War at the Top of the World

Recently, South Asia has become the focus of world attention due to theAmerican attack on Afghanistan and the subsequent increased tension inAsia. This book attempts to explain the various power dynamics behind thepolitical tensions between nuclear powers India, China, Pakistan, andRussia. Eric Margolis, a Canadian journalist who has traveled extensivelyin Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Tibet, tells many great war stories of his visitsto the front line. Friendships with local personalities and his backgroundas a military officer provide a reasonably balanced analysis for those whoare interested in the region's geopolitics.The book is comprised of four sections. Part One, "The Great Jihad,"consists of five chapters on Afghanistan. In chapter I, "Soldiers Of Allah,"the author describes the jihad against the Soviet Union with poignantdetails of the noble, self-sacrificing mujahideen who "would walk to battlebarefoot, through deep snow, sometimes for two days and nights, carrying90 pounds (40 kg) of mortar shells or rockets on their backs." Chapter 2,"The Bravest Men on Earth," details Afghanistan's tribal divisions, warriorcode of honor, and history. Chapter 3, "Dodge City Meets the ArabianNights," describes that Muslim faith and courage which the author considersutterly incomprehensible to Westerners:They feared no man, and certainly not death . Each man believed thatAllah stood at his right shoulder; Allah who was all-merciful, in spite ofthe cruel world that He had inexpUcably created; Allah who would carryhim to his final rest as a parent would wrap a sleepy child in his arms andtake him off to bed.Chapter 4, "Fadil the Kurd," discusses the covert CIA-sponsored trainingand arming of guerilla fighters to destabilize Asia. Margolis explains thatafter these honorable and courageous soldiers defeated the mighty SovietUnion, they were no longer needed. America cut off aid, changing their statusto "Islamic terrorists" overnight. Chapter 5, "The Secret War," discussesZia ul-Haq, the former president of Pakistan, whose aid to Afghanistan wasinstrumental in defeating the Soviets. The United States State Department's ...