George Crile (1) (1945–2006)

I guess I'm not a fan of politics and wars. I think I was hoping for a broad view of Charlie's activities, but it felt like the audience needed to be more in the know than I am--it was more about the trees than the forest--so details without explanation. And it's quite long. I saw the movie when it came out years ago and probably should have just left it at that.

Charlie Wilson's War is a 2007 American biographical comedy-drama film based on the story of U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson and CIA operative Gust Avrakotos, whose efforts led to Operation Cyclone, a program to organize and support the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989).

If I hadn't seen the movie first, I probably would have finished the book. Instead I quit about half way through.

If you want to know why we were in Afghanistan, this is the only book you need to read. It can be slow at times but get through it. By the time you read the endnote, nothing from 9/11 on will surprise you.