A Kingdom of Their Own: the Family Karzai and the Afghan Disaster

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Apr 06, 2017 Louise rated it liked it

This volume sketches Hamid Karzai, his brothers (slight mention of a sister), and his male cousins giving the reader a lot of information only little understanding. There are a lot of facts showing Hamid equally president living modestly, loving poetry, despairing the war's atrocities and publically eschewing nepotism. Amidst reports of corruption, the war's devastation, Taliban resurgence, duplicity, outright theft and murder and war crimes at that place is both innuendo and praise for the Karzai family unit.

Politi

This book sketches Hamid Karzai, his brothers (slight mention of a sister), and his male person cousins giving the reader a lot of information simply little understanding. There are a lot of facts showing Hamid as president living modestly, loving poesy, despairing the state of war's atrocities and publically eschewing nepotism. Amid reports of corruption, the war's devastation, Taliban resurgence, duplicity, outright theft and murder and war crimes there is both innuendo and praise for the Karzai family.

Politically prominent in the time of King Zahir Shah, well-nigh Karzai family members fled during the Russian invasion. Family patriarch Abdul Ahad Karzai was imprisoned for three years (and afterward shot by the Taliban). Hamid went to Pakistan to raise money for the Mujahedeen. Other Karzai'southward went to the U.s.a. and after a time in depression wage jobs became successful in the US. In that location is a question on how some paid for their higher degrees and got start up upper-case letter for their successful high stop restaurants, simply like all the corruption in the book, a theory is only mentioned in passing. Nevertheless, their experiences motivated some family unit members to work with the US after ix/11 and prepared them linguistically and culturally able to do so.

The stories of abuse move from i idea to another. For instance there are facts nearly the Kabul Bank, how it arose from what seems to be a street system, of lending and money irresolute/laundering and how it used a lottery to attract depositors and how its owners (Mahmood Karzai at viii%) raked off cash for expensive shopping trips. At that place is mention of an audit by a western sounding firm. There are hints that the bank is involved in drug smuggling and money laundering. But these strands are left and new ones sally. An example is that later pestering by his older brother Mahmood, Karzai fired the caput of mines and replaced him with Mohammed Ibrahim Adel:

(p. 177) "Adel moved forward with the auction of the Ghori Cement Plant. While there was a bidding process, other companies believed that the government minister put upwardly unrealistic obstacles. In the final days of bidding Adel informed them they needed to present $25 one thousand thousand in cash as a guarantee…..Mahmood's business partners didn't accept a trouble… they had the Kabul Bank. Ministry building staff members watched as gunmen entered the ministery carrying a cardboard box filled with cash and placed it on the minister'due south desk. One deputy minister worried that the gunmen were Taliban coming to kill the government minister."

The text goes on about the value of Mahmood controlling the banking concern, how the cement visitor generated cash for successful investments in Dubai. Fragments on the Kabul bank and Karzai real estate investments continue. Most of the abuse is shown in this way: allusion to a criminal offence or corrupt gain, praise of Karzai business organisation acumen, innuendo of about family and no discussion of the role of the President (in this example irresolute the head of the mines).

In dissimilarity to the corruption stories the human involvement stories are consummate. The stores of both Mohamad Yar (a Karzai relative) and a janitor who give the U.s.a. forces a "Taliban tip" prove how men every bit well as women are prisoners to the persecution of women. With no dating, no looking, no music, both men created tragedies for many past being deprived a helpmate whom they believe was promised to them by her begetter. Both sought revenge using US forces. Like the corruption stories, the Mohamad Yar story is told in several places and the murders are unsolved. Unlike the abuse stories, Partrow clearly describes the murders and the motivations of the suspects and accomplices.

This is very much a reporter'south book. It is similar a series of articles with mixed chronologies and few transitional links. Such a volume is of import since it does gather a lot of facts and tin can be used as a foundation for better works.

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May 01, 2018 Andrew rated it it was ok

A Kingdom of Their Own: The Family unit Karzai and the Afghan Disaster past Joshua Partlow is a book chronicling the ascent and reign of the Karzai family in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan. Partlow takes a journalistic arroyo to this discipline, utilizing interviews, news and opinion to paint a picture show of the Karzai family. This is not always a rosy picture show, and Partlow examines issues of corruption, cooperation with insurgent groups and tribal militias, Pashtun nationalism, and strange conspiracy.

