Agency-securities Books

It took me a while to get into this book. The first two parts were pretty dull and more well known in the news - secret CIA prisons and the whole eavesdropping mess. While illegal and unconstitutional, one can argue that America's security requires the rules to be bent sometimes. I also found these two areas to be written in a much more uninteresting manner than the later parts of the book.

The rest of the book was VERY interesting and informative. Sections on what the CIA knew about WMDs in Iraq (or didn't know), the burgeoning narcotics industry in Afghanistan, Operation Merlin (giving incorrect nuclear plans to Iran), and Saudi Arabia's unwillingness in the war on terror. In all these areas, Risen points out what is sometimes the CIA's lack of sight but more often than not, the problem lies with the pentagon - especially Donald Rumsfeld.

I think a main point to take away is that the CIA must be the independent agency that it was created to be. As pointed out in this book, there was a tendency for CIA agents who agreed with and reported intelligence supporting the hawkish ideas of the administration to be promoted while those who were more cautious in judgment were thwarted. Hence the disregard of the evidence against Saddam having WMDs. It's not that the CIA was deliberately misinforming us, but that they were simply seeing what they wanted to see or seeing what the Bush Administration wanted to see. Additionally, the CIA simply had so few sources in Iraq that an adequate intelligence picture was never obtained (the same in true in Iran).

The narco-state chapter was very enlightening and disturbing. American has been tacitly allowing heroin to be mass produced in Afghanistan with proceeds indubitably going to terrorists.

Another key idea that I took away was that the Iraq War was not only folly due to the bad intel on WMDs but also let Osama get away and settle in Pakistan by the diversion of resources out of Afghanistan.

I'm surprised that liberals and Obamophiles are citing this book more since the secrets revealed are eye opening.

risen provides the reader an excellent book. it captures the attention and pulls in the reader. once in a while he introduced concepts not previously described that he ought to have explained. this is a relatively short read. it lacks credit, as risen states in the forward, to the many individuals who provided critical information but who wished to remain anonymous. the conflict, there, boils down to "do i expose my sources which could endanger their lives?" versus "is this guy making it up on the fly?". i can tell the reader that i can corroborate 95% of what was said in this text has been stated elsewhere. that other 5% is trust. he provides information on the political agenda and media schemes that were necessary to effect war in iraq. the "accidental" downloading of the list of CIA assets in Iran to a double agent makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up: i wonder if we hadn't been duped again ... the quote by israel's PM in october 2001 that israel controls america rather than the other way around was also revealing!!! it exposes the hostile environment across agencies, across individuals, across time, of the white house to "inconvenient truths". risen discusses the NSA spying capabilities upon innocent americans, relevant to the recent passage in the u.s. senate of the spying / retroactive telecomm immunity legislation that, i'd argue, was unconstitutionally passed. at only 218 pages, wide margins, extra spacing, it's easier to see the words on each page, but, as i rested the book next to me after having finished it, i felt that it lacked completion, it lacked an effort to tie things all together. this was a far-from comprehensive text on the subject, but it does add to the literature. overall, i found dozens of new reports that might be facts which made reading this specific book beyond other similar books well worthwhile the read. also, risen writes in a way that really makes sense, brings you along for a complicated ride in an uncomplicated manner. he's done an excellent job and this is an excellent addition to the literature regarding the bush administration, the cia, iraq and afghanistan wars. for anyone with an interest in such topics, i highly recommend reading this text, certainly at the discounted price.

There is a disclaimer at the front of the book explaining why most of the author's sources are anonymous.

James Risen exposes a lot of alarming activities in "State of War".
One is the domestic spying on American citizens by the U.S. government.
"Unknown to most Americans,the NSA has extremely close ties with the telecommunications and computer industries, according to several government officials." from page 49.

The use of "renditions" or international kidnappings by governmental agencies to a foregn ally that is willing to use torture during interrogations.

Mr. Risen explains the cause of Paul Wolfowitz' obsession with invading Iraq.

Some more tidbits the author shares in the book are:
*The less than stable human intelligence source(Curveball)that some high ranking CIA officials relied on as proof of Hussein's bio-weapons.

*Who the "Scorpions" were.

*Baghdad's desperate,last minute attempts to allow U.S. inspectors inside Iraq to prove that there were no WMD.

*How the Department of Defense bears a lot of the responsibilty for the failure of post-war planning.

*The idea that lack of post-war planning was a "visionary approach" and who made that bizarre statement.

*The squandered oppurtunity to eliminate or capture bin Laden in Afghanistan.

This book focuses a lot on Rumsfeld and his many failures after he took over the decision making process on the Iraq war and the war on terror. Mr. Risen also exposes how Rumsfeld militarized the intelligence apparatus. This quote sheds light on some of the activities of Rumsfeld-"Rumsfeld was creating his own secret spy service buried deep within the Pentagon's vast black budget with little or no accountability." - page 70.

He also looks at Saudi Arabia's close ties to bin Laden and terrorist groups. He mentions the clearance for takeoff of a plane bearing Saudi citizens after the 9/11 attacks. At a time when air travel was forbidden. I have read of this before, those Saudis may have been stateside for a Carlyle Group meeting?

Yesterday's television reports about the findings of why the Iraq war policy is failing have the same reasons/causes as James Risen offers in this book! This book hits the mark on some of the current hot topics regarding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other intelligence related problems.

This book was so good that my fiance even stole it from my library and took it back to Germany with him!

Even though James Risen presented most of the information to us without any third party's confirmation or a name specified I still find them very realistic and trustful. I think this book is a very good eye opener for the people who don't have much idea about what was going on behind the scenes before and after the 9/11 attacks.

