Investment in blood: the true cost of Britain's Afghan War

Description

"In this follow-up to the extremely successful 'Losing Small Wars', Frank Ledwidge analyses the cost - both financial and human - of Britain's involvement in the Afghanistan war. With the aid of interviews, on-the-ground research and countless Freedom of Information requests, he pieces together the enormous burden the Afghan intervention has placed on the shoulders of British soldiers and their families, UK taxpayers and - by far the greatest sufferers - Afghan civilians. Amongst other issues, he highlights the soldiers left horribly maimed, UK funds poured into the corrupt Afghan government, refugees driven out of Helmand province into disease-ridden camps and the long-term damage to the international reputation of the UK military. Ledwidge argues that the only true beneficiaries of the conflict are development consultants, Afghan drugs kingpins and international arms companies. This is both an extraordinary piece of investigative journalism and a heart-breaking account of military adventurism gone horribly wrong."--Book jacket.;Introduction -- Part one: The human cost (1. Helmand and the 'Angrez' ; 2. Military suffering ; 3. Killing the wrong people) -- Part two: The financial cost (4. Miliary costs ; 5. Financial element of death and injury ; 6. Developing Afghanistan) -- Part three: And for what? (7. And for what? Afghanistan ; 8. And for what? Security) -- Conclusion.