The volume begins by lookin

A Kingdom of Their Ain: The Family Karzai and the Afghan Disaster by Joshua Partlow is a book chronicling the ascension and reign of the Karzai family unit in Afghanistan. Partlow takes a journalistic arroyo to this field of study, utilizing interviews, news and opinion to paint a picture of the Karzai family. This is not e'er a rosy picture, and Partlow examines problems of corruption, cooperation with insurgent groups and tribal militias, Pashtun nationalism, and foreign conspiracy.

The volume begins by looking at the rise of Hamid Karzai, current and long-term president of Afghanistan. His humble ancestry every bit a low level political adviser in the United States, his connections to wealthy Afghani expats and businessmen in the US, and his ascension and return to Afghanistan every bit a deal maker and well connected individual are noted. Hamid Karzai was backed past the US, as he was a well known entity to them after they began moving forces into Afghanistan. He helped sway some Pashtun and other tribal groups to move away from the Taliban sphere and back up the US-backed invasion. He was likewise well connected with the Northern Brotherhood, a group of northern tribes, Uzbeks and Turkmeni, who were fighting a long term struggle with the Taliban for control of the country. Karzai eventually took power subsequently an election, and has remained in office since. His reign has been beset past allegations of abuse, and his wavering between support for, and criticism of, occupying Us forces.

Karzai's family is besides chronicled. Hamid had brothers who worked initaiting real estate deals, dealt in armed forces procurement, and ran insurgent groups in the south of the country. Hamid and his family unit had their hands in almost every pot, and owned companies while likewise retaining important political positions. The US tried to crack downward on corruption in Afghanistan, and eventually turned on the Karzai family, as Hamid was particularly honest well-nigh the grievances of foreign occupation. The US seems to have interpreted this as expose or ungratefulness, as they began to seek alternative political options and even worked to sway elections against Hamid by supporting other candidates. Karazi, for his part, was accused of ballot stuffing and intimidation (although like accusations were leveled at his competitors). This led to a growing rift internally between Karazi and the Americans, even as the two maintained close relations in terms of combating the Taliban.

To be frank, I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. I constitute it lacking in basic background information on the Karzai'south - something expected from a journalistic style expose book. The book is heavily critical, both of the Karzai's and the support given to them by the US. This is interesting discourse, delving into the inner workings of Afghani politics, tribal divisions, ethnic and religious rivalry, and so on. However, I felt it was written with too much of a Western viewpoint. Partlow oftentimes seems to skip over or non empathise the on the footing realities of Afghani politics, ignoring the challenges faced in forming whatsoever sort of unified state in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan, and criticizing politicians for trying to skirt the fractious politics of the country. This comes off as pure corruption in this account, although it is easily interpretable as political necessity. Ane could hardly have a US backed authorities in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan if one constantly ignores rival political groups and the realpolitik of a nation controlled largely by competing warlords and tribal groups. Partlow decries the US's ability to country-building in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan, but little reason is given, and no solutions offered. Although one tin can surely criticize the US occupation of Afghanistan due to its inability to defeat the Taliban (they are yet very active today), no solutions are offered. Partlow views them as both over-zealous, and underhanded, for case, as they supported the Karzai's with little groundwork checking, only and so sought to topple them through electioneering and promoting corruption charges confronting Karzai loyalists. Which i, if whatever is preferable? Is there a healthy balance? What would that look like?

I have been a bit critical of this book, suffice to say it is an overly journalistic look at a very interesting topic. I feel like the book lacks focus and particular in some respects, while offering some interesting tidbits overall. This book would accept been a much stronger analysis if it had more political and technical analysis, something that may be out of its sphere as a book, but would certainly have offered a clearer and more than curtailed examination of the Karzai's and in that location ties to Afghanistan, both skilful and bad. I certainly would have preferred a more political analysis, instead of the interview/opinion style writing in this volume. This is certainly a personal stance, simply did effect my enjoyment of this title in a major style. I could recommend this book for those looking for introductory detail on Afghanistan and the Karzai's, but for those looking for something more to sink at that place teeth into, this one is a hard skip.