Befitting a decorated ex-CIA head, this book by George Tenet is "artful political and moral ambiguity at its transparent best." It is equal parts: "after-the-fact expose" of Bush/Cheney Machiavellian incompetence, a chronology of bureaucratic in-fighting and turf battles; Tenet's own self-serving "CYA rationalizations" (especially for his most embarrassing and ignominious "slam dunk" moment); a summary of CIA history including many of it recent exploits in the new era of terrorism; plus a lot of inchoate soul-searching and "insider bureaucratic baseball."

Along with other "shunted aside" Bush insiders, Tenet, is yet another "come-to-Jesus" confessor who has belatedly confirmed what most of us now already know: that even as Cheney and Bush were entering the White House, Iraqi II was already a fait accompli: "a war in search of a reason d'etre." It was already on "the drawing boards" looking for clever justifications to sell to the American people as to why U.S. vital interests were at stake. And it was Tenet's own "twisted and dissembled" intelligence that was used to do the job of selling it to us.

Despite this open secret that constantly stares back up at us from the subtext of the book, somehow Tenet remains in denial about how greatly his image and legacy are tarnished by the moral cowardice implicit in his repeated failures to step up to the plate and live up to the only responsibility a CIA Director has: To provide the President of the U.S. sound, independent over-the-horizon intelligence.

Here, rather curiously, Mr. Tenet seems to think that he can retain his moral virginity by covering his moral nakedness and irresponsibility by attacking the White House "only when his own ox is gored." He adopts this transparently unsustainable "fair weather" moral posture even as it is clear to the reader that it is Tenet's own CIA colleagues that get thrown under the bus as he does so. And while there is a great deal interesting about the book, no matter how Tenet attempted to embellish it, everything in the book is over-shadowed by the image of him groveling at the throne occupied by Cheney and Bush. Even after reading this book, that image remains a disturbingly un-pretty picture.

I have read enough CIA history to know that Tenet was a bright and competent administrator, with the agency's mission at heart, but nothing he says in this book can remove the stain of his failure to step up to the plate and defend his own analysts who had the "true skinny" in the run up to the Iraq war. Had those analysts had a boss with a backbone, America may have been spared the costly fiasco of the Iraq war.


No matter how many Congressional Medals of Honor Tenet is awarded, I will never be able to get the "slam dunk" image out of my mind. Three stars

Although this book is voluminuos it is very insightful and a must read for contemporary critics and pundits of the recent politics. To read the behind the scenes, day to day banter and politics from the CIA directors point of view is absolutely fascinating and compelling. If you heva ever seen George on any of his interviews he is magnetic and charismatic at the core. A very bright man that has made his mark on history and has shared his stories for all to see and hear. Cathartic or not one of the best reads in the past few years for me. I also have passed this around to a few friends and each peson has cherised the read.

So much is made of Tenet, the "Slam Dunk", and his reluctancy to execute operation plans against UBL.
Tenet takes you into the inner circle and gives you his version of Washington politics on several topics. From the Israel-Palestinian Conflict, the War in Afghanistan and Iraq, and his battle against Al Qaeda.
For anyone interested in a real perspective, you will enjoy this book tremendously, for it is not simply a defense, it is his story. He does not attack Pres. Bush, he compliments him several times over. He does however outline the Gross Incompetence in the War in Iraq by the DOD.

If you are into Poli Sci, this is a MUST.

Good. Provides (unclassified) insight into the interworkings of two presidents in the areas of Foreign Policy, National Security, and Intelligence. Nice to see that a DCI can work with two adminstrations and political parties; most DCIs do not last three years due to personalities or politics. It is one of the most thankless jobs in the world: everybody hates you, they are suspicious of you, and expect you can do everything all the time. I was amazed he was involved in foreign relation negotiation: a DCI is not to be involved in politics. I see some points of contention about his track record but he was one of the better ones.

George Tenet's autobiographical "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA" is an interesting and readable look at George Tenet's years as the Director of Central Intelligence - key years that included the 9/11 attacks the beginning of the war in Iraq. This is an extremely interesting book that gives Tenet's side of many of the contentious debates that have swirled over the past few years regarding the CIA.

Tenet seems to have written this book in response to the criticism leveled against the CIA and him personally. He gives a detailed play-by-play of the Valeria Plame/Joe Wilson story (one of those stories that shocked the "Inside the Beltway" crowd but seems to have been of little interest to the rest of America) and the attendant debate over the inclusion of yellowcake in the President's State of the Union Address; he steadfastly denies the "slam-dunk" story as portrayed by Bob Woodward; and he is adamant that the CIA's National Intelligence Estimate of the Iraqi WMD was sound and not influenced by any political pressure, just based on flawed and unverifiable data (and the lack of WMDs was hidden by a madman who wanted everyone to believe that he had them). However, Tenet's entire perspective is blemished by his early telling of a meeting with Richard Perle on September 12, 2001, when Richard Perle told him, "Iraq has to pay a price." This account, in the introductory pages of the book and soon partly-debunked by verified reports that Perle was stranded in France after 9/11 (he may have told Tenet that, but it wasn't the day after 9/11 as Tenet claims), made me believe that some of Tenet's more sensational criticisms were made to sell books, grind some axes, or both.

Still, Tenet writes his story in an easy-to-read, entertaining, and matter-of-fact manner. It's fascinating to read about the daily lives of his government officials - about their security details, the meetings, the frantic pace, the nonstop work, the amusing anecdotes, and the personal relationships they build with those around them.

I'll leave out any discussion of Tenet's performance during his tenure as DCI because Tenet rarely focuses on the big picture of his time at DCI. He does freely discuss and criticize others around him: he is harshly critical of Cheney and his staff; he blames Douglas Feith for many of the Iraq-al Qaeda problems; he criticizes the Administration's faith and reliance on Ahmed Chalabi; he says that the National Security Council failed to take any steps to strategically counter the rising insurgency in Iraq; and he writes about some tension with Condoleezza Rice. Although he left his job as DCI seemingly at war with the Administration, Tenet never criticizes President Bush in his book, and when he talked about or criticized "the White House," I got the impression he was criticizing Cheney.

