"Understanding War in Afghanistan" aims to provide military leaders, civil servants, diplomats, and students with the intellectual basis that they need to begin to prepare for further study of or an assignment in Afghanistan. This book analyzes the land and its people, recaps Afghan history, and assesses the current situation. It also examines the range of choices for future U.S. policy toward Afghanistan.General David Petraeus praises Understanding War in Afghanistan as "an outstanding primer for soldiers and diplomats deploying for their first tour in the shadow of the Hindu Kush; those with extensive time on the ground will find the annotated bibliography full of excellent suggestions for further study".