Description: The untold story of Hamid Karzai's dramatic rise to the presidency of Afghanistan and the problems he and his country face
In 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected president in Afghanistan's first-ever democratic election. Today, criticized for indecisiveness and targeted for assassination by extremists, President Karzai struggles to build on the country's modest post-Taliban achievements before civil unrest undermines his government. Now, author Nick Mills draws on months of candid personal interviews with the charismatic Afghan president to offer a revealing portrait of the figure known to millions by his familiar uniform of karakul cap and long green chappan. Timely and compelling, Karzai tells the fascinating story of a unique leader with a keen intellect, a natural gift for storytelling, and a presidency in peril.Brief description: NICK B. MILLS is an Associate Professor of Journalism at Boston University's College of Communication. He first met Hamid Karzai while serving as field director of Boston University's Afghan Media Project, which helped establish the Afghan Media Resource Center (AMRC) in 1987.