This is a very interesting inside account of our government during the last 10 years. However, it gives one man's view - one man who was truly at the center of the storm - and his perspectives should be put in the context of the bigger events swirling around him. Although I found this book interesting, its personal biases (natural in any autobiographical account) and perspective prevent it from being a definitive account: instead, it would be of most interest to intelligence wonks and Inside-the-Beltway readers.

A very well written analysis of our involvement in the Middle East. This is foreign policy for grownups. Friedman has a way of connecting the dots and giving a birds eye view of events on the ground that is both fast moving and logical. He makes sense as opposed to the static coming from the media and politicians.

If you enjoy Friedman's work, I highly recommend checking out Stratfor.

I highly recommend reading this book as one source in a broader study of US foreign policy since 2001. The author of this book, George Friedman, provides an interesting geopolitical explanation of the reason the US invaded Iraq under President George W. Bush as part of the broader war on terrorism. Even if one does not agree with Friedman's analysis, this book provides excellent insights into US foreign policy interests both in the Middle East and globally concerning the war on terrorism (including Afghanistan) that goes beyond events reported in the mainstream press. The book was published in 2004, so Friedman's analysis does not deal with events since that time. However, the book is still valuable for a different viewpoint into US foreign policy since 9-11-2001.

NOTE: the title of the book might give the impression that this is a conspiracy theory type book. Not so! Friedman provides background material and analysis from a geopolitical viewpoint. Since the geopolitical aspects of international events are rarely discussed adequately in the press, this book analyzes the reasons for US foreign policies that are rarely, if ever, reported in the press. Hence, the title "America's Secret War" concerning the war on terrorism. Friedman also provides insights into the security interests of other nations involved in this conflict, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others.

One drawback is that the author does not provide documentation for certain facts cited in the book. This is because the book focuses on his analysis of these facts. Still, providing references for these facts would make this book even better.

Dr. Friedman explains the birth of Al-Qaeda, the failures of U.S. intelligence, and the goals and objectives of both the Bush Administration and Al-Qaeda in this fascinating and well written book. You're not going get this analysis in the major media.

In short, Dr. Friedman says that the 9.11 attack was nothing really personal -- it was just a way for O.B.L. to unite the Arab world. The other main point: the invasion of Iraq was purely a strategic move to demonstrate the prowess of American forces to Saudi Arabia who was caught in the middle of Al-Qaeda on its turf and cooperating with its ally the U.S.

In the end he concludes that the U.S. is generally winning the war but only time will tell who the real winner will be (and there will not be clear winners).

George Friedman gives us a rare look behind the scenes of America's fight with radical Islam. It was fascinating to get a look at how the U.S. viewed acts of terror and terrorists in general before and after 9/11. Friedman goes into detail that you simply cannot get from watching the news or reading papers. For example, Friedman lays out many reasons for invading Iraq other than WMD's. These include: a need for an impressive military victory to send a message throughout the Arab world, a point of leverage to deal with Saudi Arabia, and the fact the Saadam was a brutal dictator. Friedman discusses the strengths and weaknesses of various U.S. intelligence and law enforcement services in great detail. He also explains why Al Qeada has been as successful as they have and what seperates them from other terrorist groups. The book takes the reader through the military operations and campaigns of the first three years in the global fight against terrorism. For a more specific look at Al Qaeda and the rise of radical Islam see Lawrence Wright's "The Looming Tower."

AMERICA'S SECRET WAR is a blow by blow account of the Bush regime's "war on terrorism." And while several chapters do offer valuable insights -- particularly the author's discussion of the war in Afghanistan -- overall, the book is a mine field. I cannot recommend it because the author, George Friedman, is either incredibly stupid in believing that a rag tag bunch of 19 jihadists using cell phones outsmarted the most sophisticated security establishment in the world on 9/11 -- or he is just downright devious.

In the intelligence world deception is a finely honed art. The game is played by subtly spicing truth with falsehood -- and there are enough examples in AMERICA'S SECRET WAR for us to suspect that George Friedman is spinning yarns. Allow me to be blunt: He is quite skillful in the art of lying.

Here are some examples:

Friedman mentions the US-Iran discussions that followed 9/11 -- but he fails to acknowledge that in 2003 Iran made a bona fide peace offer to the US that could have resulted in a comprehensive Middle East peace settlement -- IF the US had responded. Iran offered to cooperate in the Gulf, to disarm Hezbollah, to accept stringent IAEA oversight of its nuclear program, and even signed onto the 2002 Arab peace offer, indicating that Tehran was willing to live in peace with Israel -- provided the Palestinians received a measure of justice -- in the form of a state.

As we know, the National Intelligence Estimate in November 2007 provides strong evidence that the 2003 Iranian offer was genuine. The NIE concluded that Iran abandoned work on its BOMB program in 2003, which -- notice -- coincides with the date of the peace offer. The real question, which Friedman never mentions, is why the US rejected the Iranian peace offer out of hand.

Friedman also poo-poohs the 2002 Saudi peace offer, characterizing it as nothing but political posturing. He writes: "The Saudis had consulted nobody about the idea. which meant that this radical proposal didn't even have the backing of [prince] Abdullah's own government." (p. 244)

This is total BS. In fact, the 2002 Arab peace offer had the backing of every member of the Arab League -- and again -- could have become the basis for an Isareli-Palestinian peace settlement -- IF Israel and the US had responded favorably. Both, however, simply ignored it.

The Saudi Prince Abdullah actually went so far as to personally confront Bush about the Palestinian issue during his June 2002 visit to Crawford Texas. At that meeting Bush promised Abdullah that he would take steps to solve the Palestinian question. Of course, as we know, Bush did nothing of the kind -- because his idol Ariel Sharon opposed a peace settlement.

