Bøger af Abdullah Sharif

In 1976 Abdullah Sharif departed Afghanistan first for France and then the United States, leaving behind a viable nation state. Thirty-five years later he returned as a US diplomat. The country he remembered was gone, lost to the ravages of a Russian invasion, the harsh rule of the Taliban, and ongoing clashes between insurgents and US-led forces. As an Afghan-American, Sharif's thoughts are deeply revealing. Sardar presents his insights through nineteen missives written over the course of the first of two civilian deployments with the Departments of State and Defense. With a bird's eye view of US reconstruction efforts, he deconstructs setbacks and mistakes made during the peace process, and offers suggestions on how to better address such problems. A compelling read for anyone interested in US involvement in Afghanistan, Sardar reveals what it takes to carry out daily duties deployed in a foreign country where differing ideologies, language, religion, and social norms provide fertile ground for misunderstandings, conflict, and distrust.

"Even an illiterate farmer, who likely could not locate the United States on a world map, can recite a detailed history of Kandahar. Every history will be told differently, however, because blood feuds that lasted hundreds of years still color the stories that fathers tell their sons." A concise and contemporary guide designed to orient and inform readers about the people, politics, and places of Kandahar. Topics covered include: the people (tribes, language, culture, history, etc.); the provincial government and how it functions; the economy and development activities; and key leaders and big issues. Also included inside are a number of useful tables, maps, contact information, and other resources. For bulk orders, please visit the publisher's website (www.idsinternational.com).

It had been thirty years since Abdullah Sharif moved away from his childhood home in Afghanistan-and upon returning as an American citizen and diplomat, he barely recognized the country he left behind. The once-thriving society and culture was replaced by devastation and unrest. The land, which had experienced its golden age between the 1930s and 1970s, had succumbed to a massive downfall. It was then that Sharif began the first of two civilian deployments, dedicated to rebuilding peace and prosperity in the country where he had spent his first seventeen years. With a rare front-row view of the current issues facing Afghan citizens and deployed American civilians alike, he shared his valuable insights in the memoir Sardar: From Afghanistan's Golden Age to Carnage. Now, in Return to Kabul: An Afghan American's Odyssey in Afghanistan , Sharif expands on the enlightening accounts of his time in Afghanistan, with information on the country's sociopolitical development and history, as well as glimpses of his family life and heritage. From carefree childhood memories to reflections on the current state of international affairs, this unique memoir crosses cultural boundaries with an unparalleled look at an Afghan-American's experiences in modern-day Afghanistan.