ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is based almost entirely on my own reporting, interviews, a review of documents and meeting notes. I am deeply indebted to the reporters and authors who have covered the war in Afghanistan and the Obama administration. They blazed the trail. Their work and insights provide a significant and essential foundation.

I want to thank all sources, those named and those unnamed. These individuals often agreed to take the time to answer all my questions, provide me with notes and other written material, and give context to the scenes in this book. Without their help, the effort to make this a serious and authoritative history would have been impossible. I am grateful.

Alice Mayhew, my editor at Simon & Schuster for 38 years and 16 books, continues to offer wisdom that is shrewd, fair and always to the point. No one edits with more grace than Alice. Her devotion to revealing history in a clear, compelling way is a gift. She has my admiration and affection.

Jonathan Karp enthusiastically leapt into his new job as publisher at Simon & Schuster. He gave dozens of concrete suggestions and ideas that strengthened this book. Simon & Schuster and its authors are fortunate to have at the helm a publisher who immerses himself in the details of a manuscript. Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn K. Reidy remains the kind of ally who all writers should have. My deepest appreciation also goes to Roger Labrie, senior editor; Elisa Rivlin, senior vice president and general counsel; Victoria Meyer, executive vice president of publicity; Tracey Guest, director of publicity; Jackie Seow, art director and jacket designer; Irene Kheradi, executive managing editor; Tristan Child, assistant managing editor; Karen Thompson, associate editor; Paul Dippolito, designer; Lisa Healy, senior production editor; Nancy Inglis, director of copyediting; John Wahler, associate director of production.

Josh Boak, Evelyn Duffy and I have profound gratitude for master copy editor Fred Chase, who came from Texas to join our team and work on his sixth book with me. Fred is a man of immense experience and common sense. His company, good humor, eye for detail and typographical saves make his help invaluable.

Many thanks to Barbara DeGennaro for indexing this book in such a short time.

Washington Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli has steered the institution I love with intelligence and courage. He possesses an eye for scoops, a competitive drive and the unflappable presence needed during this tumultuous time in the industry. Many thanks also to publisher Katharine Weymouth, whose pride in the work, mission and future of the newspaper is essential.

Post chairman and CEO Don Graham is a stalwart friend. No media CEO could be more of a champion of journalism and journalists. He knows the importance of ensuring that independent voices are heard.

My friend Steve Luxenberg, associate editor, gave willingly of his ingenuity and judgment to help excerpt this book for The Washington Post, and he has my lasting gratitude.

Washington Post reporters and editors whose work on Afghanistan and Pakistan was of tremendous assistance include Karen De-Young, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, David Ignatius, Joby Warrick, Greg Jaffe, Joshua Partlow, Al Kamen, Walter Pincus, Scott Wilson, Anne E. Kornblut, Ann Scott Tyson, Pamela Constable, Griff Witte, Rama Lakshmi, Emily Wax, Karin Brulliard, Cameron Barr, Carlos Lozada and many others. A great deal of significant background and understanding came from others on the Post’s foreign and national staffs. Special thanks to Rick Atkinson, Steve Coll and David Maraniss.

My appreciation also goes to Michel du Cille, Wendy Galietta and the rest of the Post’s incomparable photo staff who supplied nearly all of the pictures used in this book.

I will always be indebted to my friend and mentor Ben Bradlee, whose exacting standards and enduring principles are a legacy for all who have passed through the Post’s newsroom.

And special thanks to Carl Bernstein, a friend, colleague and source of endless ideas and insight.

I was also helped immeasurably by the reporting and analysis in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, Politico, Dawn (Pakistan), The Nation (Pakistan), the Associated Press, and countless other news organizations both foreign and domestic.

The following books were useful points of reference and would make for excellent further reading: The Accidental Guerrilla by David Kilcullen; Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice by David Galula; Decoding the Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field edited by Antonio Giustozzi; Descent into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid; Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin; Koran, Kalashnikov and Laptop: The NeoTaliban Insurgency in Afghanistan by Antonio Giustozzi; Lessons in Disaster by Gordon M. Goldstein; My Life with the Taliban by Abdul Salam Zaeef; Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military by Husain Haqqani; The Promise by Jonathan Alter; and The Search for Al Qaeda by Bruce Riedel.

My assistants and I found the following blogs helpful as well: Abu Muqawama (http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama); The AfPak Channel (http://afpak.foreignpolicy.com/); At War (http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/); The Cable (http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/); and Mike Allen’s Playbook (http://www.politico.com/playbook/).

Robert B. Barnett, my agent, attorney and friend, again proved indispensible. His counsel is always welcome and informed. Bob looks out for his authors and their interests with an unmatched zeal. Because he represents President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and other political figures, he was not consulted on the contents of this book and did not see it until it was printed.

Josh, Evelyn and I are fortunate for the presence of Rosa Criollo and Jackie Crowe in our lives. Long days are shortened and challenges eased by their able assistance.

My elder daughter, Tali, spent a week in Washington reviewing the manuscript. Her smart recommendations helped make sometimes dense subject matter more understandable. Tali has a natural touch and feel for the written word. My younger daughter, Diana, is fast becoming a spirited and caring young woman and a highly readable writer in her own right. Both are joys in my life.

Elsa Walsh, my wife, lived through this book from the first interviews to the final proofs. Her advice has always proven enlightening, and her company an abiding comfort. She devoted an intense week to marking up drafts. This book—and my previous ones—are richer because of her. Elsa is the anchor of our family and the source of the love that matters.