Friedman is also dishonest when he writes about an Iranian BOMB --as if Iran already had nuclear weapons. When in fact they did not -- and do not. There is no excuse for his getting this wrong. As a self-described intelligence expert Friedman should have known this. We must interpret this "error" as a case of calculated deception on his part.


Friedman's confused analysis of why the neo cons invaded Iraq fails to persuade -- and again -- we must conclude that the author is simply fibbing to us. Friedman fails to mention the obvious: that the war was largely about controlling Iraq's oil -- and had nothing to do with fighting terrorism. I would argue: It was also about destroying Iraq as a nation -- leaving Iraq prostrate so that it could never again challenge Israeli hegemony in the region. Now why couldn't an expert like Friedman simply tell the truth and state the obvious? Clearly, he has an agenda.

Friedman gives a really bizarre justification for the US policy of arming BOTH Iran and Iraq during the bloody war which raged between these two nations between 1980-1986. He states that if either Iran or Iraq gained "the upper hand in the region it would try to sieze part or all of Saudi Arabia." (p 253) Which, again, is total nonsense. Why couldn't the author simply state the obvious: The US pursued a wicked policy of bleeding and weakening both nations for its own selfish reasons -- and also to divert attention from Israel's continuing illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. It had nothing to do with protecting Saudi Arabia.

Friedman also repeats the lie that Saddam Hussein kicked out the UNSCOM inspectors in 1998. This lie has been told so frequently that it has taken on a life of its own. But Scott Ritter, the chief UNSCOM weapons inspector, knows what actually happened because he was there. According to Ritter it was Bill Clinton who ordered out the UN inspection team, on the eve of a major US bombing campaign in late 1998, Operation Desert Fox, which was an attempt by the US to assassinate Saddam Hussein. Indeed, this is why the Iraqi leader then refused to allow the inspectors to return. He correctly accused the US of using the UN inspection effort to gather intel about Saddam's whereabouts in an attempt to take him out. Ritter affirms this is what actually happened. Now, why couldn't Friedman get this right?

What is Friedman's agenda? We get a clue from the author's discussion about the Madrid bombings in March 2004, which he attributes to al Qaeda. Yet, today, we know al Qaeda had nothing whatever to do with that attack, which ocurred shortly before major elections in Spain. The bombing was almost certainly staged by operatives of the ultraconservative Spanish government then in power -- as a way of terrorizing the Spanish people into re-electing that same government. They blamed it on Basque separatists. Fortunately, the false flag attack failed. The Spanish people saw through it -- and voted out Bush's allies -- in the process, electing a new populist government that immediately fulfilled its promise to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq -- consistent with the strongly anti war sentiment in Spain. Here, again, by misfiring, the author shows his true colors.

Friedman is the founder and chairman of STRATFOR -- which claims to be an independent intelligence agency. However, I suspect he has links to the Israeli Mossad and maybe even to the CIA. The reader should beware: Read the book with a discerning eye -- because the author weaves many falsehoods between the lines. He is a liar.

An amazing story - be sure to get the second book "The World was Going Our Way." It is just as fascinating, but even more readable.

This book - "The Sword and the Shield: The Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB" is very important, scrupulous and unique scientific-research work on the history of the KGB. It is based primarily on significant and top secret archival material. This monograph will become a valuable reference work for professional historians and for those, who are interested in the secret history of the KGB. This book of Professor Christopher Andrew is an outstanding contribution in the study of the history of the Soviet State Security system - great enemy for the democratic world.

With kind regards,

Dr. Levan Z. Urushadze,
Scientific Co-ordinator of the Museum
of the Soviet Occupation of the Georgian
National Museum, a Fellow of the World
Academy of Art and Science (WAAS)

Tbilisi, August 29, 2008

Christopher Andrew uses a ridiculous amount of information to create a vivid picture of Soviet operations, policies and views during the Cold War era.

Andrew has a gift. He takes boring documents and weaves them into a tapestry that is worth reading. This book is an amazing addition to any history or spy buff's library. There is no more definitive or realistic look of Soviet espionage available.

Soviet fears, goals, problems and strengths are all covered without bias. Andrew has no agenda in this book. He is neither an apologist nor an attacker. He is a chronicler.

The portions covering the Majestic 5, a British spy ring that reached deep into British foreign and intelligence agencies, is gripping. The Soviet Union seems almost paralyzed by its own success, unable to trust the very people handing them the keys to the kingdom.

The late chapters dealing with Poland and the Pope John Paul II are also striking. Andrew presents a coherent and engaging tale about people sitting around worrying. That is no small task.

There are many histories of this sort that are boring and dry. Andrew finds a narrative voice that helps push the true story of history forward. This book is good, very good. I highly reccomend it.

A revealing exposition of KGB practices from an insider. The book indicates that Western intelligence was much less developed before than after World War II,when several spies at high positions in US and UK agencies were exposed. The book evokes the idea that political espionage was not very productive. Much political information transferred to the USSR was not believed by political leaders that wanted to stick to their conspiracy theories. Scientific and technological espionage benefitted the military, but not the larger economy. An interesting aspect involves the motivation of these recruits to betray their country and live a double life with great risks. Ideological conviction seemed to have prevailed in the early years, but was surpassed by greed at a later date.

For someone who grew up in the former Soviet Union it is an interesting read - learning parts of Soviet history omitted from textbooks. Just hope it is true.

After the Vietnam War, as this story goes, the U.S. military was re-examining its tactics. Morale was low, and they badly needed to develop some new strategies and weapons to regain superiority. It was in this context that individuals within the intelligence community successfully pushed for the creation of a super-secret military unit, one that would experiment with honing and weaponizing supernatural and paranormal powers--the ability to walk through walls, turn oneself invisible, read minds and, as the title suggest, kill goats just by staring at them.

