Tom Carew - Jihad! The Secret War in Afghanistan

review by Brian Lowen on show 31st March
In 1980, the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan and one of the most crucial battles of the cold war was about to begin. In the high mountain passes of the north-west Frontier and the Hindu Kush, the CIA and its western allies saw an opportunity to bring the mighty Soviet army to its knees.

Their weapon:the Islamic guerrillas of the Afghan Mujahideen.

Their agent: Tom Carew, a young ex-SAS soldier with a talent for covert operations and a veteran of the wars in Dhofar and Northern Ireland.

Here follows the true story of Tom’s adventures during an extraordinary year. Carew, the first western agent to link up with the Mujahideen, led a series of daring initiatives inside Afghanistan. He knew that if he was captured by the Russians then the British Government would disown him.

Tom’s personal account covers in revealing detail combat action against the Soviet Spetsnaz and Afghan mercenaries; reconnaissance missions leading to the setting up of the first West sponsored training camp for the Mujahideen who were fierce fighters but hopeless when it came to basic soldiering skills, tending to rush headlong into battle without first reconnoitring the area and planning their raid. Tom describes his frustration at their inexperience and their need to stop five times a day for prayers, but they eventually come round to his way of fighting as he leads by example. Tom Carew was accepted and befriended by the fundamentalist Mujahideen and became as close to them as any European infidel could ever hope to get. In many ways he was a latter day Lawrence of Arabia.

This is a great story told with passion and honesty by the author and it sheds unprecedented light on the sharp edge of the cold war and the conduct of special operations in the modern era.
review by Brian (Biggles)