Charlie Wilson's War

The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History

By: George Crile

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 20 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Charlie Wilson’s War is the untold story of the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the Agency’s history.

In the early 1980s, after a Houston socialite turned Wilson’s attention to the ragged Afghan freedom fighters who continued to fight the Soviet invaders despite overwhelming odds, the congressman became passionate about their cause and procured hundreds of millions of dollars to support the mujahideen. The arms were secretly procured and distributed with the help of an out-of-favor CIA operative, Gust Avrokotos, whose working-class Greek-American background made him an anomaly among the Ivy League world of American spies. Avrakotos handpicked a staff of CIA outcasts to run his operation and, with their help, continually stretched the Agency’s rules to the breaking point.

Moving from the back rooms of the Capitol, to secret chambers at Langley, to arms-dealers conventions, to the Khyber Pass, Charlie Wilson’s War is a detailed and brilliantly reported account of the inside workings of the CIA.

©2003 George Crile (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• 2004 Audie Award Winner, Unabridged Nonfiction

"Crile, a 60 Minutes producer, offers an absorbing, thoroughly detailed look at the largest and most successful CIA operation in U.S. history: the arming of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan." (Booklist)
"An engaging, well-written, newsworthy study of practical politics and its sometimes unlikely players." (Kirkus Reviews)

“Narrator Christopher Lane affects an even tone and pace, allowing the events of the story to carry the listener to the extraordinary highs and sickening lows of the flawed but heroic Wilson. Thankfully, Lane takes it easy on the accents and shines brightest when allowing a tinge of cynicism in his delivery." ( AudioFile)

“Put the Tom Clancy clones back on the shelf; this covert-ops chronicle is practically impossible to put down.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Incredible Story, Glad I listened

This should be mandatory reading in US History classes. Almost unbelievable story, a must listen.

outstanding narration and story.....

Very detailed but extremely interesting story. Easy listening achieved by narrator's voice inflections, language skills, and cadence for delivery.

Great read about history

So much different and more exciting than the movie. The movie was great. If you liked the movie you will love this book

Charlie Wilson helped end the USSR - who knew?

The book shows in a historically accurate way how the media can really over focus we consumers on a single issue. So while Regan and the media had us had nothing to sell us but "Contra-Gate" the lovable Charlie Wilson, was funding (behind the media's back) the Mujahadeen with hundreds of millions of dollars of weapons! (and hopefully if you haven't seen the movie) the key weapon that might save the villagers from savage Russian helicopters. Failing in Afghanistan was probably the start of the downfall of the USSR. The movie of this book only skims the surface everything that happens in perfect told depth. (With good Texan accents and narration.) Don't pass up this gem by thinking "I've seen the movie." because the movie is merely an outline of this fascinating REAL story. True history can be better than fiction. This is a "must read" which is why it earns that precious 5th star. This is an ADULT read due to the wild things everyone was doing during the seventies.

Simply the Best

This book examines the role of the United States in the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in the 1980s. It helps the reader understand the "miracle" defeat of the the far superior Red Army and the roots of al Qaeda. Packed with little known facts about the war and CIA's inner workings, this book is fascinating.

Entertaining book but don't get your history here

Unfortunately this book is only part of the story.

No less an authority than Charlie Wilson himself is on record criticizing the exclusion from the book of the role the Reagan administration played in supporting the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. (cf. "The Real Story of Charlie Wilson's War" on the History Channel).

The hidden irony in this book is the author's double standard in celebrating as heros Wilson and his CIA contact Gust Avrakotos as they broke every rule and not a few laws in their successful bid to give weapons to the Mujahideen who committed unspeakable acts to "kill commies" while deriding as criminal the Reagan administration's attempt to supply the Contras in Nicaragua to do the exact same thing.

The difference, of course, was that the Democrat Congress provided political cover for the program of one of their own, Wilson, while using the power of Congress to attack the same kind of program when run by their political opponents.

All in all a good read, but simply be aware of George Criles bias. All you need to know is that Criles was a produced for 60 Minutes and how overboard 60 Minutes went trying to get another Republican President.

The Best Listen!!

Of the dozen or so books I've listened to, this was the best so far. This is exactly the kind of book that proves that non-fiction can be more exciting than fiction. Great characters, great story, and some really important history to boot! The narrator sounded like Rod Sterling from the Twilight Zone - a perfect match for the book.

Not fiction and like a spy novel

Well written and incredibly well read. It's so much like being in a fast paced spy novel you have to remind yourself it's not fiction. If you followed the Afgan invasion or Iran Contra scandle at all, it puts the way you see CIA involvement in a different light. It confirms that the only way the US government works is if you find ways around the bureauracracy. One of the best books I've listened to.

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction- Captivating

I hadn't seen the film this book was based on, but I actually chose it for the excellent narrator, Christopher Lane. The real life former Congressman this book is based on most definitely seems to be created by a Hollywood writer. Truth is stranger than fiction. How a womanizing, alcohol loving Texas bad boy who hated Communists, voted for women's rights championed the cause of the Afghan freedom fighters opposing the Soviet Red Army along with a CIA veteran Gust Avrakatos and a cast of players so varied you will need a scorecard would seem beyond belief if it wasn't true. A page turning, eye opening, fascinating read/listen, it will give you an inside story into how American politics (used to) work and how the CIA operated at one time. Most importantly, it provides a vital missing chapter in the jihad against the US. It was first a jihad against the Soviet Union. Unlike the bitter and divided political landscape we have now, it was nice to see how opposites could work together for a common goal. For all his faults, Charlie Wilson was a different kind of hero to many as was Gust. Sex, scandals, war, humor and interesting biographies make this book hard to put down. It is an honest account of a stranger than fiction story. Christopher Lane's excellent narration makes this interesting to listen to. While I read parts, I listened to the audiobook for the most part. The consequences were unintended and neither Charlie or Gust were given the credit they should have received.

Very enlightening and entertaining, but scary.

I was captivated from the very beginning. Can't wait for the movie. I love a good story, and this had everything...and it was true!