One book leads to another and then you’re nose-deep in Middle Eastern conflict non-fiction. Lone Survivor inspired me to learn more about the Taliban for myself. So, I checked out a book at the library called Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid, who is a Pakistani journalist who has followed the Central Asian region (which loosely includes Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) for many, many years and has managed to condense his experiences into a succinct summary of the regional difficulties that have given rise to terrorism and the Taliban.
This is an overview of political, economic, and cultural strands that have combined to spawn a new breed of extremism that has infiltrates Central Asia, especially Afghanistan, and beyond. This is not a political finger-pointing book; no side is innocent and no side is responsible for everything that has taken place in the region. Rashid details the emergence of the Taliban, the role of jostling ethnic groups for power, the atrocities committed on virtually every side of the conflict(s), the West’s blind eye (especially when it benefitted the U.S. in their attempts to take shots at Russia and Iran) to the rise of extremism, and the wooing of the Taliban by oil companies.
This is dense reading, readers. One has to concentrate and underline and be able to refer back. There are several handy-dandy appendices, which help readers have the overall timeline, summary of major events, and definitions of unfamiliar words (in the West) for reference. The index is invaluable. Still, even if I haven’t processed everything (and it would take many, many, many readings and outside research), I am aware that I had NO awareness about Central Asia before. If you’re interesting in learning more about it yourself, give this one a try.
Ramblings of a Medicated Lady: Words of Woe by Loria Taylor 
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May 30, 2009 at 9:14 am
Utopian Fragments
isn’t this more of the ‘Far east’?
no one who leaves miles away of a place really knows anything. i say this as i watch for many years now people’s view on the conflict in israel. if there is something that i learned about is, from the outside you know nothing about it. yet without the outside the solution will be much much longer, or much worse. Paradox. Life
May 30, 2009 at 3:56 pm
medicatedlady
I should have simply stayed with the term the author uses, which is “Central Asia.” Although Mr. Rashid is not an Afghan, he is from the region and I should use his terminology in reference to his work. I am removing “Middle East” from my blog so as not to be confusing/misleading.
As a reader and Westerner VERY far removed from any real war, I rely on secondary sources to understand (even a fraction of) what’s going on. I don’t think any one source has it right or is the only version of the truth. I would say only that this is a good book for someone who’s interested in knowing more about this particular topic.
Utopian, I greatly appreciate your comment and perspective. Please do not be a stranger.
May 31, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Utopian Fragments
yes, i guess central asia is better term. i did not meant to say (if it is understood like that) that reading about it is wrong, on the contrary one should, if one wants to understand better and as you said it “One has to concentrate and underline and be able to refer back”. i wish no one would have to know war from his own eyes. and a book is usually much better then mass media. one just also look for the publisher and supporters of the author and of course the author biography for better understanding. again, it is good when one wants to understand more, always.
Medicate, i enjoy your site very mcuh, even if not always leaving a comment. i just try not to write things for nothing when have nothing to add.
what do you mean by do not be a starnger??? 🙂
May 31, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Maxine
Think I’m gonna try & track down a copy of this. It sounds fascinating (& most importantly, educating).
June 1, 2009 at 7:54 am
medicatedlady
Utopian: I was just wanting you to know I value your insight! Thank you very much. Also: good point about digging deeper into the background of the writer, publisher, etc. Never take one text as the only version of the truth. THANKS AGAIN!
Maxine: I think Amazon has used copies for around 3 bucks (plus shipping). Very much a timely and informative read.
November 30, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Edward
I have recently returned from 6 months in Afghanistan doing development I am an avid student for history for the past 30 years and believe these are both excellent books and accurate accounts of the decisions and events that have led us to the current mess.
A consistent pattern of brief attention by the USA combined with a lack of strategic vision and poor decision making coupled with infighting by the Afghan stakeholders and massive intrique created by Pakistan ISI.
I hope that Obama lays out a clear strategic vision tomorrow and supports that with proper military, diplomatic and economic support – perhaps NATO members will shoulder their share of the burden as well.
Perhaps then we can finish what we started 8 years ago (before we invented reasons to go to Iraq) and get out in 4-5 years. The Afghans will need to step up and develop a credible government and army to maintain stabilty and ddevelop their country.
December 3, 2009 at 1:47 pm
medicatedlady
Thank you, Edward, for your first-person insight. I’m reading another of Rashad’s books, Descent into Chaos, and it’s getting into how deficient the US was in figuring out that the “Afghan” problem was the Pakistan problem which is all the Central Asia’s problem. The entire region is at stake, not just a couple of countries a lot of people are getting tired of hearing about.