{"product_id":"afghan-napoleon-the-life-of-ahmad-shah-massoud-paperback","title":"Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSandy Gall\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRory Stewart\u003c\/b\u003e (Introduction by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe first biography in a decade of Afghan resistance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the forces of resistance were disparate. Many groups were caught up in fighting each other and competing for Western arms. The exception were those commanded by Ahmad Shah Massoud, the military strategist and political operator who solidified the resistance and undermined the Russian occupation, leading resistance members to a series of defensive victories. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Sandy Gall followed Massoud during Soviet incursions and reported on the war in Afghanistan, and he draws on this first-hand experience in his biography of this charismatic guerrilla commander. \u003ci\u003eAfghan Napoleon \u003c\/i\u003eincludes excerpts from the surviving volumes of Massoud's prolific diaries--many translated into English for the first time--which detail crucial moments in his personal life and during his time in the resistance. Born into a liberalizing Afghanistan in the 1960s, Massoud ardently opposed communism, and he rose to prominence by coordinating the defense of the Panjsher Valley against Soviet offensives. Despite being under-equipped and outnumbered, he orchestrated a series of victories over the Russians. Massoud's assassination in 2001, just two days before the attack on the Twin Towers, is believed to have been ordered by Osama bin Laden. Despite the ultimate frustration of Massoud's attempts to build political consensus, he is recognized today as a national hero.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSandy Gall\u003c\/b\u003e is a journalist, author, documentary producer, and newscaster. He has reported from conflict zones across the world and is the recipient of many awards for his journalism and documentary work. \u003cb\u003eRory Stewart\u003c\/b\u003e was the UK Secretary of State for International Development and is currently a senior fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 380\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 x 7.7 x 5.1 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 17, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765854994720,"sku":"9781913368647","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/21b7123ccd297ca26861bc04782ca255.webp?v=1780281792","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/afghan-napoleon-the-life-of-ahmad-shah-massoud-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}