if you only read one book this summer...read "charlie wilson's war"!
this is the story about a womanizing congressman from east texas damn near singlehandedly finished off the russians in afghanistan by getting modern arms to them (unless you really believe ho dung rant's bullshit about ww1 enfields being able to fight off the russian army).
yes, the coke snorting, in the hot tub with two naked women, boozing "good time charlie" not only tipped the scales of battle to the mujahadeen, but was also responsible for helping to bankrupt the old soviet union.