Agency-securities Books

Reading this book is like having a long conversation with "Q" from the James Bond movies. Because of the author's security clearance the CIA only approved the first 3 chapters of SPYCRAFT. After a legal battle they caved and allowed almost the entire book to be published...all 25 chapters, almost 600 pages! Chapters 20-25 are worth 10 times the price of the book, and could have been a book in themselves. These chapters contain the real secrets of spying and espionage. I can easily understand why the CIA didn't want this published, it's just too good. 75% of this book contains all the gimmicks, gadgets, devices, schemes, and dirty tricks ever created by the CIA. Much of which is almost too fantastic. As an example: Operation Skyhook. If you saw the recent movie, The Dark Knight, then you remember how Batman kidnapped that guy from a Hong Kong skyscraper (airplane hooked the rope as it flew over). Well, the CIA really did that! It's completely illustrated with three pages of text just on this one secret extraction method. I could go on and on, but I don't want to ruin the ride for you. By all means get this book, it's one of the most amazing books I've ever read.

For anyone fascinated by the true world of espionage, Spycraft is a fabulous book, rich in detail, history, and gadgetry! Wonderfully written and superbly researched, Spycraft is an astonishing history of the tools of the trade. There are insights and surprises on nearly every page, even for the most well-read historian of the intelligence world. Having dozens of books on the world of espionage in my library, this is one of my favorites. If you love the gadgetry of "Q" from the world of 007, this book is a tour de force. Readers will know that Spycraft was a labor of love by authors who have actual first-hand knowledge of ingenious clandestine intelligence gathering-efforts. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs from Communism to Al-Qaeda Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton with Henry R. Schlesinger, foreword by George J. Tenet. Dutton, $29.95 (576p) ISBN 978-0-525-94980-0



Robert Wallace and H. Keith Melton wrote Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA's Spycraft is a great book that depicts the collective historiography of the CIA's Office of Technical Service (OTS) department. Wallace and Melton both have a wealth of information concerning clandestine work in relationship to technology, and its impact on the tradecraft profession globally. The book historically illustrates audio devices, miniature cameras, disguises, codes, and dead drops that are major elements in the profession of national security and espionage. Spycraft covers the epoch of secret intelligence devices from World War II, The Cold War, and Al-Qaeda Terrorism, which is well written for any laymen to discern. I recommend Spycraft: The Secret History of the CIA to academic and public libraries.

I was hoping for a lot with a 5 star amzn rating but unfortunately I only got through half of the book because it failed to meet those expectations. I was hoping for a technical presentation of clandestine affairs. If the author was going to describe a particular stakeout and audio operation I was hoping it would be presented with maps, technical layouts, and diagrams of devices such that the detail would justify another book in this area. What I got was a shallow examination of multiple operations where little information was divulged and most of the drama centered around the departments lack of preparation and eventual overcoming of their technical shortfalls through private industry or industrious tech.
I was hoping to read a book about the technicalities of the operation not a book where i had to flip back and forth to the appendix to look up the abundant acronyms used and where I would go pages just reading about the cia's lack of preparation. occasional stories were interesting but would likely not be new to anyone versed in the subject.

I skimread this book, I admit it. Sections were so dry, I just couldn't deal with it. I needed a good mix of the technical and the real-world.

It broke my heart that so much time and effort was needed to get to a place where our Soviet informants could share info, only to be ruined by Hanssen.

Meantime, I roared at the stories of the agents desperately experimenting with inflatable sex-toy women as possible "doubles" for car passengers who had bailed from a car moments before.... and the stories of what was involved in trying to buy bulk numbers of inflatable person-shaped anythings for experimentation as body doubles. THAT tickled me enormously. The ultimate details of why this double was needed, the misery of what the real human would be doing in the meantime, grim grim stuff. James Bond movies have done us all a big disservice. The real spy world is anything but glamorous stuff.

I am in awe and forever grateful to those who stuck it out to get a few seconds of eavesdropped conversation, a page of forbidden blueprints. Thank you guys. I get what you did, what years you sacrified.

