by Ronan Farrow
183 “rather kill each other over cows”: Partlow, Joshua. “Dostum, a Former Warlord Who Was Once America’s Man in Afghanistan, May Be Back.” Washington Post, 23 April 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dostum-a-former-warlord-who-was-once-americas-man-in-afghanistan-may-be-back/2014/04/23/9d1a7670-c63d-11e3-8b9a-8e0977a24aeb_story.html?utm_term=.61ff3c408558.
183 “difficult to get rid of”: Author interview with Robert Finn, 2 June 2016.
184 “how to use the Americans”: Author interview with Robert Finn, 2 June 2016.
184 “little appetite”: Risen, James. “U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died.” New York Times, 10 July 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/world/asia/11afghan.html.
184 “Where do you start”: Risen, James. “U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died.” New York Times, 10 July 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/world/asia/11afghan.html.
185 “there are responsibilities”: CNN interview broadcast 12 July 2009. Transcript available via Daily Kos at https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2009/7/13/753057/-.
186 sentenced to thirty months in prison: “Ex-CIA officer Kiriakou ‘made peace’ with leak decision.” BBC News, 28 February 2013, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-21610806.
186 “ ‘You kill it’ ”: Author interview with John Kiriakou, 3 June 2016.
186 “I was very disappointed”: Author interview with John Kiriakou, 3 June 2016.
187 “never pulled punches”: Author interview with John Kerry, 21 November 2017.
187 “might have interpreted”: Author interview with Frank Lowenstein, 5 August 2016. Lowenstein also questions Kiriakou’s credibility, referencing criminal charges later brought against him for leaking classified information, and suggesting that “he’s [Kiriakou’s] not—let me figure out the most polite way to say this—not the world’s most reliable guy.”
187 new inquiry: Currier, Cora. “White House Closes Inquiry Into Afghan Massacre—and Will Release No Details,” ProPublica, 31 July 2013, https://www.propublica.org/article/white-house-closes-inquiry-into-afghan-massacre-and-will-release-no-details.
187 series of large holes: Lasseter, Tom. “As Possible Afghan War-Crimes Evidence Removed, U.S. Silent,” McClatchy, 11 December 2008, www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24514951.html.
187 “literal obstruction”: Author phone interview with Susannah Sirkin, 22 May 2015.
188 “the rights of women”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
189 “he is nonfunctional”: Author interview with former United States ambassador, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the remarks, 31 August 2016.
190 “a different person”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
190 charges of mass atrocities: Nordland, Rod. “Top Afghans Tied to ’90s Carnage, Researchers Say.” New York Times, 22 July 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/world/asia/key-afghans-tied-to-mass-killings-in-90s-civil-war.html.
190 violent reprisals: Wafe, Abdul Waheed. “Former Warlord in Standoff With Police at Kabul Home.” New York Times, 4 February 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/world/asia/04afghan.html; Gall, Carlotta. “Ethnic Uzbek Legislator Beaten, Afghans Confirm.” New York Times, 30 June 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/world/asia/30afghan.html.
190 Junbish militias: “Afghanistan: Forces Linked to Vice President Terrorize Villagers.” Human Rights Watch, 31 July 2016, https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/31/afghanistan-forces-linked-vice-president-terrorize-villagers.
190 “known killer”: Partlow, Joshua. “Dostum, a Former Warlord Who Was Once America’s Man in Afghanistan, May Be Back.” Washington Post, 23 April 2014, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dostum-a-former-warlord-who-was-once-americas-man-in-afghanistan-may-be-back/2014/04/23/9d1a7670-c63d-11e3-8b9a-8e0977a24aeb_story.html?utm_term=.353f99b7d698.
190 denied him a visa: Vasilogambros, Matt. “Afghanistan’s Barred Vice President.” Atlantic, 25 April 2016, http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/04/afghanistan-dostum-barred/479922/.
191 “they fabricate what they want”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
191 had swooped in: Nissenbaum, Dion. “When Hillary (Almost) Met the Warlord.” McClatchy, 22 November 2009, blogs.mcclatchydc.com/jerusalem/2009/11/when-hillary-almost-met-the-warlord.html.
