American Intelligence in the Age of Terror
by Michael V Hayden is published by Penguin Press (US).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594206562/ref=rdr_ext_tmb
1. An unprecedented high-level master narrative of
America's intelligence wars, from the only person ever to helm both CIA and
NSA, at a time of heinous new threats and wrenching change;
2.
For
General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the
line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you
may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America.
"Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the
National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran CIA.
3. In his view, many shortsighted and
uninformed people are quick to criticize, and this book will give them much
to chew on but little easy comfort; it is an unapologetic insider's look told
from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head
on, in the moment.
4. How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last 500 years? What was NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath? Why did NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013? |
5.
As
Director of CIA in the last three years of the Bush administration, Hayden
had to deal with the rendition, detention and interrogation program as
bequeathed to him by his predecessors. He also had to ramp up the agency to
support its role in the targeted killing program that began to dramatically
increase in July 2008.
6.
This
was a time of great crisis at CIA, and some agency veterans have credited
Hayden with actually saving the agency. He himself won't go that far, but he
freely acknowledges that CIA helped turn the American security establishment
into the most effective killing machine in the history of armed conflict.
7. For 10 years, then, General
Michael Hayden was a participant in some of the most telling events in the
annals of American national security. General Hayden's goals are in writing
this book are simple and unwavering: No apologies. No excuses. Just what
happened. And why. As he writes,
8. "There is a story here that deserves to be
told, without varnish and without spin. My view is my view, and others will
certainly have different perspectives, but this view deserves to be told to
create as complete a history as possible of these turbulent times. I bear no
grudges, or at least not many, but I do want this to be a straightforward and
readable history for that slice of the American population who depend on and
appreciate intelligence, but who do not have the time to master its many
obscure characteristics."
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