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Aug 18, 2020 Heather rated it it was amazing

Enlightening insight into the recent history, politics, and power of war-torn Afghanistan through the lens of the Karzai family. Partlow provides a fascinating, in-depth account of the personalities and relationships that shaped the country for practiced and for sick.

Oct xviii, 2016 Colin rated information technology it was amazing

Excellent profile on the Karzai family's major players, and how they sought to harness the power of the American intervention in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan or clashed with it in the waning years. The writing strikes a bully balance between reported personal histories and starting time person encounters, policy-level debates within the US military and diplomatic corps over how to engage with the Afghan government, and the impact of these dynamics on the conflict's big flick. The setup and fallout of the 2010 Kabul Ba Excellent contour on the Karzai family unit'southward major players, and how they sought to harness the power of the American intervention in Afghanistan or clashed with it in the waning years. The writing strikes a swell residual betwixt reported personal histories and first person encounters, policy-level debates within the U.s.a. military and diplomatic corps over how to engage with the Afghan government, and the impact of these dynamics on the disharmonize'south big flick. The setup and fallout of the 2010 Kabul Bank crunch and the murder of Ahmad Wali Karzai in July 2011 form the 2 big anchors of the narrative but there's plenty more than to discuss in between. There are necessarily some gaps in the coverage – the early years of the government's germination are glossed over fairly chop-chop, with the story basically picking up around Karzai's re-ballot in 2009, and while the author seems to have gotten a great deal of interview access through his stint as Washington Postal service agency master, the armed and unarmed opposition is mostly reflected in their relations with the Karzais or the Americans rather than being a focus themselves. But the volume fully captures the ways in which the U.S. authorities went in circles on whether to seek to break upwardly the Karzai family members' various patronage machines or comprehend them as anchors of stability; whether expectations that Afghanistan meet U.S. governance and legal standards would accept to submit to the need for armed local proxies; and how Hamid Karzai sought to maneuver against his rivals and carve out an contained position while remaining head of America's biggest overseas dependency.

While this ultimately may exist familiar and notwithstanding-recent history for those who take worked on Afghanistan issues, it's very well-told and I'd put it at the meridian of my recommendation list for anyone looking for an introduction to agreement elite politics in the Afghanistan surge years.

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Feb 06, 2017 Ian rated information technology it was ok

This book has glowing reviews here, only I cannot recommend it to anyone who is non deeply invested, and maybe already well-informed, about the by ii decades of Afghanistan's history. The book has no clearly divers scope or thesis; the narrative jumps around indiscriminately in time and theme, breaking up action and making it difficult to slice together a coherent story nearly either the Karzais or Afghanistan; it is absolutely choked with facts and details that made it impossible for me to This book has glowing reviews here, merely I cannot recommend it to anyone who is non deeply invested, and perhaps already well-informed, about the past two decades of Afghanistan'southward history. The book has no conspicuously defined scope or thesis; the narrative jumps around indiscriminately in time and theme, breaking up activity and making information technology difficult to slice together a coherent story near either the Karzais or Afghanistan; it is absolutely high-strung with facts and details that made it impossible for me to see the forest, if there even is one, from the trees. Ultimately, it came across similar a hastily-assembled collection of dispatches from Kabul that an editor thought could be packaged and sold as a history of the Karzai family. This terminal feature - the title - was the almost disappointing. There is no core Karzai family unit story here, which would accept been a volume I would read. The Karzais are heavily involved in Afghanistan, so they feature prominently, only so do American generals and ambassadors. These other bandage members sometimes star for entire chapters as the Karzais are momentarily left unmolested in their palaces and compounds. It was very difficult to slog through this book and I eventually skip-read it until calling uncle. ...more

