Beginning with the communist Saur Revolution of 1978 and continuing through Gen. David Petraeus's 2010 appointment replacing Stanley McChrystal as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, this book is an inside account of one of the most vicious conflicts fought between the two Cold War superpowers: the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-89). Analyzing the behind-the-scenes decisions made in Moscow, Washington, and Kabul, former BBC correspondent Deepak Tripathi shows how that conflict transformed Afghanistan into a sanctuary for terrorism. -- Publisher.

maps on lining. Maps of Afghanistan on lining.

The concept of terror -- Culture of violence -- Afghanistan in the Cold War -- Afghanistan under communism -- Toward disintegration -- The second communist coup -- Let battle commence -- The Reagan offensive -- Consequences of the U.S.-Soviet war -- The final days of communism -- The remaking of the post-Soviet world -- The rise of the Taliban -- Dialectics of the Afghan conflict -- The nature of Al-Qaeda -- Conclusion -- Afterword -- Appendices.