摘要：Veteran journalist Ahmed Rashid's latest offering is a mediocre contribu-tion at best to the swollen river of books attempting to explain the myriad set of complex factors governing interactions between the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Following previous offerings by Rashid (Tali-ban and Descent Into Chaos), this book rounds out a trilogy that offers more perspective into the author's viewpoints than into the actual issues themselves. Rashid makes many valid points regarding the topic, but to readers already familiar with U.S., Pakistani, and Afghan interactions, there are no new or particularly insightful nuggets for mining. His occa-sionally valid observations are outnumbered by diatribes that no one understands these issues or has any suitable solutions except for him. Placed in this context, the book has little value even for the novice, since the author's observations and analysis are often intertwined with his emo-tions and political biases