Oh, and, yeah, I will no longer be impressed by people who think it's clever and antidisestablishment to sneak over and hang out in Cuba as tourists, having read the detail of the Cuba prison system. Horrific stuff.

In this book the author blames the initial assault on David Koresh's Mount Cramel property on the ATF. He neglects to mention that David Koresh had enough guns, hand grenades and illegal automatic weapons to outfit the Kosovo Army for it's next Revolution.The BLAME lies with David Koresh and his followers. When you amass such as stockpile of ILLEGAL weaapons then you should expect a visit from the authorities which is exactly what happend . And due to Koresh's arsenal he managed to "outgun" the ATF and four good Peace Officers were murdered. All of this occurred because that madman and psychopath Koresh thought he had a "Direct Hotline" to God. Those 86 people chose not to surrender. Perhaps they thought the seige would end with flowers and free bottles of French Champagne? It seems like nearly everybody wants to blame somebody else for the Waco Incident instead of laying the blame at Koresh and his followers.I give this book 5 stars because no doubt it will apeal to the Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists out there and the Survivalist who now think their Government is "The Enemy "ever since Russians turned out to be nice people after all.

Kopel and Blackman did more than just their homework on this book. It is perhaps the most factual yet interesting critique on the way in which federal law enforcement operates today. The attack on Mt. Carmel is a very important even in the history of this nation and only from our mistakes can we change the future. This review I believe is especially credible since I read but certainly don't always like David Kopel's writings. Highest recommendation and a great source for research papers.

Once again David Kopel (and Paul Blackman) gets to the bottom of things and shows what the Waco disaster was all about. If you only read one section of this book, read the part detailing the search warrant. It appears that all the death and destruction (on the part of both the Branch Davidians and the BATF agents who were killed) was brought on because of a failure to pay a several hundred dollar tax on a firearm.

This book focuses on Waco but also delves into the expansion of federal law enforcement and the effect it has on civil liberties in this country.

As per the United States Constitution, the federal government should have law enforcement jurisdiction over the following acts: piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, offences against the law of nations, and counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States.

Something has gone terribly wrong.

Read this book. Then read anything else that David Kopel has written. It will be well worth your time, and you will be well educated about the erosion of our rights as citizens.

A very impressive accomplishment. There is a tremendous amount of detail here -- right down to how the ATF's name evolved from BATF -- but presented in a compelling and readable way.

This book is unusual in that it does not slant everything in one direction; it refuses to classify those involved as unambiguous good guys or bad guys.

The scope of the book goes beyond what's implied by the title. There is plenty of fascinating history here, many references to other law enforcement debacles. A compelling case is made that law enforcement has become too militarized and too federalized. The discussion of how "groupthink" on both sides (the government and the Davidians) leads to this kind of tragedy is especially excellent.

I've long wondered why liberals and conservatives seem inverted on Waco. Liberals are thought to be strong on civil rights, including religious freedom, and anti-military. Conservatives are thought to favor strong law-and-order. The authors explain this puzzle: the Congressional hearings quickly degenerated into an attempt to embarrass political opponents rather than a dispassionate search for the truth. The American public and the media took their orientation from Congress to a large extent. If a Republican had been president at the time of Waco, it's very possible the sides would have been reversed.

The authors show very clearly that the real problems with law enforcement have been building regardless of which party controls the White House or the Congress. I hope some legislators read this book and take the excellent reform suggestions to heart.

This work is not only an outstanding explanation of the Waco and Ruby Ridge incidents, but a critical review of modern federal law enforcement. The book goes beyond sorting out -- in meticulous detail -- what really happened in these debacles. Even more valuable is the objective analysis of the abuses and excesses of federal law enforcement, along with suggested remedies.

This book is a "must read" for anyone concerned with civil liberties or law enforcement.

I am a grad student in International Relations; Confilct Resolution in International and TransNational Security. I purchased this book to better understand the concepts and innerworkings of the intelligence community, and the book was not only extreamly insightful, but also very easy to read and understand.

BE WARNED - this book will NOT teach you how to kill a man, overthrow governments or set up a military tribunal at GITMO... if you want to learn how to analyze problems, and see a peek into how the U.S. government analyzes national security information, this book is for you.

