Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Listen and read as much as you want
  • Over 400 000+ titles
  • Bestsellers in 10+ Indian languages
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Details page - Device banner - 894x1036
Cover for Afghanistan Graveyard of Empires: Why the Most Powerful Armies of Their Time Found Only Defeat or Shame in This Land of Endless Wars
Try for free

Afghanistan Graveyard of Empires: Why the Most Powerful Armies of Their Time Found Only Defeat or Shame in This Land of Endless Wars

Try for free
Duration
3H 17min
Language
English
Format
Category

History

During the spring and summer of 2021, global news reports were filled with the impending US/NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan. At best, it would be viewed as a stalemate, with an orderly transition to a stable, US-backed Afghan government. At worse, it would be looked upon as two decades of futile war, ending with a shameful retreat that left the county at the mercy of a ruthless Taliban regime. What went wrong?

This close look at the history of foreign invasions of the country, from Alexander the Great to the US/NATO occupation, gives insight into the geographical and cultural reasons this land, in the valley of the Hindu Kush mountain range, has long earned the sobriquet: Graveyard of Empires.

© 2021 Aries Consolidated LLC (Audiobook): 9781667080161

Release date

Audiobook: 17 December 2021

Tags

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. The Greek Connection: The Life of Elias Demetracopoulos and the Untold Story of Watergate
    The Greek Connection: The Life of Elias Demetracopoulos and the Untold Story of Watergate James H. Barron
  2. The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century
    The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr. USMC (Ret).
  3. Warship Builders: An Industrial History of U.S. Naval Shipbuilding 1922-1945
    Warship Builders: An Industrial History of U.S. Naval Shipbuilding 1922-1945 Thomas Heinrich
  4. Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan
    Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan Craig Shirley
  5. Standing Tall: Leadership Lessons in the Life of a Soldier
    Standing Tall: Leadership Lessons in the Life of a Soldier Lt. General Robert F Foley, US Army (Ret)
  6. Expectation of Valor: Planning for the Iraq War
    Expectation of Valor: Planning for the Iraq War Colonel Kevin C.M. Benson (Ret)
  7. Great Strategic Rivalries: From The Classical World to the Cold War
    Great Strategic Rivalries: From The Classical World to the Cold War
  8. Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City
    Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City Neal Bascomb
  9. Cold War Boys Overseas: True Tales by Those Who Served with the Royal Air Force Abroad
    Cold War Boys Overseas: True Tales by Those Who Served with the Royal Air Force Abroad Graham Pitchfork
  10. On Distant Service: The Life of the First U.S. Foreign Service Officer to be Assassinated
    On Distant Service: The Life of the First U.S. Foreign Service Officer to be Assassinated Susan M. Stein
  11. Patton's Shadow: The Making of a Hero in Modern Memory
    Patton's Shadow: The Making of a Hero in Modern Memory Nathan C. Jones
  12. Living the Dream: The Contested History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
    Living the Dream: The Contested History of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Daniel T. Fleming
  13. John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot
    John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot Harlow Giles Unger
  14. Marathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan
    Marathon War: Leadership in Combat in Afghanistan Jeffrey Schloesser
  15. Blood Is Thicker than War: Brothers and Sisters on the Front Lines
    Blood Is Thicker than War: Brothers and Sisters on the Front Lines Martin King
  16. Dragonslayers: Six Presidents and Their War with the Swamp
    Dragonslayers: Six Presidents and Their War with the Swamp Larry Schweikart
  17. Chester A. Arthur: Accidental President, The
    Chester A. Arthur: Accidental President, The Dr. John Pafford
  18. A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution
    A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution David Head
  19. Seeing Red: Russian Propaganda and American News
    Seeing Red: Russian Propaganda and American News Sarah Oates
  20. The Roman Empire and Its Enemies: Conquests and Conflicts
    The Roman Empire and Its Enemies: Conquests and Conflicts Rogan Fish
  21. The Nazi Seizure of Power: The Experience of a Single German Town, 1922-1945, Revised Edition
    The Nazi Seizure of Power: The Experience of a Single German Town, 1922-1945, Revised Edition William Sheridan Allen
  22. Uncertain Allies: General Joseph Stilwell and the China-Burma-India Theater
    Uncertain Allies: General Joseph Stilwell and the China-Burma-India Theater Eric Setzekorn
  23. Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II
    Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War II Bruce Henderson
  24. Instruments of Darkness: The History of Electronic Warfare, 1939-1945
    Instruments of Darkness: The History of Electronic Warfare, 1939-1945 Alfred Price
  25. Freedom on Trial: The First Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression
    Freedom on Trial: The First Post-Civil War Battle Over Civil Rights and Voter Suppression Scott Farris
  26. Churchill's German Special Forces: The Elite Refugee Troops who took the War to Hitler
    Churchill's German Special Forces: The Elite Refugee Troops who took the War to Hitler Paul Moorcraft
  27. V-Bombers: Britain’s Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War
    V-Bombers: Britain’s Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War Dr. Tony Redding
  28. American History Tellers: “The Cold War” and “Prohibition”
    American History Tellers: “The Cold War” and “Prohibition” Audra J. Wolfe
  29. Cold War Radio: The Russian Broadcasts of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
    Cold War Radio: The Russian Broadcasts of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Mark G. Pomar
