Customer Reviews

Blank Check: The Pentagon's Black Budget

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Blank Check is a meticulously researched and chilling account of how the Cold War led the nation into a frenzy of spending based on fear and propaganda. The book spans 40 years of government development and National crises from the viewpoint of a checkbook. However, the fact that the book was published before the fall of the Soviet Union means that, to a modern reader, the stories told are a frightening look at times gone by rather than a relevant commentary on modern life. Also, with no central character to latch onto the book, while conscience stirring, is not necessarily compelling. That said, revelations in this book about the government's outright violation of the constitution in the name of National Security still have the ability to leave a reader appalled.

I know the author personally, from his time as the New York Times investigative journalist responsible for covering the US national and military intelligence programs, and I consider him one of the most balanced, thoughtful, and well-intentioned reporters in the intelligence field.

His book remains very, very important because the Pentagon is in the process of reconstituting the "Yellow Fruit" organization, with the same blank check black budget, and the same mind-sets that previously led to enormous ineffectiveness, waste, and some outright corruption and theft of government funds. Known as Gray Fox, this new incarnation of Yellow Fruit has Richard Secord, one of the leaders or the Iran-Contra scandal for which several top personalities were indicted and some convicted, as a primary player.

Tim Weiner's book is important, it is relevant, and it should be read by those responsible for the oversight of military intelligence budgets and capabilities--and by citizens who might wish to question their elected representatives on this important topic.

I admit, I read the book about 2 years ago, but, I will remember the hard cold facts. The American public is so misinformed about how the miltary is spending our money. It is very disturbing to find out what I thought was true. Blank Check, opened my eyes a lot wider. Did you ever really think the government was honest with us and congress? Don't believe it.

What i love about this guy is that he digs up real dirt without getting into conspiracy theories. I wish he would do an update of this book as I'm sure the black budget has gotten way more intense in the past 10 years. I also strongly recommend legacy of ashes. Don't just read this book, pass it on to someone else when you're done.

Fantastic book and interesting how useful reading an "older" investigation of the defense department black budget and associated misappropriations/abuses can be in easily tying the very same ethical/strategic defense issues to the more recent "Spies for Hire" by Tim Shorrock (also a fantastic read).

The similarities regarding decades long ethical issues with regard to the lack of oversight within black budget is almost overwhelming while simultaneously intriguing and disheartening: no concrete evidence, whatsoever, that Congressional or other government oversight of black budget operations or DoD contracting, in general, has improved. In fact, following 9/11 the situation, if anything, financial and ethical accountability has actually degraded.

This timeless, still-compelling book provides that much-needed historical perspective yet also begs the question: over the next 10 or 20 years is there any reason to believe money will be spent, appropriately, to truly and measurable advance US National Security with concrete accountability for those instances where projects and leaders fail to act responsibly...at great expense to the American taxpayers actually undermining US defense and war fighter readiness?

This excellent book should be read by every USA taxpayer, civilian and military. Mr. Weiner, with an excellent bibliography, tells it like it is. Without barriers, he gives historical, verifiable--if you desire--facts on the irresposible mechanisms used by USA presidents to advance an empire through the throats of many countries--beginning with the USA itself, and justify murders, lies, frauds, thefts, violations of the USA Constitution, through the military and paramilitar civil agencies such as the CIA, based on the very doubtful and euphemistic principle that almost anything is a threat to USA national security. Excellent book. Written almost 20 years ago it is as updated as if it had been written yesterday.