I've carried around a copy of this book for the last 5 months since my Intel Analysis class ended. I refer to it constantly, whether it be the list of INTs (intelligence disciplines) or targeting methodologies... This may have been the best $40 I have spent on a book in a while.

This copy has also been asked about by colleagues in the intelligence field, who hesitantly admit there is no "introductory" textbook to intelligence analysis - most of it is on-the-job training. I have seen it used in undergraduate and graduate studies, on the desk of Subject Matter Experts at the National Air & Space Intelligence Center, and in other "nondescript" locations. The prevalence of this text in the IC (intelligence community) should be enough to convince a bystandard that this text is worth of their time.

The only downside was the package - a paperback book for the cost seems excessive, but once you get into it (chapter three at least), you'll see how useful the information is... and my griping about the cost stopped.

The content of this book, a required reading in my program, is informative. It's a shame however, I had to pay over 40 (!) dollars for this product only to have pages separating from the binding after just a few weeks of use. With such high prices, and for a new book, yet, won't you allocate a portion of the fees you collect towards improving the quality of your merchandise?

This is an excellent work on intelligence analysis, but is not for the layman. Mr. Clark is up front about his target audience, so I went into it knowing that I might struggle a bit. He routinely uses terms and refers to concepts that are somewhat obscure, a glossary would create a huge improvement. But the effort invested in reading this was well rewarded.

The title; "Intelligence Analysis: A Target-centric Approach" is misleading. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the entire intelligence process from collecting information to the civil and military leaders using the product of analysis in their decision process, not just "Intelligence Analysis". "Target-centric" analysis sounds very impressive, but it is more a reflection of LTC (ret) Clark's Air Force roots, and a rebuke to intelligence in support of political agendae than a new concept for analysis. The content of the book doesn't suffer at all, but some potential readers might be put off by this.

The use of diverse and fairly well cited examples (I assume the uncited ones are first-hand information for the author?) made this an excellent read, but some of the examples could benefit from clarification as to whether or not they're notional. The entire intelligence process is descibed, along with some of the bureaucratic idiosyncrosies that created some of the confusing arrangements of agencies and nomenclature. The specifics of analytical methods were excellent. I thought the discussion of link analysis for describing social networks was excellent, but he neglected to point out that sociologists use the same tools and methods in their research, as do investigative reporters. Again, it could have benefited from some clarification (like the difference between covert and clandestine, and the inconsistent use of operational level and tactical level) but this was, at worst, a trivial distractor from his main point.

His main point was the need for collaboration between all the concerned parties; intelligence collectors, analysts, and the decision-makers that use it. He discussed an illustrated the problem at length and certainly makes his case. I was intrigued though. He seems to be personally struggling with some of the underlying issues like chaotic, nonlinear, and non-hierarchical issues and organizations facing our nation. Despite this, he is doing the right thing and acting as a proponent for a radical revision of our structure rather than trying to pound in post 9/11 screws with a Cold War rock, and he certainly has earned my personal respect for that.

This is an excellent work and should be read by any responsible citizen with desire to better understand the workings of the process behind our national policy decisions (but be prepared to do a lot of supporting reading if you're not a member of Clark's world).

E. M. Van Court

Actually, theory was made from experience of real world. But, when we try to adjust it to real world, it isn't always available. Because during the book was wriitten, the real world was being changed. This book was wriiten by the authors who have experience of Intelligence community and they regreted not to protect attack of terrorists. (i.e. 9/11) I recommend this book them who have seek to the way to keep the security of nation.

I first read this book as a schoolboy. It filled my mind with dreams and many wonderful hours of adventure. I have looked for over 30 years for this book, uncertain of its exact title or author. What a joy to discover that it has been newly printed!

I wondered how the book would read as an adult. After just a few pages I was caught back once again into the wonderful celtic world and lived again in the monastary at Glaston. The book is a great read for all ages with a story that lets you dream of a time when knights rode the countryside and life was filled with enchantment.