192 “I have the key”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
192 “We’re partners”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
192 did jumping jacks: Rahim, Fazul, “Afghanistan’s Warlord-Turned-VP Abdul Rashid Dostum Fights for Fitness.” NBC News, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/afghanistans-warlord-turned-vp-abdul-rashid-dostum-fights-fitness-n265451.
193 “peacelord”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
193 “the prisoners”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
193 “stacked like cordwood”: Risen, James. “U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died.” New York Times, 10 July 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/world/asia/11afghan.html/.
194 continued for days: Barry, John. “The Death Convoy of Afghanistan.” Newsweek, 25 August 2002, www.newsweek.com/death-convoy-afghanistan-144273 and Risen, James. “U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died.” New York Times, 10 July 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/world/asia/11afghan.html.
194 A top secret cable: US diplomatic cable, from Department of State Bureau of Intelligence and Research to White House, OP 260221Z, 2008, accessed via FOIA request from Rubenstein, Leonard, Physicians for Human Rights, Case No. 200802926, 4 August 2008.
194 “number of Taliban deaths”: Dasht-i-Leili FOIA’d State and DOD cables, p. 19 in State Dept pagination, p. 32 in PDF.
194 “the actual number may approach 2,000”: Dasht-i-Leili FOIA’d State and DOD cables, p. 19 in State Dept pagination, p. 32 in PDF.
194 “one container”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
195 “his name was Hazarat Chunta”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
196 He shrugged: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
196 Raymond said: “A Mass Grave In Afghanistan Raises Questions.” NPR, 22 July 2009.
196 “we worked very closely with [Dostum]”: Author interview with Mark Nutsch, 7 February 2018.
197 “We did not witness”: Author interview with Mark Nutsch, 7 February 2018.
198 “I’m over time!”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
199 Taliban had ambushed: “Afghan Vice-President Dostum Injured in Taliban Ambush.” Hindustan Times, 17 October 2016, www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/taliban-militants-ambush-afghanistan-vice-president-s-convoy/story-UQdKiuhxtFoddiT6NUpwiK.html.
199 Dostum can be seen: Facebook video posted by Esmat Salehoghly Azimy, ATV footage, uploaded 25 November 2016, https://www.facebook.com/esmat.azimy/videos/vb.100002358908259/1170150113073608/?type=2&theater.
199 Forensic evidence: Rasmussen, Sune Engel. “Vice-President Leaves Afghanistan Amid Torture and Rape Claims.” Guardian (Manchester), 19 May 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/19/vice-president-leaves-afghanistan-amid-torture-and-claims; Masha, Mujiib and Abed, Fahim. “Afghan Vice President Seen Abduc
ting Rival.” New York Times, 27 November 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/27/world/asia/afghan-vice-president-is-accused-of-assaulting-rival-and-taking-him-hostage.html?_r=0; Masha, Mujib and Abed, Fahim. “Afghanistan Vice President Accused of Torturing Political Rival.” New York Times, 13 December 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/world/asia/political-rival-accuses-afghanistan-vice-president-of-torturing-him.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FDostum%2C%20Abdul%20Rashid&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=collection.
200 charge of physical abuse: Wafa, Abdul Waheed. “Former Warlord in Standoff with Police at Kabul Home.” New York Times, 4 February 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/world/asia/04afghan.html.
200 “No one returns”: Ahmed, Azam. “Afghan First Vice President, an Ex-Warlord, Fumes on the Sidelines.” New York Times, 18 March 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/world/asia/afghan-first-vice-president-an-ex-warlord-fumes-on-the-sidelines.html.
200 criminal investigation: “Afghan Vice-President Dostum Accused of Sex Assault.” BBC, 13 December 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38311174.
200 Ghani returned: Nordland, Rod and Sukhanyar, Jawad. “Afghanistan Police Surround Vice President’s House.” New York Times, 21 February 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/21/world/asia/abdul-rashid-dostum-afghanistan.html.
201 smaller than al-Qaeda: Bearak, Max. “Behind the Front Lines in the Fight to ‘Annihilate’ ISIS in Afghanistan.” Washington Post, 23 July 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/behind-the-front-lines-in-the-fight-to-annihilate-isis-in-afghanistan/2017/07/23/0e1f88d2-6bb4-11e7-abbc-a53480672286_story.html?utm_term=.391eec1930b5.
