The war in Afghanistan is over ten years old. It has cost countless lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. Politicians talk of progress, but the violence is worse than ever. Join acclaimed journalist and documentary filmmaker Ben Anderson at Books & Books on Thursday, April 26 at 7pm for a presentation, discussion and signing of his new book, No Worse Enemy: The Inside Story of the Chaotic Struggle for Afghanistan.

This free event is part of the Books & Books International Visiting Author Series, generously sponsored by Camana Bay and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

About the Book

The withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan has been much-debated is recent weeks, but a bigger question should be whether or not Western forces being in the country has mattered at all. Over the last ten years that US troops have been in Afghanistan, reports have stated that we are making headway, the Taliban is on its last legs, and the tipping point is close, but then the Taliban gradually return.

No one knows this better than journalist and documentary film maker Ben Anderson.  He has spent the better part of five years on the front lines with the British Army and the US Marines documenting what is going on in the war in Afghanistan. His book No Worse Enemy charts the progress of President Obama’s counter-insurgency strategy, the so-called “Good War,” and details how it has descended into a quagmire, with ever-increasing levels of violence.

As the only journalist to have seen all the campaigns under President Obama and with over 300 hours of footage from the front, Anderson has a unique perspective on both the experiences of the troops and the Afghan people. When he had his footage translated, he was shocked to find that the Afghan people trusted the Taliban more than they trusted the Afghan Army. Some of this footage was a part of his award-winning documentary for HBO Films called “The Battle for Marjah.” No Worse Enemy shares even more of the story.

Featuring interviews with military commanders on the ground, details of IED explosions, multiplying US casualties, chronic disorganization, civilian deaths, and Taliban fighters who melt into the local population, No Worse Enemy is a bold and frightening insight into the longest war of modern times.

Ben Anderson is an acclaimed journalist who has been making documentaries and writing for over 14 years. He has filmed, presented and produced over 40 films, including “The Battle for Marjah” for HBO Films. He has fronted four programs for BBC flagship documentary program “Panorama,” and has been nominated for a BAFTA Award. He has written for The Times, Esquire, London Review of Books, Daily Mirror, and The Daily Mail. When not reporting in the field, he lives in London.

For up to date information on all Books & Books events in Grand Cayman, visit: www.booksandbooks.com