Nov 20, 2016 Wes F rated it actually liked it

Excellent read--I gave this 4-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. Partlow does an fantabulous--and I feel very off-white--assessment of Karzai'southward presidency, investigating in detail all the connected relatives who are necessarily function of the Karzai story. If yous want to know more than well-nigh how America's largesse to Transitional islamic state of afghanistan has been wasted and pilfered--by the millions & millions of dollars--this book has a good inside scoop. It'due south a sad tale of greed, bribery, cultural illiteracy & ignorance, political cowardic Excellent read--I gave this 4-1/2 stars in my Reading Log. Partlow does an excellent--and I feel very fair--assessment of Karzai's presidency, investigating in particular all the connected relatives who are necessarily office of the Karzai story. If you want to know more than about how America's largesse to Transitional islamic state of afghanistan has been wasted and pilfered--by the millions & millions of dollars--this book has a good inside scoop. Information technology'south a sad tale of greed, bribery, cultural illiteracy & ignorance, political cowardice & hubris, and gives ane just a slice of perspective into the complications of a identify similar Afghanistan, where and so many people, unfortunately, shoot themselves in their own human foot to the detriment of the collective population who eke out a living on $1/day. May God continue to have mercy on the peoples of this incredible country. ...more

There'south a lot of good info in here, simply it suffers from too much detail and non enough statement. I didn't stop the concluding few capacity. Might be good every bit a reference. There'south a lot of proficient info in here, only information technology suffers from also much detail and not enough statement. I didn't finish the concluding few chapters. Might be good as a reference. ...more

Read an accelerate copy. Very interesting but requires delivery to read it all.

February 07, 2018 Steve Kohn rated it it was amazing

This book is not an account of battles fought on the footing. (For that, let me suggest "The Outpost," by Jake Tapper.) Nosotros do learn, though, about battles at the other cease of the spectrum, between our Ambassador and President Karzai.

Mostly, though, we learn virtually the war through the prism of the remarkable Karzai family unit.

Hamid Karzai appears to non be a bad man. Indeed, dissimilar many in his family, he was incorruptible. But a flawed leader, he was non the George Washington his land needed. (I'chiliad t

This volume is non an account of battles fought on the basis. (For that, let me advise "The Outpost," by Jake Tapper.) Nosotros practise learn, though, about battles at the other end of the spectrum, between our Ambassador and President Karzai.

Mostly, though, nosotros larn about the state of war through the prism of the remarkable Karzai family unit.

Hamid Karzai appears to not be a bad human. Indeed, different many in his family, he was incorruptible. Only a flawed leader, he was non the George Washington his land needed. (I'thou tempted to say not the Josef Stalin his state needed, but that would be a bridge too far.)

This superb book could use a few maps and more photos, only the wonderful writing makes up for these minor faults.

Imperative reading for those of us who served there.

But all of u.s.a. in the West, and especially in America, need to recollect of this book the next time nosotros see a fellow or adult female with burn injuries or prosthetic limbs. When we're signing a cheque to pay our taxes. Why our forces are still in a country, more than than 15 years as this review is written, that mostly wants us out.

"By and large," equally the book shows (the Kabul Bank fiasco, particularly), because a few very much desire us, with our burn down hoses spraying dollars, to stay.

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If you want an all points of view novel of the US occupation of Afghanistan, this is a treat. Beingness a novice of history, I found a improve commentary of the myriad of difficult personalities and bug that surrounded the war effort than I could e'er have read in a school textbook or news.

While the title calls the occupation a disaster, and there are a number of reasons for this, I would question that word if only because the start transfer of power occurred that did not involve expiry or diposal

If you want an all points of view novel of the US occupation of Afghanistan, this is a treat. Being a novice of history, I plant a ameliorate commentary of the myriad of hard personalities and issues that surrounded the war effort than I could ever take read in a school textbook or news.

While the title calls the occupation a disaster, and at that place are a number of reasons for this, I would question that discussion if only because the start transfer of power occurred that did not involve death or diposal at the end of Kharzi's presidential term. While not a perfect transfer, it offers a new template for which the Afghan people to base their future.

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Nov 04, 2019 Nate Rabe rated it information technology was amazing

A tremendous book. I've lived and worked in the region for many years and we all knew how screwy Afghanistan was fifty-fifty if we lived Afghans. This book gives incredible insight and exposure to one of recent time's near momentous events, the American quagmire in Afghanistan pust nine/11. A real folio turner written with residue but empathy for Hamid Karzai possibly the oddest ban to be a major leader. Well done!

Incredible business relationship of the near complicated thing!

This is the most riveting account of the Afghan war. It is by no means a complete account of all the strife the Afghan people have endured throughout history, just it is the virtually detailed and nigh recent.

I highly recommend this book to all political conflicts zealots. It volition requite you a rare perspective on what happened in Afghanistan.

