Book SummaryGhost Wars, by Steve Coll

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Ghost Wars

The covert support from the CIA to Afghan fighters paved the way for later developments, such as the rise of Osama bin Laden and the expansion of Islamic fundamentalism.

Coll explores the covert activities of the CIA in Afghanistan, starting with the opposition to Soviet troops in the late 1970s and going on to describe the agency's attempts to handle the unexpected consequences of its secret missions, such as the rise of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. The book delves deeply into the intricate interplay between the rivalry of the Cold War era with the Soviet Union, the reliance of the CIA on local allies, the influx of Arab combatants, and the emergence of a global jihadist network.

During the Cold War period, the CIA was actively involved in operations within Afghanistan, contributing to the resistance against the Soviet military presence.

The CIA's strategy in Afghanistan was designed to entangle the Soviet Union in a costly and protracted struggle, akin to the predicament that had previously ensnared the United States in Vietnam. The strategy involved working in conjunction with the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan to direct both arms and monetary aid to the Afghan fighters resisting occupation. The conflict in Afghanistan was significantly influenced by Pakistan's strategy of employing a surrogate force, which subsequently nurtured the expansion of radical Islamic beliefs.

Working through local proxies and capitalizing on the support of Pakistan's intelligence service to counteract Soviet troops, the effort significantly impacted Afghanistan's political scene.

Coll emphasizes the lasting and unexpected consequences of the CIA's decision to primarily interact through Pakistan's intelligence service on Afghanistan's political terrain. While the United States was focused on supporting initiatives to oppose Soviet troops, Pakistan simultaneously sought to achieve its own strategic and ideological objectives in Afghanistan. Pakistan aimed to install a Kabul administration that aligned with its national interests, which would contain Pashtun nationalist aspirations and diminish India's influence in the area. The Pakistani intelligence agency favored certain factions of the Afghan resistance, particularly those led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, due to their mutual goal of founding a nation based on strict Islamic principles.

The agency, taking cues from Vietnam's complex history and wary of becoming mired in complex local political dynamics, generally agreed with this approach. The primary focus was on supplying arms and monetary aid, while the intricacies of political strategies were entrusted to the authorities in Pakistan. This approach, while successful in inflicting damage on Soviet troops, simultaneously resulted in diminished unity among the insurgent factions and bolstered the power of uncompromising figures like Hekmatyar.

Context

• The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan played a crucial intermediary role. The CIA relied on the ISI to distribute resources to Afghan mujahideen groups because of Pakistan's geographical proximity and its vested interest in the conflict.
• Pakistan's military doctrine has historically included the concept of "strategic depth," which involves having a friendly or compliant government in Afghanistan to provide a buffer against India. This strategy aims to ensure that Pakistan is not encircled by hostile forces on both its eastern and western borders.
• The influx of weapons and resources through these channels contributed to the militarization of Afghan society and the rise of warlordism, as various factions vied for power and resources.
• The arms supplied included advanced weaponry such as Stinger missiles, which were crucial in neutralizing Soviet air superiority by targeting helicopters and aircraft.
• The Vietnam War (1955-1975) was a prolonged conflict that involved the United States supporting South Vietnam against the communist North Vietnam. The war became a quagmire for the U.S., leading to significant military and civilian casualties, political controversy, and a reevaluation of U.S. foreign policy.

Under the guidance of William Casey, the CIA escalated its activities in Afghanistan, shifting the objective from simple harassment to securing victory.

The book depicts William Casey, the CIA director with a strong aversion to communism, as viewing the conflict in Afghanistan not merely as a tactical play within the Cold War context but rather as a noble battle against the atheism embodied by the Soviet Union. The policy shift, influenced by new viewpoints and increasing pressure from Congress to intensify actions against the Soviets, resulted in a significant change that was formalized when the United States adopted a strategic framework aimed at achieving a decisive victory in Afghanistan. The CIA's role expanded to include supplying basic weaponry for subversive operations, advanced arms, satellite surveillance, and training in unconventional warfare techniques to Afghan resistance fighters.

