As with many other Amazon[.com] reviewers, I received a personal appeal from the author of this book to buy and read his book, and did so. As a former infantry officer who also served in the CIA and knew something of the CIA's support for the anti-Soviet effort there, I was looking forward a deep look at what went wrong.The book appears to have been censored, both with respect to its content and with respect to its photographs, none of which actually depict Soviet encampments, combat results, or anything beyond the most mundane equipment. It offers little in the way of lessons learned or deep insights comparable, say, to “Afghan Guerrilla Warfare: In the Words of the Mujahiddeen Fighters.”
Having said that, I do recommend it for purchase because it is a personal memoire with many excellent black and white photographs of young Soviet men in Afghanistan, and represents, for the author, financial survival and emotional salvation.