The author's prose is besides magnificent. Information technology flows well and like shooting fish in a barrel to read.

Incredible business relationship of the most complicated matter!

This is the most riveting account of the Afghan war. Information technology is past no means a consummate account of all the strife the Afghan people have endured throughout history, just information technology is the almost detailed and about recent.

I highly recommend this book to all political conflicts zealots. Information technology will give you a rare perspective on what happened in Afghanistan.

The author's prose is also magnificent. It flows well and like shooting fish in a barrel to read.

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Pretty interesting tale of how the Karzai family (and Hamid Karzai in particular) went from being key assets and allies in the US plans to build a post-Taliban Afghanistan to being a major pain in the asss

Apr 24, 2019 Camilla Roper rated it it was astonishing

The former bureau chief of The Washington Post writes about the Afghan war and the powerful Karzai family. Not fiction, but a piece of enquiry by a respected journalist. Tough to read, tough to run across how this family afflicted the Afghan war and the U.S., only worth the time.

May x, 2020 Emran Feroz rated it actually liked it

Good read, but information technology's non really a Karzai biography in my opinion. The author talked with several members of the Karzai family unit, only he even so didn't get Transitional islamic state of afghanistan and the post-2001 system. Practiced read, but it'southward not actually a Karzai biography in my opinion. The writer talked with several members of the Karzai family unit, only he nonetheless didn't become Afghanistan and the post-2001 system. ...more than

Jan 31, 2017 Jacob Mize rated it actually liked it

For some context, I'yard extremely interested in both Heart Eastern history and current events. I'm still a bit of a novice, but establish this book incredibly detailed (but non overly then), with great insight of the inner workings of Karzai'south regime and circuitous family ties. Partlow is not overly critical of either U.s.a. president's administration but focuses more than on Karzai'south actions and evolving relationship with the Us throughout the Transitional islamic state of afghanistan war. For anyone who wants to better understand the com For some context, I'grand extremely interested in both Middle Eastern history and current events. I'm nevertheless a bit of a novice, just institute this book incredibly detailed (simply not overly then), with great insight of the inner workings of Karzai's government and complex family ties. Partlow is not overly disquisitional of either U.s.a. president's administration but focuses more on Karzai'due south actions and evolving relationship with the US throughout the Transitional islamic state of afghanistan war. For anyone who wants to amend understand the complex politics of Afghanistan and the tribal civilization engrained inside the foundation of the newly formed Afghan government, this is a corking volume that never grows stale while reading. ...more

According to the book at the cease Karzai himself has come out clean and non direct involved in whatsoever kind of abuse.... a little hard to believe. Yep, equally a head of land you don't directly deal, just the fashion he protect his corrupt allies and ruined a very good adventure building good relations with US does say something. According to the book at the end Karzai himself has come out clean and not straight involved in any kind of corruption.... a little difficult to believe. Yes, equally a head of state yous don't directly deal, but the way he protect his corrupt allies and ruined a very practiced chance building skilful relations with U.s. does say something. ...more

A masterpiece about the Karzais...

Dec 16, 2016 Diane marked it every bit to-read

From the Christian Science Monitor: "Partlow'south valuable new volume, A Kingdom of Their Ain: The Family Karzai and the Afghan Disaster, enables its readers to understand Afghanistan better – or, at least as well equally the writer does. It too offers a compelling portrait of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his aggressive and oft-mystifying family unit – a number of whom had thrived in America and elsewhere just to return home after 9/11 to practice exponentially meliorate in an Afghanistan brimful in American From the Christian Scientific discipline Monitor: "Partlow's valuable new book, A Kingdom of Their Own: The Family unit Karzai and the Afghan Disaster, enables its readers to understand Transitional islamic state of afghanistan amend – or, at least as well as the author does. It also offers a compelling portrait of onetime Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his aggressive and oft-mystifying family – a number of whom had thrived in America and elsewhere only to return domicile after 9/11 to exercise exponentially improve in an Afghanistan awash in American dollars. Partlow may non succeed in answering all the questions surrounding the Karzai family unit, merely he at least offers a nuanced understanding of this very intriguing association and their deeds." (From 2009 to 2012, Partlow reported from Afghanistan as the Washington Postal service's Kabul agency chief.) ...more