Blood Washing Blood

Afghanistan's Hundred-Year War

By: Phil Halton

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

A clear-eyed view of the conflict in Afghanistan and its century-deep roots.

The war in Afghanistan has consumed vast amounts of blood and treasure, causing the Western powers to seek an exit without achieving victory. Seemingly never-ending, the conflict has become synonymous with a number of issues-global jihad, rampant tribalism, and the narcotics trade - but even though they are cited as the causes of the conflict, they are in fact symptoms.

Rather than beginning after 9/11 or with the Soviet "invasion" in 1979, the current conflict in Afghanistan began with the social reforms imposed by Amanullah Amir in 1919. Western powers have failed to recognize that legitimate grievances are driving the local population to turn to insurgency in Afghanistan. The issues they are willing to fight for have deep roots, forming a 100-year-long social conflict over questions of secularism, modernity, and centralized power.

The first step toward achieving a "solution" to the Afghanistan "problem" is to have a clear-eyed view of what is really driving it.

©2021 Phil Halton (P)2021 Tantor

Blood can truly not was out blods

I believe from a non experts opinion it is a far deeper dive into the afghani experience than other books I have read on the topic. it spent more time on the internals and politics within the groups that make up the entirety of Afghanistan rather than a black and white talaban vs US or any of the other skirmishes throughout the story. overall great book and would absolutely recommend!