Former Soviet officer details his time in 1980s Afghan war to highlight dangers of America’s current war “Afghan Boomerang” - winner of NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award (November 2011) by Dr. Oleg Novinkov details the dangerous consequences of having foreign troops occupy Afghanistan using the experiences of the former USSR HOUSTON – Dr. Oleg Novinkov’s “Afghan Boomerang” (ISBN 1439274517) details his years as a Soviet Air Force flight surgeon stationed in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Considering the current war in Afghanistan, he finds it better than ever to share his experiences and thoughts on international relations. Novinkov explains what it was like to live in the middle of combat during the Afghan war of the 1980s. He compares and contrasts the previous war to the current situation in Afghanistan, showing that he feels the United States didn’t use history as a learning tool. The author states that when the United States engaged in the current war with Afghanistan, they did not consider the Soviet’s experience nearly three decades ago. The author brings up these points to ask a terrifying question: Will the results of the U.S.’s war in Afghanistan boomerang and have many of the same outcomes as the Soviet’s war, such as a complete collapse of the country? Novinkov shares his thoughts about historical events in involved countries, including the U.S., Russia, Iraq and Pakistan, to lead readers beyond what the media portrays. “I had the opportunity to return to Afghanistan 30 years after serving in the Soviet-Afghan War,” Novinkov says. “I show how things have changed and how they have remained the same. I share personal experiences to help readers, especially U.S. audiences, understand the world situation and the effects of war.” Novinkov believes that his book will move those who really want to understand the events in Afghanistan, but from a different perspective than the mainstream media portrays. He hopes that readers learn the dangers of sending foreign forces into Afghanistan through an historical perspective. Since Novinkov has lived in both socialist and capitalist countries with opposing views on many issues, he took the liberty of expressing his thoughts about politics and prominent politicians.
Afghan Boomerang
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This book is not about Afghanistan and it is not about a war over there. This book is about the United States and its future existence".
Afghan Boomerang might not be the most popular book on Capitol Hill, but you have to give to Novinkov for letting it all hang out there.
TOP BOOK REVIEWERS
Afghan Boomerang is brimful with interesting reading, a special cocktail of memories, history, opinion, and warning.
Persuading an American public desensitized by ten years of war to care, and American politicians to listen, is not an easy task. Ironically, a former Soviet medical officer is trying to do just that.
SAN FRANCISCO BOOK REVIEW
...Parallels between the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and what is now being witnessed by the USA's involvement is an in depth analysis of the backfiring of events, circumstances and lessons previously learned by the Soviets.
...High-level view only capable of being perceived from someone with such a unique heritage.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW
Afghan Boomerang might not be the most popular book on Capitol Hill, but you have to give to Novinkov for letting it all hang out there.
TOP BOOK REVIEWERS
Afghan Boomerang is brimful with interesting reading, a special cocktail of memories, history, opinion, and warning.
Persuading an American public desensitized by ten years of war to care, and American politicians to listen, is not an easy task. Ironically, a former Soviet medical officer is trying to do just that.
SAN FRANCISCO BOOK REVIEW
...Parallels between the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and what is now being witnessed by the USA's involvement is an in depth analysis of the backfiring of events, circumstances and lessons previously learned by the Soviets.
...High-level view only capable of being perceived from someone with such a unique heritage.
PACIFIC BOOK REVIEW
About the Author
Dr. Oleg Novinkov graduated from the Saratov State Medical Institute, as an Air Force physician. He eventually joined the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan as an aviation and technical base medical service officer. He received many awards for his time there, including the Order of the Red Star and the medal “From a Thankful Afghan Nation”. He subsequently worked in aviation units and at the Yu Gagarin Air Force Academy. He retired from military service as a Lieutenant Colonel; he was the Head of the Medical Group of the Military Representative Office in Moscow, where he supported space missions. He received his doctorate in the field of Aviation, Space and Sea Medicine before moving to the United States. He currently consults in international space medicine.
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Format:Paperback
Mr. Noninkov appears to be seriously confused by his recent move from the post soviet Russia to free, and democratic USA in 1995. Consequently, his book contains old, wore out soviet propaganda, which the author uses in a rather circular and self-righteous manner; he acts as the only depository of all ultimate political truths. He appears to excuse the soviet actions and behavior during the Cold War, to the point of accusing the USA of not playing fair with USSR (!) What's missing is the recognition that the USSR was an evil empire, which had to be dealt with harshly; sometimes outside of the established legal and international framework.
I want to remind Mr. Novinkov that he could publish such book in the USA, and not in USSR, where his dissent would had been brutally punished.
Finally, this book is likely suited to the Russian taste for speculation and excessive, overly intellectual approach to all pragmatic, existential questions; which incidentally explains a constant political confusion in Russian modern history. Including a rejection of democracy and individual freedoms in Putin's Russia today.
God Bless America !
I want to remind Mr. Novinkov that he could publish such book in the USA, and not in USSR, where his dissent would had been brutally punished.
Finally, this book is likely suited to the Russian taste for speculation and excessive, overly intellectual approach to all pragmatic, existential questions; which incidentally explains a constant political confusion in Russian modern history. Including a rejection of democracy and individual freedoms in Putin's Russia today.
God Bless America !
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Bookie
Format:Paperback
This is a very insightful book written by a former Soviet Air Force Flight Surgeon who spent 21 months in the Soviet-Afghan war. In his book, Afghan Boomerang, Oleg Novinkov provides details of his military experience as well as a historical account of Afghanistan and astute thoughts about the current US-Afghan war. In 2010 he returned to Afghanistan and has devoted a chapter to his personal experiences during that trip. Since Dr. Novinkov lived in both socialist and capitalist countries, with opposing views on many issues, his thoughts about politics and prominent politicians leads readers beyond what the mainstream media portray. The key point of his book is that the U.S. is ignoring the significance of history.
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Russian version of the book is preceded by a cheerful review written by the Soviet General V.F. Ermakov, a former commander of the Soviet 40th Army's "limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan." This man escaped the court of the Hague Tribunal for war crimes because he was firmly covered by the Soviet nuclear shield then. Now, he praises the author for his smear of "the role of the United States and its allies in the political games and helping the militants in Afghanistan."
That could be the end of the story. For America has abundant samples of 1980 's Soviet propaganda, and our own leftists. Take George Crile with his "Charlie's Wilson War" at least.
Yet, for historians the Novinkov's book still might be of some interest, for it states on its front cover: "Notes of a Soviet officer." Seldom professionals get an opportunity to examine mentality and psychology of the Soviet Afghan invasion's subjects who have carried their beliefs untouched through the decades and through the U.S. border. Apparently, it's the only real value of this publication.
That could be the end of the story. For America has abundant samples of 1980 's Soviet propaganda, and our own leftists. Take George Crile with his "Charlie's Wilson War" at least.
Yet, for historians the Novinkov's book still might be of some interest, for it states on its front cover: "Notes of a Soviet officer." Seldom professionals get an opportunity to examine mentality and psychology of the Soviet Afghan invasion's subjects who have carried their beliefs untouched through the decades and through the U.S. border. Apparently, it's the only real value of this publication.
