‘Clouded Hopes: 9 Years in Afghanistan’: A journey into the reconstruction of a damaged nation
Author Mary Ann Callahan takes readers behind-the-scenes and on the ground in Afghanistan a decade after 9/11 attacks in Clouded Hopes: 9 Years in Afghanistan.
America moved into the region to battle terrorism and now Clouded Hopes examines the international teams who came to build and the Afghans with whom they worked. One thing that is perfectly clear is that the United States efforts on reconstruction have not transformed the society.
Callahan uses the journey of Dave Trotter to close reveal the countless pitfalls and hopelessness in the battered country. From his arrival in Kabul to his closing conversation with Haseeb, Trotter’s experience shows the reader that the stabilization efforts have only left the country “tired” – to borrow from Haseeb’s soliloquy.
Mary Ann Callahan, 60, lived independently in Afghan neighborhoods from 2003 to 2011, when she was forced to move behind international barricades because of increasing threats to foreigners in Afghanistan. The insider’s view shows us what the author will boldly tell you:
“Life for Afghans got worse, not better,” Callahan says. “In a Gallup poll last year, 55 percent rated their lives as ones of ‘suffering.’ ”
She explains that name of book, explaining America’s intent on reconstruction may be well intended “But the original purpose of the projects becomes clouded because of a lack of communication that’s meaningful to local populations,” Callahan says. “This opens the door for those who do not want ‘outsiders’ in their country to concoct opposing stories that tarnish U.S. objectives and demonize the U.S. role.” (Emphasis added, The Dispatch)
Clouded hope, an interesting praise carries a ton of weight as the Middle East conflicts rage on nearly a year after the original publish date.
Overall Clouded Hope receives 3 1/2 stars out of 5
It is a very short read, a little over 90 pages, and doesn’t fit the Brad Thor or Dan Brown approach to telling a tale. The realism and truth bleeding from the pages should be cause for research by the reader. If anything, Callahan should be commended for being an honest voice from the watch tower.
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