Holy War, Unholy Victory: Eyewitness to the Cia's Secret War in Afghanistan [Hardcover]

Kurt Lohbeck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1993

...brings the reader deep inside a tragic conflict that is too quickly being forgotten. --Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Almost all of the recent books on the Afghan war have told the story from either the Soviet or the American perspective. Although this is of the latter category, it comes as close as possible to presenting the mujahaddin view. The author, an American journalist on contract with CBS News, spent most of the eight-year war in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Washington. He became a close friend with one resistance leader, Abdul Haq, traveled with his group, and was wounded twice. In the United States, Lohbeck interviewed CIA Director William Casey and other senior figures. Although the book is biased and has a misleading subtitle (don't look here for "insider revelations" or an objective interpretation of the Soviet role), it does bring the reader deep inside a tragic conflict that is too quickly being forgotten.
- John Yurechko, Georgetown Univ., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A principal virtue of TV-journalist Lohbeck's vivid account of his lengthy sojourn in Afghan combat zones is the light it sheds on the mujahideen groups that--despite various political/religious agendas, internecine rivalries, and fitful aid from Western allies- -managed to drive Soviet troops from their mountainous, hostile homeland. The only American journalist to make the savage undeclared war a full-time beat (mainly for CBS), Lohbeck first provides an overview of the primitive Muslim nation's history, which extends through Moscow's bootless efforts to support a reliably Communist government in Kabul by force of arms. The author offers instructive perspectives on the seven different resistance movements that fought or at least opposed USSR forces (and vied for sponsorship abroad, most often in the US). Early on, Lohbeck gained the confidence of an astute guerrilla chieftain named Abdul Haq, whose effective military operations he reported on many occasions. A muddy-boots correspondent, the author was wounded twice in the course of covering a host of deadly engagements between tribal irregulars and Soviet invaders. He also experienced some real, if not always mortal, dangers away from the front lines. Cases in point range from the Afghanistan's puppet regime putting a price on his head through stateside contact with Jay Pollard (a Naval Intelligence operative subsequently convicted of selling classified documents to Israel) to clashes with Pakistani officials (nominally committed to maintaining their country's neutrality), ad hominem assaults by fellow members of the press, and run-ins with CIA agents pursuing objectives at odds with those espoused by either Foggy Bottom or Capitol Hill. Dramatic, frequently affectionate, takes on fractious rebel warriors whose success has yet to yield them the victory they thought they'd won by nine years of bloody battle. (Foreword by Dan Rather; maps and eight pages of photographs--not seen) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing (November 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895264994
• ISBN-13: 978-0895264992
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,934,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Biased, but with some facts, January 27, 2006

By 

Munawar Ali "Munawar - blog.munawarali.com" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holy War, Unholy Victory: Eyewitness to the Cia's Secret War in Afghanistan (Hardcover)

This book is mostly an account by Kurt Lohbeck on his journeys to Afghanistan. Unfortunatly, most of it seems to be biased, in favor of himself, and his favorite muj, the late Abdul Haq.

Undoubtly, Kurt had some great experiences over there, but it seems too immpressive to be real. Kurt seems to show up during every major event in the 80's, as well as meet every key figure from Reagan all the way down.

The Afghan, Abdul Haq, he paints as a superhero - who single-handedly defeated the Soviets. When Kurt's accounts are compared to others who were there (Check "The Bear Trap", and "Soldiers of God"), there are discrepencies. On the plus side, Abdul Haq was a major player in the war, and this book gives more detailed information about him, then anywhere else.

On general matters Afghani, there are better books. But as a biography on Abdul Haq, then this book has excellent information.

5.0 out of 5 stars thank you, kurt lohbeck, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Holy War, Unholy Victory: Eyewitness to the Cia's Secret War in Afghanistan (Hardcover)

this book is excellent- mr. lohbeck obviously covers all the bases and loves the country and people of afghanistan. as someone formerly assigned to the u.s. embassy in afghanistan, i very much appreciated this work. long live afghanistan and its proud people- and thank you mr. lohbeck, for braving the conditions during the war to bring us this account.

8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reveals the "Full scale American Hipocracy", exellent book, July 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Holy War, Unholy Victory: Eyewitness to the Cia's Secret War in Afghanistan (Hardcover)

What was achieved by U.S involvement in Afghanistan? A third world country has been led to economic and social destruction. The Afghans rejected "communism." However, they have accepted civil and gang wars. The Afghans themselves do not know what they want. The chief muslim figure in Afghanistan has said: "the reason that Afghanistan rejected Communism was, according to the Koran, it is wrong to have an economically and socially equal society. Society should have classes, regardless of the disparity or gap [between classes] that's created." Well, I am sure that the Afghans are enjoying their "third world class society."

HOLY WAR< UNHOLY VICTORY IS AN EXELLENT READ. IT IS BACKED BY THE JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY OF DAN RATHER.