The War in Afghanistan 1979-1989: The Soviet Empire at High Tide (Firepower Pictorials) [Import] [Paperback]

David C. Isby (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: Concord Publications (1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9623610092
• ISBN-13: 978-9623610094
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,605,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Starting in 1970, he became the first employee of Poultron Press, which became Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI), the publisher of conflict simulations and Strategy & Tactics, Moves and other magazines. For nine years he contributed to magazines and books published by SPI and functioned as copy editor of Strategy & Tactics and in other editorial staff positions. He participated in the design and development of many SPI products. He researched for simulations such as War in Europe, War in the Pacific, Campaign for North Africa, and many others. He designed a number of simulations including Soldiers (1972)(1914-15 tactical land combat), Air War (1977)(1950s-80s air combat), To The Green Fields Beyond (1978)( the Battle of Cambrai 1917) and Tannenberg (1978)(the 1914 East Prussia campaign).

In addition to his work at SPI, he published D-ELIM, a wargaming "fanzine" and designed or contributed to games published by other publishers including Rand Game Associates, Avalon Hill and Enola Games.

He received a Game Designer's Guild award for Air War in 1977 and Charles S. Roberts (now Origins) Awards in 1978 (for To the Green Fields Beyond) and, in 1979, as a member of the Hall of Fame.

He practiced law in New York City (including defending Stephen A. Donaldson, "Donny the Punk"). His first book was Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army (London, 1981, Jane's). In Washington, first as a congressional staff member and, subsequently, as a consultant on national security issues, working for a number of firms with a range of governmental and private sector clients. He continued to write extensively on national security and military history topics, being author or editor of over 20 books and 350 essays and articles in publications including International Defense Review, USA Today, Washington Times, Jane's Defense Weekly, Strategic Review, Comparative Strategy, Jamestown Terrorism Monitor, and Jane's Intelligence Review.

He has testified before both House and Senate committees as a independent expert. He has appeared extensively in the media including MacNeil-Lehrer, The McLaughlin Group, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox & Friends, Voice of America, Nightline and The New York Times. He has lectured at many staff colleges including National Defense University, US Army War College, US Army Command and General Staff College, Air Command & Staff College, US Marine Corps Command and General Staff College, Naval Postgraduate School, and other institutions.

Since 1980, he has worked extensively on the Afghanistan issue, and has written several books and many articles on the subject. He has been a frequent visitor to the region and has also participated as a director of The Committee for a Free Afghanistan Inc., a non-governmental organization working on the Afghanistan issue. He was condemned by the (pre-glasnost) Soviet government for his writings and activities on Afghanistan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Forget it - Its just a book of photos., January 7, 2002

By 

Gerry Fahrenthold (Westfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The War in Afghanistan 1979-1989: The Soviet Empire at High Tide (Firepower Pictorials) (Paperback)

Since things have heated up in Afghanistan, I have been reading everything that I can find on both the Taliban and the Soviet expericence in Afghanistan. I purchased this book as part of my sweep. It is hardly more than a picture book. There are perhaps 1,000 words in an opening text and perhaps 100 photos. Some of the photos are interesting, some are not, and some are obvious fakes or Soviet era propaganda. The day after I recevied the book, I donated it to the local library. Save your money and buy something else.