Ronson states in the first sentence of the book, "This is a true story." It's a much-needed statement, because the book so quickly delves into unbelievable weirdness that it's easy to forget that this is a journalistic endeavor and not a total farce. And in the end, it's more a story of Ronson trying to get to the bottom of this concept of "soldier monks" (as one person calls the paranormal soldiers) than it is a concrete story about the soldiers themselves. Ronson wanders from source to source, some well-informed and some undoubtedly whack-jobs, and story to story. He touches on everything from an elite unit of psychic warriors testing their powers on livestock in a small building at Fort Bragg, to the Heaven's Gate cult, to an alleged CIA murder, to modern psychological torture techniques used in Iraq and Guantanamo.

It's these last turns that give the book some weight. Because Ronson follows the story wherever the questions lead him, you might find yourself on one page laughing at a man who claims to be able to stop a hamster's heart with his mind, and then a few pages later contemplating the very definition of torture. Not as cohesive as Ronson's THEM: ADVENTURES WITH EXTREMISTS, and ultimately probably not as successful, but overall a wild and entertaining ride that surprisingly leads to some very topical issues.

I read this book, and I couldn't put it down. It is that interesting! I hope the movie is as good as the book, especially that it was film in my Municipality of Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Anyways, read the book and then go and see the movie!

I feel this book is written in a very entertaining style, yet, its truths are something we all should be made aware of. Jon Ronson doesn't inflict his opinions on us. I feel he just tells the story and the truths are laid out by the people he interviews who actually lived it. A definite must read. I am going to buy his other book "Them" on Friday!

This book was a fun read, had some good info but I was hoping it would open up to the bigger stories of the elite (black ops) at fort bragg who are trained with much more super human ability, are all over the world and are in for life. So hope their is a book 2 or someone comes out with all the black dirt and info on the human ability, people need to know how to train and be super human for everday life not just to kill when told to. But I'm very glad this book came out and others will follow. One of the trained elite should write a book under a false name just to let the world know, not of their missions but what and how they advance human ability.

The book follows the U.S. Army's introduction to what later became known as the New Age movement. It explains a lot of the craziness that went on and possibly much of the insanity that has happened recently in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanimo Bay.

You might say it takes you from the Peace Movement to the Bowel Movement!(referencing the mythical "brown note" that the Army has been searching for, not the quality of the book)

This book is a must-purchase for anyone with a desire to see the "real" National Security Agency. This book has its flaws, as does the Agency, but it is the closest an outsider will come to understanding what NSA does, aside from sitting console in an ops center. Bamford's NSA Trilogy (PP, Body of Secrets, Shadow Factory) is an amazing amount of information on America's most secretive intelligence organization.

If you're looking for the NSA mentioned in "enemy of the state" or "the x-files" or even Dan Brown novels... look elsewhere.

I routine look for this book in used bookstores to give as gifts to friends who work a NSA... most aren't steeped in NSA lore or history beyond Sept 11, 2001... For an agency that sucks up electrons from all corners of the globe, its employees should be a bit more knowledgable.

This book is for: students of intelligence agencies, intelligence history, and espionage-related cases. For abuses by the agency, there are few listed (it was written in 1983). For laypersons and conspiracy theorists... you're not gonna find anything useful.

When this book came out (actually even before it came out), it caused a major stir within the secret world of eavesdropping and signals intelligence (SIGINT), and the cryptanalysis world.

A thorough study of the National Security Agency (NSA) and its activities, at a time when not many people even knew of the existence of the agency or what it did or how it did it.

The book shows how the U.S. government intercepted and decoding/decyphered radio and other transmissions of foreign governments and foreign militaries. And still does. An activity which is now widely known and in the popular press.

The book was and is groundbreaking. Any student of U.S. intelligence or international relations will definitely enjoy and gain from the in-depth historical research that is told through gripping stories. I highly recommend this book.

The author James Bamford is basically the open-source - public - expert on the history of the National Security Agency and signals intelligence.

The recent revelation that President Bush authorized NSA spying on its own citizens (and the sad fact that the New York Times sat on this for a year, despite being a victim itself in the past) makes this book both incredibly timely and obviously, unfortunately, timeless.

The history of the National Security Agency and its predecessor organizations, along with the NSA's willingness to skirt, if not break, the law, should all be lessons for us today. For people younger than myself, not old enough to remember the Church Commission, unfortunately, these are lessons they never learned.

This book is a must-read for anybody concerned with the history of American civil liberties.

UPDATE, July 5, 2006: A lawsuit against the NSA has brought out the fact that the genesis, or at least the first feelers, toward this domestic snooping, were actually being pursued in 2000, under the Clinton Administration.

At least in some ways, it appears George Wallace was right with his "not a dime's worth of difference" comment about Republicans and Democrats.

UPDATE 2, Oct. 17, 2008: Obviously, the NSA's spying revelations get worse all the time. Read Bamford's newest book.

This was an interesting beginning book about the history and background of the National Security Agency, especially in light of the very damaging leak about the secret surveillance program ordered by President George W. Bush. The only problem is that this book is a bit dated, so it's hard to know how similar the early '80s Puzzle Palace compares with that of the early 21st Century NSA. What's clear is the NSA has been a special creature of the government, created by executive order and really not beholden to Congress like other agencies. I recommend people read this and Bamford's other book about the NSA.

This book was written back in 1982, but the information you get from it is still fresh and very relevant. Especially, after the revelation that President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency (NSA) to spy on Americans and others in the United States making contact with persons in other nations. More recently, "USA Today" reported that the NSA is operating "the largest database ever assembled in the world", containing call detail records of all calls (inbound and outbound) placed through AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth.

James Bamford has done a remarkable job in revealing the secrets of this agency. Something that is hard to imagine. However, he did keep a balance by not giving all the information, especially those that will concerns national security. No doubt, the more you know about NSA more you respect it. They have got some of the best cryptologists, technologists, and mathematicians working for them. It is amazing to see how Bamford collected and documented the information about the secret agency, not to forget that there was a time when its existence was not even acknowledged.

Having said that, I have to agree that this is one of the most interesting books you will find in the non-fiction category.

