{"product_id":"choosing-defeat-the-twenty-year-saga-of-how-america-lost-afghanistan-hardback-9781009614375","title":"Choosing Defeat; The Twenty-Year Saga of How America Lost Afghanistan (Hardback) 9781009614375","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eChoosing Defeat\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Twenty-Year Saga of How America Lost Afghanistan\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe first comprehensive narrative of the American war in Afghanistan drawn from the own words of policymakers.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003ePaul D. Miller (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781009614375, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 7 October 2025\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e545 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.5 x 16.3 x 3.5 cm, 0.91 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e'It is rare to find this level of honest critique of events in which one participated, and we should be grateful for Miller's fortitude in confronting these truths. … As the War in Afghanistan is dissected by historians, Miller's book will be recognized as an essential part of the understanding of the conflict and a roadmap of errors to avoid in future wars.' Mike Nelson, Providence\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eA truly unique all-embracing narrative of the American war in Afghanistan from the own words of its architects. Choosing Defeat takes an unparalleled inside look at America's longest war, pulling back the curtain on the inner deliberations behind the scenes. The author combines his own extensive experience in the Army, the CIA, and the White House, with interviews from policymakers within the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, to produce a groundbreaking study of how American leaders make wartime decisions. Transporting you inside the White House Situation Room, every key strategic debate over twenty years – from the immediate aftermath of 9\/11, to Obama's surge and withdrawal, to Trump's negotiations with the Taliban, and Biden's final pullout is carefully reconstructed.  Paul D. Miller identifies issues in US leadership, governance, military strategy, and policymaking that extend beyond the war in Afghanistan and highlight the existence of deeper problems in American foreign policy.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e1. Myths and mysteries of war in Afghanistan\u003cbr\u003e 2. 2001: victory\u003cbr\u003e 3. 2002–2003: neglect\u003cbr\u003e 4. 2003–2005: refocus\u003cbr\u003e 5. 2006: insurgency\u003cbr\u003e 6. 2007–2008: counterinsurgency\u003cbr\u003e 7. 2009: false start\u003cbr\u003e 8. 2009: the hinge\u003cbr\u003e 9. 2010–2011: surge\u003cbr\u003e 10. 2010–2014: Negotiations\u003cbr\u003e 11. 2012–2014: transition\u003cbr\u003e 12. 2015–2016: Obama's forever war\u003cbr\u003e 13. 2017–2018: Trump's forever war\u003cbr\u003e 14. 2018–2020: Doha\u003cbr\u003e 15. 2021: defeat\u003cbr\u003e 16. Why did we lose?\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: International relations [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on International relations\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22International%20relations%20%5BJPS%5D%22\"\u003eJPS\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52278019457304,"sku":"9781009614375","price":30.59,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781009614375i.jpg?v=1781455787","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/choosing-defeat-the-twenty-year-saga-of-how-america-lost-afghanistan-hardback-9781009614375","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}