I first read this book in a Scholastic Books edition when I was a kid in grade school in the 1950's. It is the first time I ever remember being totally immersed and captured by a story about a distant time and place. Young readers really care about Hugh, a lame boy who is left in a monastery when his knight father is forced into exile from England. Hugh's search for the relics of King Arthur transforms him and works the same magic on the reader. Very highly recommended!

What can I say about this sublime book that blends an exciting mystery with tantalizing folklore and fascinating historical detail? Only what virtually every other reviewer here has said:
I read this book as a teen and never, ever forgot it.
I became enthralled with the legends surrounding Glastonbury.
I didn't rest until I actually visited the site in my 20's.
I almost never write Amazon reviews, but I am so delighted to see this gem of a book available again, I had to check in.

From the unanimously excited responses of those who rediscovered this book, I am confident that word of mouth and enthusiastic teachers and librarians will do everything they can to see that this amazing work reaches a new generation of future travellers to Glastonbury.

Like I, they will be thrilled to gaze on the actual places described in the book: The beautiful Chalice Well, the ruined Abbey, the marker for "Arthur's grave", the thorn tree; and the profoundly mystical Glastonbury Tor at the nexus of one of the most remarkable places on Earth.

Thank you, Eleanor Jewett, for making that trip a foregone conclusion for me upon the opening of your book.

For any young person interested in medieval history this is a great adventure story. I discovered it in my young teenage years and it continues to be one of my favorite stories to this day - 40 years later! I have now moved onto the Brother Cadfael books by Ellis Peters!

I first read this book as a 4th grader and loved it. Now, two decades later, I have purchased it for my classroom after finding it on Amazon. I have had several sixth graders rave about the plot and ask for similar stories. Rereading it as an adult, I still find the story and characters fun and interesting. This is a great find for the middle grades reader who can't get enough of the middle ages.

This book presents you with a step by step marketing plan template and clearly defines and explains what is the concept and the importance of each step in the plan. This is a great book for anyone in the public sector who has no marketing experience or background and is a great review for someone who does.

"Marketing in the Public Sector" by Philip Kotler and Nancy Lee provides ideas and advice on proven techniques for those in the public sector that reach and benefit the common good of the public.

There are three parts and 13 chapters. There are very specific and detailed sub-chapters within the main chapters, and they are listed in the table of contents.

1. Improving Public Sector Performance by Seizing Opportunities....
2. Understanding the Marketing Mindset
3. Developing and Enhancing Popular Programs and Services
4. Setting Motivating Prices, Incentives, and Disincentives
5. Optimizing Distribution Channels
6. Creating and Maintaining Desired Brand Identity
7. Communicating Effectively with Key Public
8. Improving Customer Service and Satisfaction
9. Influencing Positive Public Behaviors: Social Marketing
10 Forming Strategic Partnerships
11 Gathering Citizen Data, Input, and Feedback
12 Monitoring and Evaluating Performance
13 Developing a Compelling Marketing Plan

There are numerous real-life examples presented as case studies, basically.

One example in implementing information messages to the public is the Ad Council. The Ad Council is a private, nonprofit organization that taps volunteers from the communication and advertising industries to deliver governmental agency messages to the American public (p. 232). Not only must these messages be crafted well, but they do need to reach the targeted audience. There also has to be response. Response that can be statistically verified. The message is distinguished and emphasized so the target market audience knows about the campaign, believes they will experience the benefits promised, and thus are inspired to act upon it, or stop deleterious acts (p. 161). Like the private corporate media with its experience and sophistication, the government media is organized, tested, and methodical.

For the most part the term "methodical" is used in a good way. If there is a public message to be conveyed, it needs to be disseminated in the most optimum way. Many public messages are positive and conducive for the collective good of our communities. One example from many are the mascots such as Smokey the Bear for fire awareness, Mr. Yuck for poison labels, McGruff the Crime Dog, and Eddy Eagle for Gun Safety. These ad campaigns of course, are specifically targeted for children, yet also influence and remind parents to educate their kids on such potentially dangerous matters.

One doesn't need to be in the public sector to benefit from the information, case studies, and strategies in this book. The ideas can be used by many. There are dozens of pictures of ad samples and tables, and the index is comprehensive. Very good. Excellent for public administrators and students of Public Policy and Administration (PPA programs).

