The Soviet experience in Afghanistan provides a compelling perspective on the far-reaching hazards of military intervention. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev decided that a withdrawal from Afghanistan should occur as soon as possible. The Soviet Union's senior leadership had become aware that their strategy was unraveling, their operational and tactical methods were not working, and the sacrifices they were demanding from the Soviet people and military were unlikely to produce the forecasted results. Despite this state of affairs, operations in Afghanistan persisted and four more years passed before the Soviets finally withdrew their military forces.

In No Miracles, Michael Fenzel explains why and how that happened, as viewed from the center of the Soviet state. From that perspective, three sources of failure stand out: poor civil-military relations, repeated and rapid turnover of Soviet leadership, and the perception that Soviet global prestige and influence were inexorably tied to the success of the Afghan mission. Fenzel enumerates the series of misperceptions and misjudgments that led to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, tracing the hazards of their military intervention and occupation. Ultimately, he offers a cautionary tale to nation states and policymakers considering military intervention and the use of force.

About the Author:

Michael R. Fenzel is an active duty Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, currently serving as a Deputy Commanding General in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He most recently served as a Senior Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and then Chief of Staff for the 82nd Airborne Division. He is the founder of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs (CENSA), a life-member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a former Director on the National Security Council Staff in the White House.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

There's nothing better to clear the cobwebs of the Grumps than curling up with a good book! Find thousands of good reads and lighten your mood with Grumpy's Fine Books!

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Grumpys Fine Books
NM, U.S.A.

Terms of Sale:

I accept all returns within 30 days of delivery and will provide prepaid return shipping labels upon request.

All orders may be canceled by the consumer until the time the order is confirmed and shipped out. This will always happen within a maximum of 48 hours.

Shipping Terms:

I charge shipping to cover USPS Media Mail rate, unless Priority Mail is chosen. Those items will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail. I do not offer UPS or Fedex shipment at this time.
All items are packaged in the most secure way possible so as to avoid damage in transit.

Payment Methods
accepted by seller

Add to Wants

Items related to No Miracles: The Failure of Soviet Decision-Making...

No Miracles: The Failure of Soviet Decision-Making in the Afghan War

Fenzel, Michael R.

New - Hardcover

Seller's business information