwinnable guerrilla conflict in a country it did not understand. Whitlock shows that no president wanted to admit failure, especially in a war that began as a just cause. The Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations repeatedly said they were making progress, even though they knew there was no realistic prospect for an outright victory. With revelations from people who played a direct role in the war, and admit that the US government's strategies were a mess, Whitlock provides a shocking account that will change the way the conflict is remembered. -- Adapted from publisher info

Map on liner papers.

A Muddled mission --"Who Are the Bad Guys?" -- The nation-building project -- Afghanistan becomes an afterthought -- Raising an army from the ashes -- Islam for dummies -- Playing both sides -- Lies and spin -- An incoherent strategy -- The warlords -- A war on opium -- Doubling down -- "A Dark Pit of Endless Money" -- From friend to foe -- Consumed by corruption -- At war with the truth -- The enemy within -- The grand illusion -- Trump's turn -- The narco-state -- Talking with the Taliban.