Philip Kotler and Nancy Lee encourage governments to learn from private sector marketing principles and techniques. It's a great idea, and they make a persuasive case that "social marketing" can change society, or at least certain aspects of it. The book is full of practical tips. Using examples from social marketing campaigns around the world, Kotler and Lee demonstrate how to apply basic marketing ideas in the public sector. Creative approaches have injected new life into many social programs, ranging from environmental awareness to customer service. We recommend this book to public officials and leaders of nonprofit organizations who are looking for new ways to educate their constituents.

The target audience for this particular book is government agencies. Inside you will find tools to get citizens involved with and supporting your agency, using your products and services, and how to influence public behaviors. The authors also include specific roadmaps to creating brand identity, gathering citizen input, and evaluating the results of your efforts. One of the better sections includes a how-to model for building an organization that is both high-tech and high-touch.

The book focuses on all levels of government agencies from the public servant trying to allocate scarce resources to governmental units trying to create social consensus to get things done. Loaded with lots of examples, Marketing in the Public Sector is required reading for governmental agencies.

At first glance you might think that this is a book on selling to the government. It isn't. This book is basically a primer, or a series of anecdotes or case studies where a governmental agency is attempting to sell their products or services to the public.

While we don't think of the government doing marketing, visit any Post Office and look at the ads plastered all over the place for everything from mailing supplies, to passports, to stamp collecting (where you buy a stamp from them and then don't use it for mailing - a lot of profit in that).

In addition to these actual products, there are a lot of stories about how the government wanted to influence behavior on the part of the citizens from litter campaigns (Don't Mess With Texas) to reducing drunk driving.

The intended audiance for this book seems to be organizations within the government who now need to communicate what they do, how well they do it, and influence behavior among the population. And that's the world population, not just the US.

AN EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
W. THOMAS SMITH JR. EXPLAINS THE CIA IN EASY TO UNDERSTAND TERMS.
I GIVE IT FIVE STARS BECAUSE AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME WITH THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA I NOW HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CIA AND HOW IT FITS IN THE OVERALL DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.
THOUGH IT SEEMS BRIEF IN CERTAIN SECTIONS, IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND MUCH NEW LIGHT IS SHED ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CIA. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE AGENCY AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE GROUPS!!!

Smith's book is the ultimate resource for those fascinated with history and our countries most conroversial governmental agency - the Central Intelligence Agency .....fascinating and long forgotten tales of intrique - finally there is a source, beautifully organized, with the answers to any questions you may have about the CIA....thanks W. Thomas Smith, Jr. your book is well done.

The ultimate resource for history buffs who want a quick and ready reference book that details the history of the CIA and allows for a quick look up for forgotten names and facts.....a random trip through this fascinating book brings up incredible historic information you may have forgotten.

Great resource book to have on hand. W.Thomas Smith, Jr. brings his experience and talent as a jounalist to this much needed reference book.

This is a very good reference book and helpful to those of us who want to understand our CIA and how it works.
I also found it interesting that Julia Child was in the CIA.
This book deserves five stars.

This is one of the best books on the CIA I've read even though its an encyclopdia form with entries. Particularly fascinating are the unknown operations which W. Thos. Smith Jr. has brought to the forefront of history. What makes this book so good is it's objectivity. CIA has its skeletons. But it also has it courageous heroes and patriots most of which we have never heard of.
Smith also does justice to the brave men and women of the OSS of second World War fame.
I highly recommend this to anyone who hopes to have a better understanding of the CIA and its roots. Smith is a journalist from the south, writing articles for USA Today and Wash. Post, proving once again that some of the best American writers continue to come from below Mason-Dixon.

After the initial shock caused by the 09/11/2002 terrorist attacks on the United States, the need to better understand the mechanisms of terrorism, and above all the existing tools to fight it, has become more pressing and has been felt throughout the globe. As rarely a day goes by without some media reference to a possible or an actual terrorist attack, awareness of the available international instruments to fight terrorism is the key to understanding current affairs and the world of today. In the book Terrorism and the International Legal Order, Peter J. van Krieken shares with the reader his in-depth knowledge over international legal institutions.