Context

• The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the communist government against insurgent groups. This invasion was part of the broader Cold War struggle and was met with international condemnation.
• This was the code name for the CIA program to arm and finance the Mujahideen. It became one of the longest and most expensive covert operations in CIA history.
• As a devout Catholic, Casey's personal beliefs may have influenced his perception of the conflict. He likely saw the struggle in Afghanistan as aligning with his own religious convictions against atheism.
• The strategic framework was part of the broader Reagan Doctrine, which advocated for supporting anti-communist insurgencies worldwide. This policy aimed to roll back Soviet influence by aiding resistance movements.
• The U.S. support significantly bolstered the Mujahideen's capabilities,...

Ghost Wars Summary After the Soviet forces withdrew, the Afghan fighters encountered disputes over authority and internal strife.

Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in the late 1980s, the nation descended into a tumultuous civil war, further aggravated by internal conflicts among the mujahedin factions along with persistent meddling by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. After the Soviet withdrawal, the United States struggled to formulate a clear and effective strategy for engaging with Afghanistan in the new period without Soviet influence.

The collapse of Afghan resistance factions and the ensuing challenges in establishing a government after the conflict.

The author depicts the challenges involved in establishing a durable and stable government in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Despite sharing similar objectives, the mujahideen factions could not consolidate their efforts under a unified vision or reach a consensus on who should lead. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia's continuous meddling significantly contributed to the collapse that precipitated a devastating civil conflict in Afghanistan, culminating in the Taliban's rise to power during the 1990s.

The mujahideen consisted of various factions, ranging from royalists to advocates of strict Islamic doctrines.

The author...

Ghost Wars Summary The rise of the Taliban and their assimilation into the regional geopolitical landscape.

Coll details the astonishing transformation of the Taliban from a small assembly of countryside clerics into the dominant authority that took control throughout Afghanistan. Amidst the chaos of internal strife and the collapse of the nation's governance framework, they advocated for a rigid and uncomplicated form of Islam, promising it would restore order and cleanse the country of its warlord rulers.

The rise to power of the Taliban, who were staunch in their fundamentalist stance advocating for a resurgence of what they believed to be authentic Islamic principles, resonated with many Afghans.

The author examines the rapid rise of the Taliban, emphasizing their dedication to Islamic tenets as they solidified their control over Kandahar at the close of 1994 and as the new year began. Coll implies that the quest to restore "Islamic purity" played a significant role in attracting backing from Afghans fatigued by chaos, rampant criminality, and the self-serving behaviors of mujahedin factions that were tearing the country apart. The Pashtuns, feeling that their deeply cherished principles had been compromised by extended chaos and foreign interference, were profoundly...

Ghost Wars Summary The United States encountered significant obstacles in its efforts to capture Osama bin Laden and other principal individuals involved in terrorist activities.

The administration under Clinton grappled with formulating a robust strategy to counter terrorism as the threat posed by bin Laden became more apparent. The author outlines the advancement of these efforts, highlighting the challenges faced in attempting to capture Osama bin Laden and his associates within the remote areas under Taliban control in Afghanistan.

Under President Clinton's tenure, the United States embraced a proactive stance in its counterterrorism strategy to tackle the worldwide web of Islamist extremism.

At first, the Clinton administration did not fully recognize the threat that international Islamist groups represented to the United States. The primary focus was on countries known for backing terrorist activities, such as Iran and Iraq, along with various Shiite factions. A series of terrorist incidents in the 1990s, including the attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 and driven by extremist religious fervor, required a change in attention, which also included the destruction of diplomatic facilities on the African continent in 1998.

In the wake of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the CIA reevaluated its threat assessment, leading to the...

Ghost Wars Summary Before the devastating attacks of September 11th, there were missed opportunities and lapses in intelligence collection.

The catastrophic events of September 11th exposed considerable deficiencies in the United States' strategies to counter terrorism and crucial intelligence oversights that allowed the terrorists to execute their plans effectively. The author highlights the intelligence community's lack of synchronization, insufficient resources, and its persistent adherence to obsolete views regarding newly surfacing threats.

Internal challenges within the US intelligence organizations hindered the effective execution of their counterterrorism strategies.

Although the nature of terrorist acts makes them inherently difficult to predict and prevent, Coll argues that the U.S. government made several significant mistakes that, unintentionally, furthered al Qaeda's goals.

The operations encountered challenges stemming from insufficient collaboration and intelligence exchange among the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies.

The author emphasizes that the lack of adequate cooperation and information sharing among various American intelligence agencies posed substantial obstacles to effectively counteracting terrorist operations. Efforts by the CIA and the FBI to work together often...