201 “wasting our money”: Schwarz, Jon and Mackey, Robert. “All the Times Donald Trump Said the U.S. Should Get Out of Afghanistan.” Intercept, 21 August 2017, https://theintercept.com/2017/08/21/donald-trump-afghanistan-us-get-out/.
201 Mattis ordered: “Full Transcript and Video: Trump’s Speech on Afghanistan.” New York Times, 21 August 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/world/asia/trump-speech-afghanistan.html; and Gordon, Michael. “Mattis Orders First Group of Reinforcements to Afghanistan.” New York Times, 31 August 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/us/politics/trump-mattis-troops-afghanistan.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FAfghanistan.
201 America’s troop commitments: Rucker, Philip and Costa, Robert. “ ‘It’s a Hard Problem’: Inside Trump’s Decision to Send More Troops to Afghanistan.” Washington Post, 21 August 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/its-a-hard-problem-inside-trumps-decision-to-send-more-troops-to-afghanistan/2017/08/21/14dcb126-868b-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.3255b6d552c7.
201 “We are with you”: Nordland, Rod. “The Empire Stopper.” New York Times, 29 August 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/29/world/asia/afghanistan-graveyard-empires-historical-pictures.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FAfghanistan.
202 “nobody knows”: Landay, Jonathan. “Despite Expected U.S. Troop Hike, No End in Sight to Afghan War.” Reuters, 22 August 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-afghanistan-diplomacy/despite-expected-u-s-troop-hike-no-end-in-sight-to-afghan-war-idUSKCN1B2009.
202 no permanent assistant secretary: Toosi, Nahal. “State’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Envoy Leaves, Spurring Confusion about U.S. Diplomacy in Region.” Politico, 23 June 2017, www.politico.com/story/2017/06/23/trump-administration-dissolves-afghanistan-pakistan-unit-239901.
202 “Childhood is childhood”: Author interview with General Dostum, in person at the Vice Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29–30 August 2016.
19: WHITE BEAST
205 “We’re just ordinary people”: Author interview with Sally and Micheal Evans, 6 October 2016, in person at their home in Wooburn Green, England.
205 to study Arabic: “Sally Evans Slams UK Anti-Terror ‘Failure.’ ” BBC. 4 February 2015, www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-31126913.
206 “No god would guide you to this”: Author interview with Sally and Micheal Evans, 6 October 2016, in person at their home in Wooburn Green, England.
206 “Thomas rang”: Author interview with Sally and Micheal Evans, 6 October 2016, in person at their home in Wooburn Green, England.
207 and screams: Author interview with Preeyam K. Sehmi, at the Westgate Mall, Nairobi, 13 December 2013.
207 grisly torture: Strauss, Gary. “Inside Kenya Shopping Mall, a House of Horrors.” USA Today, 27 September 2013, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/09/27/mall-victims-tortured-maimed-in-al-shabab-attacks/2882299/.
207 seventy-two people: Soi, Nicholas and Dixon, Robyn. “Kenya says Nairobi mall siege is over, with 72 dead.” Los Angeles Times, 24 September 2013, http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-kenya-mall-20130925,0,3451298.story#ixzz2pz9qg1hN.
207 foreign meddling in Somalia: Fieldstadt, Elisha. “Somali Terror Group al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Kenya Mall Attack.” NBC News. 21 September 2013, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/somali-terror-group-al-shabab-claims-responsibility-kenya-mall-attack-f4B11223876.
207 seventy-six dead: “Hunt for Terrorists Shifts to ‘Dangerous’ North Africa, Panetta Says.” NBC News, 12 December 2011, https://archive.li/WOplo.
207 “direct threat”: Kulish, Nicholas and Gettleman, Jeffrey. “U.S. Sees Direct Threat in Attack at Kenya Mall.” New York Times, 25 September 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/world/africa/us-sees-direct-threat-in-attack-at-kenya-mall.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all.
207 “Selfishly”: My Son the Jihadi, Channel 4 documentary.
209 “didn’t lend itself”: Author interview with Princeton Lyman, 27 February 2017.
209 “no need”: Vick, Karl. “Al Qaeda Ally in Somalia is in Tatters.” Washington Post, 24 February 2002, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/02/24/al-qaeda-ally-in-somalia-is-in-tatters/4a0dd409-2bbf-4e76-8131-0a5c9e78e86a/?utm_term=.e6e20c5fc959.