In spite the complexity of the subject, the reader will be guided through some of the major legal instruments - UN and non-UN, international and regional - available in the fight against terrorism with relative ease. The detailed table of contents also offers the reader the possibility of glancing through the whole spectrum quickly and choosing, for example, to learn more precisely about the role of the UN or of some of its bodies (Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, ICJ) in the fight against international terrorism. Before the end of the book, the reader will come to grasp that these present instruments only need to have their effectiveness increased and that, with enhanced cooperation, they can serve as efficient tools in the fight against international terrorism.

Terrorism and the International Legal Order is recommended reading for anyone who wishes to understand more clearly and in a very concrete manner the challenges of today's world in the face of terrorism. It is equally recommended to all of those who remain shocked and unconditionally condemn terrorist acts of any kind. It is also recommended to those who realize that civil liberties cannot exist without safety and that at times concessions on the former must be made. Finally, to those rightly concerned about the balance between civil liberties and security, this book is a serious way of understanding the dangers posed by terrorism and possibly a new way to look at the balancing of both.

Terrorism and the International Legal Order is an excellent compilation of international law regarding terrorism. The book reviews important UN resolutions passed before and after September 11th, it presents definitions of terrorism throughout recent history in order to determine exactly what terrorism is, and it supplies information on the treatment of the topic by several UN bodies. Further, Van Kieken explores the connection between international terrorism and migration (laws), and refers to several cases while putting them in an international law context. The book also includes most relevant texts of UN conventions, resolutions, etc.
Overall, this book provides a clear and concise insight into the legal aspects regarding (international) terrorism. It is especially recommended to those who have a previous understanding of international law/institutions/relations, without which this volume might prove somewhat challenging to read. Also, it is very useful for students of international law/relations, or anyone attempting to grasp these issues surrounding terrorism.

Terrorism and the International Legal Order is an excellent compilation of international law regarding terrorism. The book reviews important UN resolutions passed before and after September 11th, it presents definitions of terrorism throughout recent history in order to determine exactly what terrorism is, and it supplies information on the treatment of the topic by several UN bodies. Further, Van Kieken explores the connection between international terrorism and migration (laws), and refers to several cases while putting them in an international law context. The book also includes most relevant texts of UN conventions, resolutions, etc.
Overall, this book provides a clear and concise insight into the legal aspects regarding (international) terrorism. It is especially recommended to those who have a previous understanding of international law/institutions/relations, without which this volume might prove somewhat challenging to read. Also, it is very useful for students of international law/relations, or anyone attempting to grasp these issues surrounding terrorism.

I find this book to be an excellent addition for those who already have some sort of background or knowledge of international relations and international law etc. It looks into certain aspects of terrorism - examning certain cases. By looking to each organ of the United Nations and its role within combatting terrorism, I find it to be of great use to my studies. The author not only offers facts and documentation - he deeply examines the issues at hand with reference to those facts and documents. By doing so he clarifies somewhat difficult to read UN documents and non-UN documents - explaining them in clear english. Not only did I add to my knowledge of international relations, I learned a lot of new things as well.

Since the tragic events of September 11th, there have been many books written about terrorism and the law but few are as balanced as van Krieken's Terrorism and the International Legal Order. Rather than focusing on the perpetrators or their acts, this book places terrorism in context with the various instruments of law. It is a must read for any student of international relations and/or international law. It is an excellent resource and guide to the relevant United Nations (UN) and non-UN conventions and legal instruments dealing with terrorism

The "red line" of the book is that terrorism is "unjustifiable" regardless of the perpetrators motives, actions or intentions. This, van Krieken points out, was not always the case. The General Assembly, especially in the 1960's during the years of decolonisation and self-determination, dared to sympathize with terrorists. In the General Assembly's Resolution 44/29 it sought to determine "the underlying misery, frustration and despair which cause some people to sacrifice human lives, including their own in an attempt to effect radical changes" (pg. 113). Such thinking, van Krieken argues, has never been legally nor morally correct and is no longer the accepted stance of the United Nations.

