Bonner devoted several years to learning about Afghanistan, researching the war, and traveling with the mujahidin (fighters). He then transformed his learning and experience into an eloquent and engrossing traveler's tale.
Bonner sees the war in Afghanistan as encompassing much more than a military confrontation between Soviet forces and Afghans. It also contains many gray areas, exemplified by what he calls "curious examples of live and let live," and these point to the-conflict's true center of gravity, the civilian or non-mujahidin Afghans. "This war is 75 percent political," Bonner says, "and only 25 percent military." For this reason mujahidin treatment of the non-mujahidin has taken on critical importance.
Although there are many tensions between fighters and civilians, the mujahidin understand that victory will ultimately depend on villagers remaining in the countryside, and so they treat the civilians in a basically respectful way. The Soviets realize this too and, accordingly, have changed tactics. Will the civilian Afghan population aid the resistance, the Kabul government, or opt for neutrality? Bonner argues that the fate of the country lies in this political choice.
May 1, 1988 update: For a more detailed review of this book, see "Afghanistan: Respect the Pessimists But Heed the Optimists."