As much information as this book provides, it only scratches the surface. We lost my Uncle in Angola in 1989...he was close enough in age to me to be like an older brother. As heart-wrenching as his untimely, unwarranted death was for our family, it was compounded by the secrecy surrounding the crash (even with other family members in the Agency, it was a nightmare to piece together any semblance of the truth regarding what happened, even over a decade after it happened). While we are well-aware, and totally respect and understand the imperative to maintain control over the flow of information to protect other operatives on current missions, surely there is a way to give the family more truthful, accurate information specific to their loved one, without risking others or leaving us to imagine even more horrifying scenarios, especially after the sacrifice these men and women make. Most Americans have no idea of the sacrifices being made by these agents and their families every day, and if they are killed in the line of duty, their funerals usually can't even feature appropriate honors due to the need for secrecy, so you have even less closure because you are left to grieve, but also expected to maintain a fictional story regarding the death. Anyway...I hope this book will give people a little insight into some of the sacrifices made on their behalf every day without their knowledge. I know many people think this sort of thing doesn't really go on at this or other agencies, but they need to understand just how much they don't understand about everything that goes into making their world as safe as it is (though it doesn't always seem so safe, they should realize how much worse it could be).

By far the best book that I have every read. Ted Gup does an excellent job of painting the picture of the lifestyle and dedication of the people that worked with or for the CIA.
Within the book, he tells various accounts of those that sacrificed all for love of the country and not recognition or money.

When imagining the deaths of those CIA employees fallen in the line of duty, each symbolized by a star engraved in the Book of Honor at Agency Headquarters, images conjure up of Hollywood-style gunfights between shadowy figures in a European capital or of a heroic American spy being tortured to death by his Russian captors. The reality of the matter, however, is that these fantasies couldn't be further from the truth.

In a stunning feat of investigative journalism, Ted Gup reveals the powerful, untold stories of the lives led by these nameless stars and their less than glorious deaths. Some were victims of terrorist atrocities, others lost in plane wrecks while covertly participating in proxy wars, and one was even left to rot away in a Chinese prison for almost two decades. What is most surprising, however, is that so many of these deaths were due to simple accidents and nothing more.

Gup also tells the stories of those family members left behind, of those grieving spouses, parents, and siblings who were often told fairy tales about their relative's death. In most cases, the CIA publicly disavowed all knowledge of their existence, and family members were left to mourn in silence.

This book serves as a somber reminder of the risks involved with intelligence work overseas, and how those affiliated with the security services must accept the possibility of being "left out in the cold" should the public reputation of their country be put on the line as a result of their actions.

On a side note, Ted Gup brags about previously uncovering "extremely sensitive" government secrets and publishing them in the Washington Post, specifically, that of a "top secret government installation... [where] Congress was to go as a kind of government-in-exile in the event of an impending nuclear war." The last time I checked, jeopardizing national security was a treasonous act, and I therefore see no reason why he should feel proud to have damaged our nation's ability to defend itself. While I fully understand and support Gup's argument about combating unnecessary government secrecy, there must be limits about what can and cannot be revealed (like conservative columnist Robert Novak's politically motivated publishing of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame's name in a major US newspaper).

All in all, this is definitely a book to be examined and kept in any quality collection of literature dealing with intelligence history. Well worth the read.

The problem is that this book is biting off more than it can chew. (There also happen to be at least a couple of factual errors in it, though that may not be the fault of the author, I wonder about some of his sourcing.) Gup is trying to give us real insight into the lives of these fine folks who died in the service of their country and the world.

But, try as he does, he is missing critical context around many of the stories. The context is key to filling out what ends up otherwise as flat. The author's bias seems to be towards enlightening the world about convert operations - as if that in itself is a higher good. Unfortunately, while I must admit that at times the "government" paints with a broad brush when it "secretizes" things, nearly everything that has to do with clandestine service needs to be kept in the dark.

The fact is, that these men understood the "deal". They volunteered. They were heroes because they went willingly to do harder work than most people can imagine because they believed in it. They understood they might "win a goald star". They knew what it meant to win a medal only to have it stored it in a box at HQ.

But they didn't give a damn about the kind of recognition Gup wants to give them. Is it hard on the families? You're damn right it is. That's why the families are true heroes as well - sacrificing so much for something bigger than themselves. But that is also besides the point.

The context is where it's at. Tell the story of each of these people by explaining what THEY understood about the life and death of the geopolitics in which they operated - and WHY they chose to operate in it, Guppy, and maybe YOU'LL earn another star.

By the way, both the Agency and a reviewer got the quote out of context: It does say, "Know ye the truth and the truth shall set you free" but what follows is, "I am the way and the Truth and the life. Whoever believes in me shall not die but shall have eternal life." It is a quote from Mathew's Gospel. The truth is always more complex than it may seem.

I haven't read the book but the 6 hour audiobook was fairly slow for what could have been much more interesting considering the subject matter. It seemed like the author really has an axe to grind against the CIA. The stories seemed overly focused on any mistakes the CIA made. The author lost credibility with me when he said he was the one who revealed the presence of the secret nuclear bunker that was to be used by the US Congress in the instance of a nuclear strike.

Have not recived the book yet, so i am not very happy

Coulson's book offers an intriguing look at the politics and logistics of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team from his unique perspective as the unit's first leader. Politically savvy and cynical, Coulson reveals the frustratingly complicated issues that surround most rescue situations, while rewarding readers with those rare incidents when everything went right. Like many books of this nature, Coulson focuses primarily on key events rather than on his personal feelings about the results of his actions. It is an invigorating read for those who enjoy true crime written by those who lived it. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

Although Danny O. Coulson didn't want his agents to be known as heroes (for taking unnecessary risks), this book illustrates how he and every one of his agents in the HRT were definitely far beyond the status of hero. He gives in depth accounts of how he formed the HRT and many of their missions after having served as an FBI SWAT agent. An excellent read. He sought no honor, but he definitely deserves it.