The book investigates each of the six arms of the Untied Nations (the General Assembly, Security Council, Secretariat, International Court of Justice, Economic and Social Council and the now defunct Trusteeship Council) and outlines their contribution to the fight against terrorism. Each of the arms has passed significant resolutions and reports and investigated incidences of terrorism which have contributed to the international legal order. Van Krieken, however, is quick to point out that the law is only a tool and not a goal in itself. While the law may view terrorism as illegal, politics may frustrate these laws. For example, the decision to provide the gunmen who seized the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem safe haven in Europe is in direct contrast to the intentions of Security Council Resolution 1373 which states that terrorists should never be allowed safe haven and that the principle of aut dedere aut judicare (prosecute or extradite) should be reinforced.

Remarkably, with all of the legal documents and conventions contained within this book, it is very readable especially for non-lawyers. At the same time, it is also a valuable resource for practitioners and academics. van Krieken is careful to always place terrorism in today's context; the discussion on crossborder issues and terrorism is particularly interesting and one that is usually forgotten. It therefore represents one of those rare marriages of "legalize" and common sense.

Despite over a hundred different definitions and the emotion associated with terrorism, van Krieken is able to tease out the new international legal order and make it tangible. His writing is clear and precise. The footnotes, rather than being a distraction, contribute to the reader's understanding of the thinking behind many of the resolutions and should not be missed. The one weakness of this book, however, is the lack of annotated index; this should be included in any new revisions of the book.

Terrorism is, sadly, not a new concept and one that we read about nearly every day in the newspaper. If you wish to place terrorism within the greater legal context, then this book is a must read.

I have to say this is the best book written in a while. I admire Jerry Speziale. The author in this book details the sacrifice officers make when going undercover. People seem to forget what the officers give up to make a difference and the risks they take. The sacrifice the families go through when there loved ones are taking a risk with their lives. I admire Jerry and the officers who took the time to make a difference. I definitely recommend this book. It is realistic and it isn't exaggerated.

This is a very compelling book. It is the true story of NYPD undercover officer on "loan" to the DEA. This cop turned author, literally wrote the book on wiretaps. He risked his life to make major drug busts. However, by pursuing the Columbia drug cartels so aggressively, he also risked the lives of many innocent (and some not so innocent)others. He does not hide this fact in his book and he should be applauded for his honesty.

If you, read a "true crime" book only now and again -- buy this book. If you read "true crime" regularly this will be one of your all-time favorites.

Watching THE WIRE changed me and made me more sympathetic in general. I read this book as a result of THE WIRE even though I am not that interested in true crime or drugs. I am still not that interested but I feel that I should know. It's very straightforward and nondepressing despite the overwhelming odds. It's one man's story simply told although the details are sensational. Sheriff Speziale of Passaic, New Jersey was groomed by a real drug dealer from Brazil who also groomed a Brazilian entertainer known as Xuxa - this detail is not mentioned in Without a Badge but this book is written in a very pedestrian manner despite the extraordinary events and people involved. He spent many hours, days, months away from his family life. He was at the forefront of modern surveillance tactics. He is a friend to Bernard Kerik. And he is still making a contribution to fighting crime. Sometimes the antidote to the hopelessness of the fight is as simple as doing your own part and cleaning up your work environment and infecting others with a work ethic.

i dont like reading that much and it usually takes me a couple weeks to read this size book but i read it 3 days because once i started reading it i couldnt put it down. It is simply the best book ever written. You constantly wish you could read faster so you could see what the next page held. It describes in depth the cali drug organization and how they brought it down. I recommend this book to anyone, i guarantee you will absolutely love it.

This by far is one of the best books I have read in a while. I read it cover to cover in one day and I am a fairly slow and detailed reader. I could not put it down. Without A Badge takes you deep into the life of a narcotics investigator with such a zeal for cleaning up the streets that it is personally motivating. I am now reading for the second time. I can't wait until I see this one in the movie theater.

All information is fairly up-to-date. For anyone interested in current UN affairs, what they do or how they recieve awards you'll find this book interesting.