209 The courts could be brutally conservative: Okeowo, Alexis. “The Fight Over Women’s Basketball in Somalia.” New Yorker, 11 September 2017.
209 ninety-seven courts: Hansen, Stig Jarle. Al Shabaab in Somalia: The History and Ideology of a Militant Islamist Group, 2005–2012. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, p. 36. Kindle.
209 ports and airports: “Mogadishu’s Port Reopened,” AlJazeera.com, 23 August 2006.
209 humanitarian access: US diplomatic cable 06NAIROBI3441, from Economic Counselor John F. Hoover, US Embassy Nairobi, “Horn of Africa, State-U.S.A.I.D. Humanitarian Cable Update Number 8,” 8 August 2006, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/08/06NAIROBI3441.html.
209 warlords perceived to be secular: Somali warlord Yusuf Mohammed Siad “told me he was first approached by the C.I.A. in Dubai in 2004.” Scahill, Jeremy. Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield. New York: Nation Books, 2013, p. 191. Kindle.
210 flow of arms: Author interview with Matthew Bryden, conducted by phone from Somaliland, 11 January 2014.
210 many of them had fought: “We fought some of these warlords in 1993 and now we are dealing with some of them again.” Ted Dagne, the leading Africa analyst for the Congressional Research Service, as quoted by Wax and DeYoung, Washington Post, Id. at 47.
210 “offered me money”: Scahill, Jeremy. “Blowback in Somalia.” Nation, 7 September 2011, https://www.thenation.com/article/blowback-somalia.
211 supposed Islamic terrorists: Scahill, Jeremy. “Blowback in Somalia.” Nation, 7 September 2011, https://www.thenation.com/article/blowback-somalia.
211 capture-and-kill: Wax, Emily and DeYoung, Karen. “U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia.” Washington Post, 17 May 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/16/AR2006051601625.html.
211 “They are waiting”: Scahill, Jeremy. “Blowback in Somalia.” Nation, 7 September 2011, https://www.thenation.com/article/blowback-somalia.
211 “wondered aloud”: US diplomatic cable 06NAIROBI1484, from Ambassador William M. Bellamy
, US Embassy Nairobi, “Ambassador to Yusuf: Alliance Against Terror Not Directed at TFG,” 4 April 2006, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2006/04/06NAIROBI1484.html.
211 “Just to be blunt”: Author interview with Jendayi Frazer, 12 January 2014.
212 “high value targets”: US diplomatic cable 06NAIROBI2425 from Ambassador William Bellamy, US Embassy Nairobi, “Somalia: A Strategy for Engagement,” June 2, 2006, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/ cable/ 2006/ 06/ 06NAIROBI2425. html.
212 reassigned to Chad: Graham, Bradley and DeYoung, Karen. “Official Critical of Somalia Policy is Transferred.” Washington Post, 31 May 2006, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053001203.html.
213 “no problem”: Author interview with Tekeda Alemu, 10 March 2017.
214 was dispatched: Oloya, Opiyo. Black Hawks Rising: The Story of AMISOM’s Successful War against Somali Insurgents, 2007–2014. London: Helion, 2016, loc. 1175. Kindle.
214 “IGAD deployment”: Oloya, Opiyo. Black Hawks Rising: The Story of AMISOM’s Successful War against Somali Insurgents, 2007–2014. London: Helion, 2016, loc. 1175. Kindle.
214 “tertiary sideshow”: Author interview with Colonel Richard Orth, 2 March 2017.
214 “the agency was running”: Author interview with Colonel Richard Orth, 2 March 2017.
215 “how superpowers behave”: Author interview with Tekeda Alemu, 10 March 2017.
215 as a power grab: Panapress. “U.S. Opposes Somalia Troops Deployment, Threatens Veto.” Panapress, 17 March 2005, http://www.panapress.com/.
215 brutal fighting: Mazzetti, Mark. “U.S. Signals Backing for Ethiopian Incursion Into Somalia.” New York Times. 27 December 2006.
216 “totally uncontrollable”: Author interview with Tekeda Alemu, 10 March 2017.
216 largest donor: Staats, Sarah Jane. “What Next for U.S. Aid in Ethiopia.” Center for Global Development, 27 August 2012, http://www.cgdev.org/blog/what-next-us-aid-ethiopia.
