Author Brian Glyn Williams worked for the CIA in Afghanistan, which gave him access to General Abdul Rashid Dostum, one of the most powerful warlords in recent Afghani history. In this lecture, Williams will tell the story of Dostum’s rise from simple peasant villager to warrior against the repressive policies of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Williams has traveled extensively in Afghanistan for the CIA and U.S. Army. He is now a professor of Islamic History at UMass Dartmouth. His book, “The Last Warlord: The Life and Legend of General Abdul Dostum,” was published by Chicago Review Press in 2013. The 2018 film “12 Strong: The Declassified Story of the Horse Soldiers,” was partially based on Williams’ book.

Presented with support from the Friends of the Medford Public Library.