A BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCOUNT OF AMERICA'S CRITICAL EFFORT TO BUILD AN AFGHANISTAN NATIONAL ARMY DISCOVER: - WHY THE U.S. IS BUILDING AN AFGHANISTAN NATIONAL ARMY - WHY AMERICAN TROOPS CAN'T LEAVE AFGHANISTAN YET - HOW YOUR TAX MONEY IS BEING SPENT Written from the unique vantage point of the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, this book reveals the inside story of the United States' army-building efforts. As the first comptroller responsible for funding the Afghanistan National Army, Mick earned the Bronze Star Medal while spending $400 million taxpayer dollars and planning the spending for $2.1 billion more. Mick has appeared on: - National Public Radio - CNN International - Armed Forces News

Do you wonder what we did with all the US money pumped into Afghanistan? Or...how it was all spent? This is the inside story of the United States' army-building efforts written from the unique vantage point of the on-the-ground Army officer responsible for fiscally building the Afghanistan National Army. The author relates his experience transforming the Afghanistan Army to the awkward Middle-Eastern sage who was riding his donkey backwards so that he "could always see where he had been." The circumstances and stories of this book are interlaced with humor and innovation that bring the reader into the middle of the conundrum that is the US involvement in Afghanistan.As the first comptroller responsible for building the Afghanistan National Army, author Mick Simonelli earned the Bronze Star Medal while working out of the war-torn Embassy in Kabul. A lifelong innovation strategist, Mick would later use lessons learned from Afghanistan to transition from a military officer to leading innovation at a major US corporation, to ultimately running his own strategic innovation consulting firms. Mick has shared the cultural insights and business challenges of the US Army-building role on numerous national venues including, National Public Radio, CNN International, and Armed Forces News. If you're involved with Afghanistan or their military, this book will provide the keen insights that you want to know. Scroll to the top of this page and click the "Buy Now" button.

This book questions the efficiency of propaganda and the affiliated intelligence functions of international organisations by sampling NATO and, to some extent, the UN in peace operations. It examines NATO operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan in detail as comparative analysis, and considers the commitment of the US military since this is the main driver of the bulk of NATO activities. In addition, the book covers the communication and intelligence activities of the opposing elements in both Bosnia and Afghanistan to offer another comparative approach.

Testament is a collection of photographs and writing by late photojournalist Chris Hondros spanning over a decade of coverage from most of the world's conflicts since the late 1990s, including Kosovo, Afghanistan, the West Bank, Iraq, Liberia, Egypt, and Libya. Through Hondros' images, we witness a jubilant Liberian rebel fighter exalt during a firefight, a U.S. Marine remove Saddam Hussein's portrait from an Iraqi classroom, American troops ride confidently in a thin-skinned unarmored Humvee during the first months of the Iraq war, "the probing eyes of an Afghan village boy," and "rambunctious Iraqi schoolgirls enjoying their precious few years of relative freedom before aging into more restricted adulthoods." Hondros was not just a front-line war photographer, but also a committed observer and witness, and his work humanizes complex world events and brings to light shared human experiences. Evident in his writings, interspersed throughout, Hondros was determined to broaden our understanding of war and its consequences. This unyielding determination led Hondros to take dozens of trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, even as the news turned elsewhere. During these "routine" trips, Hondros examined and observed daily life in these war-torn societies. His inventive Humvee picture series frames the ever-changing landscapes of these countries, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of those most affected by conflict. "One of the ongoing themes in my work, I hope, and one of the things I believe in, is a sense of human nature, a sense of shared humanity above the cultural layers we place on ourselves [which don't] mean that much compared to the human experience." —Chris Hondros As a photographer working in the world's most difficult and dangerous places, Chris Hondros had the distinctive ability to connect his viewers with people embroiled in far-flung and sometimes obscure conflicts. He recognized the shared humanity among those affected by war, regardless of culture or beliefs, and he was determined to share their challenges to the wider world in the hope of provoking thought, raising awareness, and fostering understanding. In the introduction to the book, Getty Images Co-founder and CEO Jonathan Klein writes, "Chris believed that his work could and would make a difference. He dedicated and ultimately lost his life in pursuit of that belief. I have no doubt that Chris was correct. Images can and do influence public opinion, galvanize people and societies, and force governments to change. They bring much-needed focus and attention to the suffering of people who are otherwise unable to communicate their plight." Inspired by his life, work, and vision—The Chris Hondros Fund endeavors to bring light to shared human experiences by supporting and protecting photojournalists. Through their generous support, Getty Images' proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Fund. For more information please visit www.chrishondrosfund.org.

Timeless wisdom is found in absurdity in these tales of an iconic Muslim character known as the sagest man in the village — and also its biggest fool. Would you like to know how a thief can turn into a donkey? Whether a cow can climb a pole? Or why you should spoon yogurt into a lake? Mulla Nasruddin knows all the answers, and he might also tell you why he rides his donkey backwards. Whether in the guise of an imam in a mosque or a beggar in the street, this trickster is never at a loss for a rejoinder, though it may leave you scratching your head, rolling your eyes, or laughing out loud. Enjoy twenty-one classic tales about a much-loved character from Muslim cultures in a book packed with jokes, riddles, and wisdom and paired with vibrant, theatrical illustrations.

An energetic and enthralling series of encounters with warlords, mujahideen fighters and hardy deminers that will take you into the life of an Australian soldier sent alone into the wilds of Afghanistan. In 1991, following the Soviet-Afghan war, Graeme Membrey left the comfort of his home in Perth to work for an Afghan NGO in the United Nations demining program. Along with his pregnant wife, he travelled to Karachi, then to Islamabad, before settling in the city of Peshawar where he was to spend a year closely working with deminers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Away from the front line, this book deals with the less-told story of what is left behind after war ends. With humour and humility, Graeme Membrey recounts a variety of incidents and surprising stories of his time in this part of the world. Behind the anecdotes lies the story of friendship and the universal connexion between humans in spite of language barriers and cultural differences.