Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA

Mr. Coll talked about the updated paperback version of his book, Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Ladin from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001, published by Penguin Books. In it, the author chronicles the events in Afghanistan beginning with the 1979 Soviet invasion, which led to foreign involvement in the Afghan’s fight against the Soviet Union. It also covers the years following in which the CIA ran programs to counter Soviet troops in the 1980s and the CIA’s pursuit of Osama bin Laden in the 1990s. He said that the disclosures of the September 11 Commission allowed him to use updated information in the new edition of his book. He talked about the CIA’s role in Afghanistan after the Russian invasion and relations with the Taliban. After his remarks, he answered audience members' questions. close