Steve Hanke

"Directorate S" by Steve Coll delves into the U.S. government's covert operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan since 9/11, and the role of Pakistan's intelligence agency (I.S.I.) in training and legitimizing the Taliban. Coll unveils the hidden battle between the U.S. and "Directorate S," showing how the lack of understanding of I.S.I.'s motivations and intentions doomed the American war effort in Afghanistan. With extensive research and attention to detail, "Directorate S" is a masterful work of investigative and narrative journalism that brings to light a complex and ongoing conflict in South Asia.