major american publications including national geographic magazine the christian science monitor the international herald tribune and the financial times he's also written numerous books chronicling his experiences and insights on the people and politics that he's covered as a journalist he's also the founding director of the institute for media and global governance based in geneva switzerland he first reported on afghanistan just before the soviet invasion in one hundred seventy nine and served as an eyewitness to some . that country's tumultuous events over the past thirty years his latest book killing the cranes or borders a journey through three decades of war in afghanistan is a personal account of the people wars and strife that has defined that nation for more than a generation and with our nation now stuck in a decades long war in afghanistan because insights are much needed. welcome to the program thanks very much thank you for being with us killing the cranes cranes. well it goes back to a encounter i had with mustard holy who was a friend of mine who was very severely wounded when masood the great no