The great gamble : the Soviet war in Afghanistan / Gregory Feifer.

Abstract: “The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a grueling debacle that has striking lessons for the 21st century. Parallels between the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq are impossible to ignore. The Soviet Union sent some of its most elite troops to unfamiliar lands to fight a vaguely defined enemy, which eventually defeated their superior numbers with unconventional tactics. Although the Soviet leadership initially saw the invasion as a victory, many Russian soldiers came to view the war as a demoralizing and devastating defeat, the consequences of which had a substantial impact on the Soviet Union and its collapse. NPR Moscow correspondent Gregory Feifer examines the conflict from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. His extensive research includes eye-opening interviews with participants from both sides of the conflict, vividly depicting the invasion of a volatile country that no power has ever successfully conquered”—from publisher.

“Includes bibliography”—(p. [309]-312).

Contents: Introduction (p. 1)—1. Invasion considered : a short, victorious war (p. 9)—2. Storm-333 : the invasion (p. 55)—3. The Soviets dig in (p. 85)—4. The Mujahideen fight back (p. 120)—5. The Soviets seek victory (p. 152)—6. The tide turns (p. 192)—7. Endgame (p. 218)—8. Aftermath (p. 255)—Epilogue (p. 280)—Acknowledgments (p. 291)—Glossary of names (p. 293)—Notes (p. 295)—Bibliography (p. 309)—Index.

The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a grueling debacle that has striking lessons for the 21st century. Parallels between the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq are impossible to ignore. The Soviet Union sent some of its most elite troops to unfamiliar lands to fight a vaguely defined enemy, which eventually defeated their superior numbers with unconventional tactics. Although the Soviet leadership initially saw the invasion as a victory, many Russian soldiers came to view the war as a demoralizing and devastating defeat, the consequences of which had a substantial impact on the Soviet Union and its collapse. NPR Moscow correspondent Gregory Feifer examines the conflict from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground. His extensive research includes eye-opening interviews with participants from both sides of the conflict, vividly depicting the invasion of a volatile country that no power has ever successfully conquered.--From publisher description.