With no plan or knowledge of what he would face, Dr. Atash was one of the first Afghan-Americans to return to Kabul and see first-hand the destruction wrought by over 20 years of war. He helped to rebuild schools, revitalize businesses, and promote democracy. He could never have been prepared for the turbulence the following years would bring. It all began when a former Minister invited Dr. Atash to become President of Ariana Airlines, the nation's primary airline carrier.
Once in the position, he began to see the dark world of dirty politics and shady business dealings in the Afghan government. This wouldn't be a mere corporate post. It was something more akin to asking Elliot Ness to run the liquor business in Al Capone's Chicago. The task ahead for Dr. Atash was more daunting than anyone could imagine. In Chicago, there was only one Al Capone, but in Afghanistan, there were dozens maybe hundreds - and they operated through numerous networks and the halls of power in Kabul.
Dr. Atash's chronicles weave in and out of the cultural and political challenges he has faced, providing valuable lessons for the West about the lives of people who have been affected by war and political corruption. It also presents a rare, intimate, and unflinching look at the cruel mafioso culture that has come to dominate Afghan politics in the post-Taliban years.