There is an interesting juxtaposition apparent in this book. Coulson, a career FBI agent and one time SAC (Special Agent in Charge) of three Bureau regional offices, plays himself against an overwhelmingly bureaucratic and politically sensitive FBI. Coulson's view is at once an outsider and, at the same time, an insider in most of the major and politically sensitive episodes in the Bureau's last twenty-plus years. The author appears to hold particular disdain for the politcally astute Bureau culture that, at times, seems to only be concerned with it's decisions after they have already taken their toll (reference the railroading of the author for his role in the Ruby Ridge episode several YEARS after the events unfolded). What is interesting is that Coulson almost certainly had to play into some of that political mindset to achieve his various supervisory roles. It is without question that Coulson played by the rules. But he played his cards. His furry regarding the inquisition against him is understandable; to this much he admits. The Bureau's headhunt infected his faith in the FBI and, more importantly, the Justice Department hierarchy. It brought with it a disappointing and trying end to an otherwise stellar and unblemished career. And, perhaps most disturbing it made he and his family the unfortunate target of baseless death threats.

No Heroes is not without some minor stylistic flaws but it excels at what it is intended to do: to highlight the everyday heroes of the FBI who selflessly pursue the most base of society's detritus while managing against many odds to maintain honor and follow the FBI's respect worthy code: Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity.

Coulson's book reserves disdain for the most heinous in our society and the occasional career bureaucrat. And while it entertains certain whims of it's author, there is no reason to believe that Coulson is less than a hero to the men and women he served with. He is worthy of respect and this book deserves more than a passing glance.

I found Danny Coulson's book an interesting read but I think his attitude about armed citizens was brought forward very clearly in two unrelated incidents. It's the same liberal view we see in the left wing gun control advocates who would like to see us all disarmed and helpless. While they, because they can afford it, have their own armed guards to watch over and protect them.

Mr. Coulson was sent to disarm and arrest an evil doer. What was the man's crime? Why he dared to arm himself to protect his home, family, friends, and nation against what he saw as a government out of control. A threatto his personal life and liberties. Had he threatened anyone? If he did it wasn't related as far as I can recollect. Were the man's fears founded? Well, apparently they were since the very government he feared sent armed men to his doorstep to disarm and arrest him! A man about whom Danny Coulson had no good thing to say. He described this man in the most unflattering and derogatory terms.

We move further down the book and Mr. Coulson finds himself feeling threatened by the very government he has served so faithfully for so many many years. What does he do? Why he arms himself with a full automatic weapon and an automatic sidearm to protect himself and his family. He carries the rifle right on the seat with him wherever he goes! Does he see this as a double standard in contrast to his earlier behaviour? Apparently not because that guy was just a stupid average joe and he, Danny Coulson, was a highly trained "elite" FBI Agent. Danny Coulson displayed the typical attitude of politicians, government agents, and even some local police departments. His actions, in each case, define Danny Coulson more than any other incidents he relates. A double standard and an elitist attitude.

After watching an interview with Gary Shroen on FOX TV, I knew this was going to be an interesting read. It is a very good description of the CIA spearhead into the war against Osama Bin Laden. "First In" leaves the reader with an understanding of how the CIA works and doesn't work. The government beauracracy into the operation is unbelievable at times. The reader must read "Jawbreaker" also to get a better understanding of the mission. Both books give a picture of the tribal factions in that part of the world an why this war is different.

I purchased this book because I heard reviews from soldiers who served in Iraq & Afghanistan. All said this book represents the truth & not limited/censored press reports. I bought it because I wanted know the truth about various living conditions & the US progress in addressing the Taliban & Al Queda issue. My rating is based on hear say because I have not read the book yet, but I trust in the words of those who recommended it.

First In, is a first person account of the events between the 19th of September until the 10th of November, told mainly from the perspective of Gary Schroen, leader of the JAWBREAKER CIA squad sent to establish relations with the Northern Alliance in the Panjshir Valley, near the stalemated frontlines of the Taliban. Despite being the lead of US forces in Afghanistan (a 7 man crew), his account is very low to the ground, recounting the incessant problems of Diarrhea and relations and the daily interactions with Northern Alliance leaders. The details make the story, such as taking naps on boxes holding $10 million in cash or the simple pleasure of Starbucks coffee brewed in the field.

Schroen still manages to give a picture of how the Afghanistan war unfolded, with ground forces of the Northern Alliance and the Taliban hemmed in to their respective defensive positions. He details how the US military consistently acted ponderously or incompetently. One poignant example is when Schroen was called by the Air Force to confirm coordinates for a Predator UAV strike; he realized that the `thin man wearing western clothing' was not Bin Laden, but his teammate Ed. Schroen combines the personal narrative with sections from other teams across Afghanistan, when they took Mazar-e-Sharif or the perils of Karzai in the south. The timeline ends with the fall of Kabul, with only a small afterward from 2004.

For what it aims to do, the book succeeds with flying colors. Schroen makes his opinions known, but they do not interfere with the story. Mild prose is overwhelmed by the amount of detail and clear description of the conflicts in strategy among the myriad of parties involved, making for a compelling and informative story.

A lot of research went into this publication and the places cited really come to life....I know because I am currently in Afghanistan.

An interesting introduction to the people involved on the ground, just days after 9/11, in the early stages of the war in Afganistan.

The focus is on the interaction between the CIA teams and their Northern Alliance allies. Most of the book covers the inner circle of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assasinated immediately prior to 9/11. Near the end, you get a brief introduction to Hamid Karzai, the current President of Afganistan. The brief mention of Professor Abdul Sayyaff was a suprise to me. I did not realize the namesake of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines was fighting with the Northern Alliance.

Schroen thinks very highly of himself and, although he seems to respect their capabilities, is compelled to point out mistakes made by the Special Forces operators and the military in general. If you have ever read books by the FBI profiler John Douglas, you will recognize the general tone.