  30. Tragedy of Patton, The: A Soldier's Date with Destiny
    Tragedy of Patton, The: A Soldier's Date with Destiny Robert Orlando
  31. Sub Culture: The Many Lives of the Submarine
    Sub Culture: The Many Lives of the Submarine John Medhurst
  32. The Secret Lives of the Nazis: How Hitler’s evil henchmen plundered Europe
    The Secret Lives of the Nazis: How Hitler’s evil henchmen plundered Europe Paul Roland
  33. Check Six!: A Thunderbolt Pilot's War Across the Pacific
    Check Six!: A Thunderbolt Pilot's War Across the Pacific James C. Curran
  34. The Rise And Fall Of The Confederate Goverment
    The Rise And Fall Of The Confederate Goverment Jefferson Davis
  35. Captives: How Rikers Island Took New York City Hostage
    Captives: How Rikers Island Took New York City Hostage Jarrod Shanahan
  36. With Grant at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg
    With Grant at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg Wilber F. Crummer
  37. The Enemy Harassed: Washington's New Jersey Campaign of 1777
    The Enemy Harassed: Washington's New Jersey Campaign of 1777 Jim Stempel
  38. Death in a Promised Land
    Death in a Promised Land Scott Ellsworth
  39. Living Hell: The Dark Side of the Civil War
    Living Hell: The Dark Side of the Civil War Michael C.C. Adams
  40. Hitler's Secret Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Nazi Plan for Final Victory
    Hitler's Secret Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Nazi Plan for Final Victory Michael FitzGerald
  41. The Life of a Spy: An Education in Truth, Lies, and Power
    The Life of a Spy: An Education in Truth, Lies, and Power Rod Barton
  42. Operation Chariot: The St Nazaire Raid, 1942
    Operation Chariot: The St Nazaire Raid, 1942 Jean-Charles Stasi
  43. Dupes: How America's Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century
    Dupes: How America's Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century Paul Kengor
  44. PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire
    PTL: The Rise and Fall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s Evangelical Empire John Wigger
  45. The War after the War: A New History of Reconstruction
    The War after the War: A New History of Reconstruction John Patrick Daly
  46. This Vast Southern Empire: Slaveholders at the Helm of American Foreign Policy
    This Vast Southern Empire: Slaveholders at the Helm of American Foreign Policy Matthew Karp
  47. The Cotton Kingdom: A Traveler’s Observations on Cotton and Slavery in the American Slave States, 1853–1861
    The Cotton Kingdom: A Traveler’s Observations on Cotton and Slavery in the American Slave States, 1853–1861 Frederick Law Olmsted
  48. Hitler's Boy Soldiers: How My Father's Generation Was Trained to Kill and Sent to Die for Germany
    Hitler's Boy Soldiers: How My Father's Generation Was Trained to Kill and Sent to Die for Germany Helene Munson
  49. Lincoln's Autocrat: The Life of Edwin Stanton
    Lincoln's Autocrat: The Life of Edwin Stanton William Marvel
  50. Samurai
    Samurai Jodie Brooks
  51. Mourning Lincoln
    Mourning Lincoln Martha Hodes
  52. Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS Kitty Hawk Race Riot
    Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS Kitty Hawk Race Riot Marv Truhe
  53. George Washington and the Irish: Incredible Stories of the Irish Spies, Soldiers, and Workers Who Helped Free America
    George Washington and the Irish: Incredible Stories of the Irish Spies, Soldiers, and Workers Who Helped Free America Niall O'Dowd
  54. In the Shadow of the Round Tops: Longstreet's Countermarch, Johnston's Reconnaissance, and the Enduring Battles for the Memory of July 2, 1863
    In the Shadow of the Round Tops: Longstreet's Countermarch, Johnston's Reconnaissance, and the Enduring Battles for the Memory of July 2, 1863 Allen R. Thompson
  55. Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy
    Fuji Fire: Sifting Ashes of a Forgotten U.S. Marine Corps Tragedy Chas Henry
  56. Stories From the Secret War: CIA Special Ops in Laos
    Stories From the Secret War: CIA Special Ops in Laos Terrence M. Burke
  57. Warriors and Warships: Conflict on the Great Lakes and the Legacy of Point Frederick
    Warriors and Warships: Conflict on the Great Lakes and the Legacy of Point Frederick Robert D. Banks
  58. Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas
    Master of War: The Life of General George H. Thomas Benson Bobrick
  59. American Manifesto: Saving Democracy from Villains, Vandals, and Ourselves
    American Manifesto: Saving Democracy from Villains, Vandals, and Ourselves Bob Garfield
  60. Mercy: Humanity in War
    Mercy: Humanity in War Cathal J. Nolan
  61. The Yalta Conference: The Political Decisions That Shaped the Post-War World
    The Yalta Conference: The Political Decisions That Shaped the Post-War World Sage Winters
  62. The Fall of the Russian Empire: The Russian Revolution and Civil War, Lenin the Bolsheviks, and Stalin
    The Fall of the Russian Empire: The Russian Revolution and Civil War, Lenin the Bolsheviks, and Stalin Will Forrest
  63. Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation Eagle Claw, JTF 1-79
    Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation Eagle Claw, JTF 1-79 James Stejskal
  64. China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order
    China's Law of the Sea: The New Rules of Maritime Order Isaac B. Kardon
  65. Beyond the Great Divide: How A Nation Became A Neighborhood
    Beyond the Great Divide: How A Nation Became A Neighborhood Governor George Pataki
  66. Praxis Tacticum: The Art, Science and Practice of Military Tactics
    Praxis Tacticum: The Art, Science and Practice of Military Tactics Colonel Charles S. Oliviero
  67. By The People?: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and Theft of Americans' Right to Self Rule
    By The People?: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and Theft of Americans' Right to Self Rule Daniel Alan Brubaker
  68. Fighting Back: Stan Andrews and the Birth of the Israeli Air Force
    Fighting Back: Stan Andrews and the Birth of the Israeli Air Force Jeffrey Weiss

