Chapters 6-7 Summary and Analysis

Massoud is born in the Panjshir Valley and lives in Kabul from the age of eleven on. While attending the Kabul Polytechnic Institute, he joins the Muslim Youth Organization. Like all students of the time, he has a choice between communism or radical Islam. This radical Islam is based on the Muslim Brotherhood and the teaching of Sayyed Qutb who combines Leninism with Islamic Revolution. This is taught in classes attended by bin Laden.

Massoud's group protects the Solang Highway and attacks the Soviets that use it. They capture weapons and equipment, repair them and use them against the Soviets. As a result of this he is a top target for the Soviets. Good intelligence allows him and his men to avoid Soviet attacks. He is very popular in the Panjshir. Eventually, Massoud reaches a truce with the Soviets...