Overall a good book about very brave men who were willing to take significant risks for their country.

This dutiful history details the late and unlamented East Germany's efforts to steal Western technology. The extensive program succeeded far beyond what is generally known, but failed to boost East Germany's to technological parity with the West.

A trio of East Germany's spies are if taken collectively the Cold War's most damaging, say Macrakis. An extraordinary claim: She ranks James W. Hall, Jeffrey M. Carney and the spy still only known as Optik ahead of Kim Philby, Aldrich Ames, and John Walker in damage done to the West. Philby's spying destroyed Western attempts to back or insert native anti-Communist forces behind the Iron Curtain, costing countless lives plus any chance of liberating Eastern Europe before the Soviets consolidated their grip. Ames blew dozens of spies' identities, getting them killed and destroying our sources in the East. Macrakis may be hyping a bit as these relatively unknown spies are the subject of her work. But she also may be correct in that the true damage they did would only have come to light had the Cold War become a hot one.

Hall and Carney, both workers at Berlin listening posts, betrayed top-secret NSA electronic eavesdropping information - Carney lower-level material, but Hall, who became a supervisor, a huge amount of high-level documentation neutralizing entire programs. Hard working at his spying as well as his career, Hall overwhelmed nifty spy cameras and false-bottom satchels with his purloined document volume. His Stasi controller rented an apartment, bought a copier and worked for hours wearing sunglasses as the copier cover had been removed to speed the work.

Particularly fascinating was the East Germans' unique work in smell detection. Trained dogs were used as the ultimate sensors. The Stasi learned how to preserve smell samples in glass jars, plus a multitude of ingenious techniques for applying this to police and counterespionage work as well.

This book ought to be fascinating all the way through - the sort of detailed spy history made possible by the opening of Soviet-bloc secret files. But Macrakis' writing leaves much to be desired. Her style is turgid. Her language occasionally sounds poorly translated rather than written in English. Her thrust is frequently unclear. Her early chapters risk losing the reader in an onslaught of bureaucratic acronyms and org charts. It took me weeks to finish this book.

And this is a pity, because her research is quite important. She has done primary research on thousands of Stasi files. Her personal insertion in the story - trying to chemically recreate invisible-ink formulas or track down a smell-dog handler to learn the techniques - is unorthodox but valid for filling in recent history's blanks.

Missing, though, is much sense of outrage. She's had Carney, now out of prison, lecture her college classes. Is this really the proper place for the new Kim Philby? She quibbles with the term `Stasi', calling it uncommon behind the Wall except in the vernacular. She prefers the "more neutral" term `MfS', German acronym for "Ministry of State Security." More neutral? Is she afraid of seeming biased against the good old Stasi?

She spent time in both Berlins as a student in the 1980s, and may have gotten too comfortable. She was shocked to learn what transpired inside East Berlin's drab buildings. It didn't surprise most Westerners; the East Germans shot thousands of people trying to leave the country. Macrakis walked through a repressive regime. Did she see only the Potemkin village they wanted her to see?

No question, this is a great look inside the world of the Stasi. However, I wouldn't plan on packing this with the sandwich's for a day at the beach. This is a deep and scholarly treatment. For history buffs - it is highly recommended. For the casual reader - you can pass without feeling you've missed out.

This book contains a lot of information, but the presentation is on the scholarly side. The book comes across as a rather dry read.

Having taken a recent trip to The International Spy Museum in Washington DC where they have a great exhibit on the Stasi, I was moderately interested in the subject. However this book put me to sleep more than once.

I'm giving it three and a half stars for being well researched and informative. Recommended only if you have a burning interest in the subject.

When I was a kid and Germany was still divided into East and West countries and Checkpoint Charlie was a part of scary politics, I loved spy stories. There was nothing like courageous men and women slipping into and out of East Germany and fooling the dreaded East German police, the Stasi.

The Stasi were great villains, although I didn't know a lot of what I assumed was fiction was so near the truth. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE owed them for a few plots, as well as several adventure novels during those times, and Hollywood.

This book is highly documented and well researched. The writing can be a little dry in places, but it doesn't take much effort to slip into those dangerous shadows portrayed on the pages. History buffs and spy fans will love this book for its depth and detail.

The German Stasi was truly an insidious force. Just ask anyone who lived in the former East Germany. Entire families were watched, and even six year old children had their own Stasi file.

What is less known is that the Stasi also were a formidable overseas spy network. They infiltrated Western businesses primarily for their technological know-how, in a desperate- and ultimately futile - race to keep up economically and technologically. In the process, the Stasi did manage, however, to produce some truly innovative and advanced pieces of technology - for the purposes of spying. One wonders what might have been if those talents had been directed toward civilian pursuits.

After the Iron Curtain fell, many of the Stasi's records were destroyed, or "disappeared." However author Kristie Macrakis gained access to many of the records that were saved, and introduces us in this book to characters like Peter Fischer aka Werner Stiller. Fischer led a convoluted multiple life with multiple families in multiple countries. Another small character introduced is the very appropriately named Monika Lustig, who worked for the Stasi as a prostitute.

If there is one drawback to this book, it is that Dr. Macrakis is not a journalist or novelist, but an academic. At times, when we wish the book would dig a little deeper into the titillating, the exotic, or the lurid, Dr. Macrakis writes as an academic would. A particularly notable example of this is the case of Heinrich Lummer,a Christian Democratic politician who was seduced by a Stasi agent, and then was the attempted victim of blackmail by the Stasi who had photographic evidence. This entire story is introduced and concluded in one -rather dry- paragraph. Surely, Dr. Macrakis could have given us more.

Seduced by Secrets is a valuable and unique view inside one of the neglected chapters of the Cold War. Unfortunately, sometimes when we want the writing to be more like James Bond, it resembles the stereotypical image of East Germany: cold