Reviewer: Professor Rahman Dağ
Original Publication: The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development
Publication Date: 21 February 2020
Photo Credit: Mohammad Kazim/Pexels
External Review
This review of America in Afghanistan: Foreign Policy and Decision Making from Bush to Obama to Trump by Sharifullah Dorani was originally published in The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development. A short excerpt and summary are presented here for readers of this website.
Key Comment
“The book is extremely valuable for understanding decision making towards Afghanistan under three American presidents and how US foreign policy evolved with their belief systems.”
Summary of the Review
The reviewer presents America in Afghanistan as a rigorous and timely study of United States foreign policy across the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. The book is praised for its clarity, depth, and detailed explanation of the political, military, and bureaucratic forces that shaped two decades of conflict.
Dr Dorani structures the book in three parts, each devoted to a presidency. This structure allows readers to follow the evolution of US policy chronologically and understand how shifting presidential worldviews led to different strategic approaches.
Bush Administration
The reviewer highlights Dorani’s argument that debates within the Bush White House—between advocates of overwhelming military intervention and those favouring diplomatic and economic solutions—created long-term strategic contradictions. The Global War on Terror is portrayed as driven by excessive confidence, a lack of a clear exit plan, and misjudgments about Afghanistan’s internal and regional dynamics.
Obama Administration
Dorani’s account of the Obama years focuses on the push to strengthen the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) as the foundation of long-term stability. Yet Obama’s pledge to withdraw US forces by a fixed deadline generated internal tensions, making it harder for US/NATO strategy to adapt to developments on the ground.
Trump Administration
The review notes that Dorani finds the Trump years the most unpredictable. Conflicting presidential statements, shifting policy signals, and simultaneous pressure on NATO allies created a complicated and often confusing foreign policy landscape.
Overall Assessment
The reviewer concludes that the book is a major contribution to understanding how US foreign policy decisions are made under pressure. Dorani’s use of interviews, documents, and frequent field visits to Afghanistan adds depth and originality. The review recommends the book for scholars, students, analysts, and anyone seeking a structured explanation of America’s longest war.
➡Read the full review: Book Review: America in Afghanistan: Foreign Policy and Decision Making from Bush to Obama to Trump
*Dr Sharifullah Dorani holds a PhD from Durham University on America’s Afghanistan War, a Master of Laws from University College London, and a degree in law from the University of Northampton, all in the UK. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and two acclaimed books: The Lone Leopard, a novel set in Afghanistan, and America in Afghanistan, published by Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the founder of CEPSAF and serves as the South Asia and Middle Eastern Editor at CESRAN International. All of Dr Dorani’s work is written to the highest academic standards and is widely indexed through Google Scholar.