Book Details

An Unwinnable War

Australia in Afghanistan

Karen Middleton

An Unwinnable War charts the motives, ambitions and negotiations that carried Australia into Afghanistan.

Awards

Finalist for the 2011 Walkley Book Award
Shortlisted for the 2011 Manning Clark House National Cultural Award

Opinion

“Middleton plays it pretty well down the middle, drawing on a wide range of first-hand sources and doing her best to show the historical context of unfolding events.”
Derek Parker, The Spectator Australia
08.10.2011

“It's an important contribution to the history of our involvement in Afghanistan.”
Stephen Smith, Defence Minister
05.09.2011

About this Title

A decade on from the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Australians are embroiled in one of the nation's longest military conflicts - the war in Afghanistan.

Based on interviews with key figures in Australia and abroad, An Unwinnable War lays bare the tensions between political and military decision-making, the nature and potency of the US alliance and the influence of individual personalities in charting Australia's course in what was once dubbed 'the good war'.

About the Author

Karen Middleton is a political journalist with more than two decades’ experience reporting on national and international affairs in print and broadcast media. A former president of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery and a Churchill fellow, she is chief political correspondent with SBS Television, a long-time newspaper columnist and radio commentator and a panellist on the ABC’s lnsiders program. Karen was in Washington DC on September 11, 2001, and reported from Afghanistan in 2007 and 2011

Reviews

‘Middleton plays it pretty well down the middle, drawing on a wide range of first-hand sources and doing her best to show the historical context of unfolding events.’ (DEREK PARKER, THE SPECTATOR AUSTRALIA, 18/10/2011) Read full review

‘It's an important contribution to the history of our involvement in Afghanistan.’ (STEPHEN SMITH, DEFENCE MINISTER, 05/09/2011)

‘Middleton has been studiously professional in balancing the views she presents throughout this sad chronicle of a conflict, which, in retrospect, is unlikely to be seen as worth the human cost.’ (RICHARD THWAITES, CANBERRA TIMES, 01/10/2011) Read full review

‘An Unwinnable War is a first-class account of Australia's role in Afghanistan that deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in Australian foreign policy and/or military history.’ (DAVID COOMBES, SUNDAY TASMANIAN, 30/10/2011)

Events

Tuesday, 06/09/2011 06:00 pm
Avid Reader, 193 Boundary Street, West End
(07) 3846 3422
books@avidreader.com.au
http://www.avidreader.com.au/

Karen Middleton will be appearing in conversation with Denis Atkins from The Courier Mail, to discuss Karen's new book  An Unwinnable War at Avid Reader. For booking information, please visit the events page on Avid Reader's website.

Thursday, 08/09/2011 06:00 pm
Readings Hawthorn, 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
(03) 9819 1917
http://www.readings.com.au/events

Karen Middleton will be appearing in conversation with Barrie Cassidy from ABC TV's Insiders program, to discuss Karen's new book An Unwinnable War, at Readings Hawthorn. For booking information, please contact Readings Hawthorn.

Wednesday, 14/09/2011 06:00 pm
My Bookshop with Corrie Perkin, 513 Malvern Road, Hawksburn
(03) 9824 2990
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150080514750

Karen Middleton will be appearing in conversation with Corrie Perkin, to discuss Karen's new book An Uwinnable War at My Bookshop. For booking information, please contact My Bookshop.

Thursday, 15/09/2011 01:00 pm
Stanton Library, 234 Miller Street, North Sydney
(02) 9936 8400 (Stanton Library), (02) 9438 1763 (Constant Reader)
http://www.constantreader.com.au/events.php

Karen Middleton will be speaking about her new book An Unwinnable War at Stanton Library as part of their 'Writers @ Stanton' program with The Constant Reader bookshop. For booking information, please contact The Constant Reader website. 

Thursday, 15/09/2011 06:00 pm
Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
(02) 9660 2333
http://www.gleebooks.com.au/

Karen Middleton will be appearing in conversation with SBS presenter Anton Enus, to discuss Karen's new book An Unwinnable War at Gleebooks. Tickets are $10/ $7 conc. For booking information, please contact Gleebooks on the number above or by visiting their website.

Thursday, 22/09/2011 05:45 pm
Paperchain Bookstore, 34 Franklin Street, Manuka
02 6295 6723
info@paperchainbookstore.com.au
http://www.paperchainbookstore.com.au

Karen Middleton will be speaking about her new book An Unwinnable War at Paperchain Bookstore. For booking information, please contact Paperchain bookstore.

Wednesday, 26/10/2011 07:00 pm
Lounge Bar, Level 3, The Uni Pub, 17 London Circuit
(02) 6206 8707
serena@tai.org.au
http://www.tai.org.au/

Karen Middleton will be speaking about her new book An Unwinnable War at The Uni Pub, at an event with The Australia Institute. This event is free and bookings are not required. For further information, please contact The Australia Institute on the number above.

Book Preview

978-0-522-85766-5