The journalist Graeme Smith discusses his new book, The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan (Knopf, 2013), covering Afghanistan as he did with the Globe and Mail, and more, with Joseph Planta.

The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan by Graeme Smith (Knopf, 2013). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Dogs Are Eating Them Now

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Graeme Smith joins me now. The former foreign correspondent has a new book out, The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan. It’s one of the more important books out this fall, as it looks at the involvement in Afghanistan, Canada’s role, and whether the experience was a good one. Smith has been in Afghanistan since 2005 reporting there until 2011. He returned soon after, where he works now as an analyst for a think-tank. He knows well what’s going on in Afghanistan, having had the experience of being embedded with the military, as well as operating independently. His life has been at risk many times because of his work as reporter, but he manages to give us the inside view of what’s going on there. He gets to know ordinary citizens, translators and guides well, as well as members of the Taliban. This book illustrates why the mission in Afghanistan was fraught with miscalculation, and has failed in bringing peace and democracy. I’ll ask Mr. Smith about his time there, and his work with the International Crisis Group, as well as what he thinks might happen as troops continue to be drawn down, withdrawing from the country, and their election next year. Graeme Smith is an award winning journalist, who is now a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group based in Kabul. He was a foreign correspondent for the Globe and Mail, winning three National Newspaper Awards, as well as the Michener Award. He also won an Emmy. Visit www.ourwarinafghanistan.com for more information. And his Twitter handle is @smithkabul. This book is published by Knopf. In Toronto today, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Graeme Smith; Mr. Smith, good morning.

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