The War in Afghanistan was the longest military conflict in American history. In a diverse collection of primary documents, this book explores the evolving legacy of the war and its impact on the countless lives it changed forever.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States spent almost 20 years at war in Afghanistan until it officially withdrew its military forces in August 2021. As the longest war in American history, the War in Afghanistan cost trillions of dollars to sustain and claimed the lives of thousands of American soldiers and many more Afghan civilians. This book tells the story of the war from its varied perspectives, including documents from American and Afghan politicians, high-ranking military officers, and diplomats. The topics covered are even more diverse, ranging from the building and training of security forces and the use drones in modern warfare to the importance of education and the role of women in combat. What the editors lead readers to understand is that the peoples referred to as Afghans have little in common beyond the land itself—a simple, basic, and ultimately ignored reality at the heart of the U.S. invasion, occupation, and frustration in Afghanistan.
Features
- Tells the story of the War in Afghanistan from American and Afghan perspectives
- Includes political, diplomatic, religious, social, cultural, and personal accounts of the war and its lasting legacies
- Reveals insights into the war that many may know little or nothing about
- Balanced and thorough approach to the war makes this book an ideal resource for educators
Brian L. Steed is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with more than 30 years of civilian and uniformed experience. He is an associate professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he was the 2018 Military Educator of the Year. He has written and edited numerous books, articles, and papers on military theory, military history, and cultural awareness.
Sheri Steed is an editor, blogger, and professional organizer with step-by-step-declutter.com. This is Sheri's first book as an editor. She was a contributing author for ISIS: The Essential Reference Guide, Iraq War: The Essential Reference Guide, and Voices of the Iraq War: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life.
Voices of an Era
The Voices of an Era series utilizes primary document excerpts, with introductory and follow-up material, to illuminate the character and social history of particular historical periods.
From sexual mores in ancient Egypt to resistance music in modern Latin America, from the fashion sense of the Mongols to the importance of film in modern India, the world comes alive in the award-winning Voices of an Era.
Each volume focuses on a specific historical era, offering a window into those times by bringing together a fascinating collection of primary documents, organized by cultural and social topics (art, food, religion, family life, recreation, etc.). Introductions, critical thinking questions, and other supporting material help teachers use these documents to bring true, effective inquiry-based learning to their classrooms.Features
Each of volume of Voices of an Era features
40-50 primary sources
A chronology of the period cover in that volume
Selected bibliography of print and nonprint sources (including Web sites, DVDs, CD ROMs, videos, films, etc.) suitable for student research
A glossary of terms found in the introductory and followup material
15-30 sidebars per vol. Include "Did you Know"-type information, explanations of key concepts, etc.
40-50 Definition Fact Boxes per vol. Include definitions of unfamiliar terms from the text of the documents themselves.
