Swimming with Warlords: A Dozen-Year Journey Across the Afghan War

American Legacy Book Awards Finalist

The veteran journalist and author of In the Hot Zone and The Things They Cannot Say explores the impact of more than a decade of war on Afghanistan, from the American invasion after 9/11 to today, and offers insights into its future and the possible consequences for the U.S.

Kevin Sites made his first trip to Afghanistan in October 2001, staying 100 days to cover the U.S. invasion for NBC News. On his fifth trip to the country in June 2013, Sites retraced that first odyssey, contemplating the significant events of his original trip to explore what, if anything, has changed. He interviewed warlords, ex-Taliban fighters, politicians, women cops and dentists, farmers, drug addicts, international aid workers, diplomats, and military personnel.

In Swimming with Warlords, Sites examines Afghanistan today through the prism of those two parallel journeys, exploring that nation's past and considering its future in light of the drawdown of U.S. troops. As he tells the stories of the people he met--how they have been affected by this conflict that has cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives--Sites provides a fresh perspective on Afghanistan and America's role there.

Swimming with Warlords contains 30 black-and-white photos throughout.

This unflinching account goes beyond the headlines to reveal the human cost of a decade-long war.

• War Correspondent's Perspective: Go beyond the headlines with the veteran journalist who covered the initial 2001 invasion and returned a decade later to document its consequences.
• Interviews with Warlords: Sit face-to-face with the power brokers of Afghanistan--from infamous warlords and ex-Taliban fighters to politicians and women cops--and hear their stories in their own words.
• Two Parallel Journeys: Retrace Sites's original 100-day odyssey from 2001, comparing the Afghanistan of yesterday with the realities on the ground in 2013.
• The Future of Afghanistan: Gain crucial insights into the nation's path forward as U.S. troops draw down, and understand the potential consequences for both Central Asia and America.