The peacekeeping operations of the United Nations have grown in number and importance in recent years, producing a thicket of bewildering acronyms (UNIKOM and UNIPOM, UNOMUR and UNAMIR),and for participants a corresponding number of awards, which are often confusingly similar in appearance. For the first time this is all sorted out, in this well-produced guide.
The book features excellent color illustrations of the medals, ribbons, and insignia, with information on the historical context, mandate (mission), participant countries and strengths, fatalities incurred, and number of medals issued. There is also a chronology, a world map of operations, a splendid section on Korean War medals and variants, background essays, bibliography, index, and more, providing comprehensive coverage of this relatively neglected area. Borts' admirable work will likely be the standard on the subject for many years to come, and will be of particular interest to students of contemporary military affairs as well as collectors.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

The peacekeeping operations of the United Nations have grown in number and importance in recent years, producing a thicket of bewildering acronyms (UNIKOM and UNIPOM, UNOMUR and UNAMIR),and for participants a corresponding number of awards, which are often confusingly similar in appearance. For the first time this is all sorted out, in this well-produced guide.
The book features excellent color illustrations of the medals, ribbons, and insignia, with information on the historical context, mandate (mission), participant countries and strengths, fatalities incurred, and number of medals issued. There is also a chronology, a world map of operations, a splendid section on Korean War medals and variants, background essays, bibliography, index, and more, providing comprehensive coverage of this relatively neglected area. Borts' admirable work will likely be the standard on the subject for many years to come, and will be of particular interest to students of contemporary military affairs as well as collectors.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

Amongst the many things I can say about this book, it is exciting material stating the exact nature of the United Nations Orders and Medals from one of the world's most renowned figures in the industry. Its uncanny accuracy is unprecedented.

The peacekeeping operations of the United Nations have grown in number and importance in recent years, producing a thicket of bewildering acronyms (UNIKOM and UNIPOM, UNOMUR and UNAMIR),and for participants a corresponding number of awards, which are often confusingly similar in appearance. For the first time this is all sorted out, in this well-produced guide.
The book features excellent color illustrations of the medals, ribbons, and insignia, with information on the historical context, mandate (mission), participant countries and strengths, fatalities incurred, and number of medals issued. There is also a chronology, a world map of operations, a splendid section on Korean War medals and variants, background essays, bibliography, index, and more, providing comprehensive coverage of this relatively neglected area. Borts' admirable work will likely be the standard on the subject for many years to come, and will be of particular interest to students of contemporary military affairs as well as collectors.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

uno libro de lo mejor! es todo lo que puedo decir, tan interesante que en dos dias lo habia terminado, nos ayuda un poco a ver realmente como funciona el imperialismo, y siendo de una historia de una persona que lo vivio pues simplemente confirma lo que siempre eh pensado en que se basaba la "grandeza" de este pais,
como persona que se relaciona con una de las historias, pues puedo decir que aqui se explica porque el resentimiento mundial contra USA, debido a que han creado un endeudamiento adrede a paises que los han llevado a la pobreza y que han creado que veamos lo que en estos dias se ve!!
lo recomiendo de verdad, sobretodo para que muchos hagan conciencia, y a otros para que vean la realidad.

Esta es una gran revelacion de los hechos que marcaron a America Latina desde el "boom" petrolero que la llevaron a convertirse en una victima del Imperialismo Americano -contada por un hombre que lo vivio personalmente-

It was important to have a spanish version of this book, by John Perkins, because it sheds light on so much that has happened in Latin America. Through the experience of one man, we read how there can be vast economic
consequences for many.

Este libro presenta las ayudas internacionales macoeconomicas de un punto de vista no muy comun. Pero que las ideas presentadas en este tomo son de mucho interes. Los medios de noticias presenta acontecimientos de una forma muy rapida e incimita. Este libro da muchas cosas a la luz del dia para el que no esta tan envolucrado en estes operaciones. Indica muchas conexciones subtiles y otros no tan subtiles. Creo que cada persona que este interesado en asuntos extranjeros debe de leer este tomo.