Customer Reviews

The CIA's Black Ops: Covert Action, Foreign Policy, and Democracy

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

 

 

From covert acts against Hussein to secret Afghan missions and the overthrow of leaders and governments around the world, The CIA's Black Ops charts the CIA's secret operations and controversial plans, revealing a country fascinated by covert action and surveying how such operations have become a part of U.S. foreign policy. Essential for any surveying international politics.

This is a disappointing review of covert activities by the CIA based largely on old sources. There's nothing new here, and one of the faults lies in Nutter's reliance on outdated sources.

The author is clearly no believer in the efficacy of covert action, but even here he fails to make a strong case why it should be rejected as a foreign policy instrument, concluding that as long as power politics reign, Presidents and leaders of the intelligence community will resort to what they see as a "third option" between diplomacy and the use of force.

The book is riddled with error beginning with crediting Gen Gehlen with covert action in the Baltics and the Ukraine under CIA control. It is, as a previous reviewer has noted, flawed by a lack of documentation. Nutter, for example, insinuates that the CIA was somehow involved in stealing Jimmy Carter's briefing books in preparation for the 1980 Presidential debates.

There is nothing here on a host of covert actions which have long been known to insiders, ranging from the hostage escape in Tehran to prominent agents of influence. Covert action should be a subject of serious study and debate, but this is a useful compendium of failures and abuses in the Cold War. It says little about how --- or whether --- covert action should be used to combat current anhd future threats.

John J. Nutter's The CIA's Black Ops traces the history of the use of covert operations by Cold War-era policymakers as a "third option," used in situations in which neither diplomacy nor overt military action were deemed desirable. A political scientist and not a historian, the author argues that covert operations were unavoidable (and, at times, necessary) during the Cold War and still are in the 21st century, and that policymakers' accountability is equally unavoidable.

Nutter uses mostly secondary sources, many of which were written by participants in the covert operations described, to craft his analysis in a lively, entertaining style. The target audience is the average, intelligent reader rather than the academic community, which presumably is already familiar with both the "spook" tales and the analysis.

This book has two significant, interrelated strengths that make it a must-read. First, the author's style makes the subject matter accessible to the lay reader, who, second, is able to apprehend the author's careful development of the paradoxes and dangers of using cloaked means to realize diplomatic ends in an open society. All too often in this day and age, the average citizen is willing to believe the government's official line and not reflect on the possibility that a very different truth actually exists beneath the thick layer of spin.

The CIA's Black Ops is a well-crafted cautionary tale and an enjoyable read that is even more relevant today, five years after its publication.

As a graduate student of security policy at Columbia University, I was excited to read Nutter's book. Although it raised interesting questons, it was somewhat disappointing. Information is largely anecdotal and lightly supported and analyzed. Unusually poor editing makes for a sometimes irritating read for those who care about such things. I appreciate Nutter's main aim, which is to examine--and question--the wisdom and risks inherent in covert action. However, he falls victim himself to the alluring mystique of "Black Ops" (one look at book's jacket gives good clues as to what's inside). I'm sure Nutter had fun researching and writing the book, and you may find it fun to read; I did, despite myself. And there's the rub--it's easy for those attempting to show how "Black Ops" substitute for coherent foreign policy to succumb to their dramatic veneer and avoid a real and necessary scholarly contribution on the subject. Read the book, but think for yourself.

...which made it tiresome and a bit frustrating to read. I was hoping/expecting more details on the nature of the operations themselves. I agree with the author that the use of black ops is a clear policy of the US, and there are far-reaching effects as a result. But that is more of the "why". If you want more of the "how", read elsewhere.

BTW this is not to say that this is a poorly written book. It is very engaging especially for those unfamiliar with the subjects and the history behind various operations. But be aware that this is more of a book aimed at a college level course - ie provoking discussions - than being semi-sensationalistic.

Nutter has done his homework in throughly researching this work. Unlike many in the political world, he has no axe to grind, and no need to pump himself up. He delivers a solidly written, must-read book. Given what has happened since September 11, 2001, you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don't read this book. The CIA has had issues for quite some time as Nutter points out. The events of 9-1-1 just make the background that he presents all the more significant to the International Relations student.