Kirkus Reviews Crossing Zero
Monday, February 21st, 2011Volume two of an angry dissection of America’s misadventures in Afghanistan.
After a critical account of the war to 2008 (Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story, 2009), this follow-up evaluates how it has fared under President Obama. The news is not good. Journalists Gould and Fitzgerald adopt the term “Afpak War,” from a neologism used to acknowledge that it has always involved Pakistan, leading to frustrating contradictions that officials occasionally acknowledge. Thus, America’s first priority is fighting terrorism. That’s not Pakistan’s priority, but its leaders know that proclaiming their support keeps the money flowing. Everyone knows that Pakistan spends our billions of military aid largely for jets, tanks and other high-tech gear of little use fighting guerillas but directed against its traditional enemy, India. American leaders justify this as the price of loyalty, ignoring the fact that it has never worked. Pakistan has always backed terrorists that support its goal in Afghanistan—a compliant, strict Islamic government and no Indian influence. Pakistan had a large hand in creating the Taliban, shelters its leaders and encourages talks to allow it to join the Afghan government. America has no objection to negotiations, provided Taliban forces disarm, an unlikely event since they are winning. The authors brush off the administration’s recent proclamation of a shift from fighting to counterinsurgency that emphasizes protecting the population and building infrastructure. They point out that “protecting the population” requires an immense increase in troops, which neither Congress nor our NATO allies will support. Furthermore, it’s not happening.
An intensely documented, detailed and discouraging account from journalists who had high hopes for President Obama.

- Our interview about President Carter’s true role in starting the longest war in US history
- President Carter, Do You Swear to Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth?
- US Remains Mired in Afghanistan 19 Years Later – Rising Up with Sonali
- Dr. Charles Cogan Interview
- A Grand Illusion of Imperial Power: Part 1
- VT Classic: We’re all CIA Assets! What can be done, a personal story
- A Webinar with Paul & Liz
- ‘Magical Thinking’ has Always Guided the US Role in Afghanistan
- Magical Thinking and the US War in Afghanistan
- Eyes Wide Open: Will the ‘Masters of the Universe’ Notice No One Takes Them Seriously Anymore?

- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- April 2020
- February 2020
- November 2019
- September 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- October 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- October 2014
- August 2014
- October 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- September 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008

- Events (19)
- Press (61)
- Uncategorized (197)
- Videos (21)