Start with these

View all titles
  1. Detective Alpha ani Laal Rangachi Diary
    Detective Alpha ani Laal Rangachi Diary Saurabh Wagale
    4.4
  2. Mrutyunjay Bhag 1 - Karn
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 1 - Karn Shivaji Sawant
    4.3
  3. Shambhu
    Shambhu Nitin Thorat
    4.8
  4. Not Guilty
    Not Guilty Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.3
  5. Order Order
    Order Order Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.7
  6. Kshitij
    Kshitij Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.4
  7. Sadhu
    Sadhu Nitin Thorat
    4.8
  8. Chakravyuh
    Chakravyuh Yogesh Shejwalkar
    4.1
  9. Mahaparv
    Mahaparv Suhas Shirvalkar
    4.7
  10. Mrutyunjay Bhag 2 - Kunti
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 2 - Kunti Shivaji Sawant
    4.5
  11. Ravan Raja Rakshsancha
    Ravan Raja Rakshsancha Sharad Tandale
    4.6
  12. The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy: अवचेतन मन का चमत्कार ! - जोसेफ मर्फी
    The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy: अवचेतन मन का चमत्कार ! - जोसेफ मर्फी Joseph Murphy
    4.9
  13. AMBILYMOL THIRODHANAM
    AMBILYMOL THIRODHANAM G. R. INDUGOPAN
    3.8
  14. Mrutyunjay Bhag 3 - Karn
    Mrutyunjay Bhag 3 - Karn Shivaji Sawant
    4.5
  15. Mahamaya Nilavanti
    Mahamaya Nilavanti Sumedh
    4.1
Company
Explore
Useful links
Language and region

  • English

  • India

  • app_store_button
  • google_play_button
Follow us