Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe [Hardcover]

Terry D. Turchie (Author), Kathleen M. Puckett PhD. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2008

The authors, retired FBI officials, bring the reader into a new dimension of great concern: the damage made to America's national security by Washington individuals who placed their own pursuit of power above national interests. Citing instances of political interference for the sake of attaining more power in the political area and safeguarding what they have, Turchie and Puckett, well skilled in the investigative techniques of the FBI, pull back the veil of secrecy that so often hides those that put self-interest first and focuses on those individuals who have made the Homeland insecure. In consultation with several retired FBI Special Agents, the machinations of fourteen Washington individuals are brought to the reading public. Added is an analysis by Dr. Puckett of the corrosive nature of power on the power holders.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Turchie, a former FBI Deputy Assistant Director, and Puckett, an author and former Special Agent (Hunting the American Terrorist), bring their expertise to bear in a spirited defense of the bureau and a stinging attack on those who would limit its scope. Damning "the exercise of unfettered political power" in Washington that has constrained FBI operations, the authors charge politicians with being "literally addicted to the perks and pleasures of power," their only aim to protect themselves from exposure. Comparing Washington's political culture to the "royal courts of monarchies and the ancient Roman Senate," they specifically charge presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush with "concealment, lying, and deception," and are particularly unsparing in their criticism of VP Dick Cheney. Truly fascinating insights crop up throughout, such as their discussion of Associate FBI Director Mark Felt, aka "Deep Throat," who was attempting to expose Hoover's successor L. Patrick Gray, a Nixon appointee with an important role in the Watergate cover up. Though their dim view of those who've worked to defend civil liberties (President Ford, Senator Frank Church, Rep. Don Edwards, etc.) and clamorous frustration may rub some the wrong way, Turchie and Puckett provide an account full of intriguing sidelights from inside the bureau.
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Review

"...With the precision of a surgeon and the markmanship of a sniper the authors peel away the wrapping surrounding some of our most famous leaders both past and present. What we find laying under the the public vaneer are some pretty ugly facts. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a partisan book whose timing is set to coincide with Novembers election. Turchie and Puckett have no political affiliations, in their eyes both Republicans and Democrats are equally guilty as charged..." --Simon Barrett, Blogger News Network

"Turchie, a former FBI Deputy Assistant Director, and Puckett, an author and former Special Agent (Hunting the American Terrorist), bring their expertise to bear in a spirited defense of the bureau and a stinging attack on those who would limit its scope. Damning "the exercise of unfettered political power" in Washington that has constrained FBI operations, the authors charge politicians with being "literally addicted to the perks and pleasures of power," their only aim to protect themselves from exposure. Comparing Washington's political culture to the "royal courts of monarchies and the ancient Roman Senate," they specifically charge presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush with "concealment, lying, and deception," and are particularly unsparing in their criticism of VP Dick Cheney. Truly fascinating insights crop up throughout, such as their discussion of Associate FBI Director Mark Felt, aka "Deep Throat," who was attempting to expose Hoover's successor L. Patrick Gray, a Nixon appointee with an important role in the Watergate cover up..." --Publishers Weekly, Sept.15, 2008

"...a compelling and devastating look at the attacks by power-hungry members of Congress on the FBI that were intended to discredit it for personal, political gain and how the placing of CIA personnel over FBI operations threatens to divert its mission from pursuing criminals and terrorists, from investigating wrong-doing by members of Congress, and from operating free of the temporary political objectives depending on who is in power. This is, in so many ways, an important expose and discussion of the present and future of the FBI." --Bookviews.Com, Alan Caruba, December, 2008

"In reading this book certain pieces of the political jigsaw puzzle started to make sense. Without doubt the most important political event in the past 50 years was the atrocity carried out on Sept 11. This created an almost ideal environment for our politicians to further their own needs. Much has been made of the need to secure our borders from further attack, however when you actually look at the actions taken in this direction, you discover that much of the work is subterfuge to reign in what Washington considers renegade groups like the FBI." --Blogger News Network, Simon Barrett, Sept. 2008

"Homeland Insecurity describes the FBI's wide-ranging tasks involving both domestic law enforcement and internal/external security and how the bureau's independent procedures have been weakened by political maneuvering during a time when the United States is in desperate need of stronger protective measures.

The authors describe past misconceptions about the FBI and the reasons that power-hungry politicians have long sought to lessen the bureau's capacity to investigate and enforce the law domestically. The addictiveness of power and money figure heavily into their reasoning as to why politicians have attempted to lessen the bureau's authority since practically Day 1 of its existence... I liked the fact that I came away from the book with exactly the knowledge and understanding that I'd hoped to gain from the reading. I think it's a book that Americans really need to read and discuss, simply because we're accustomed to being misled by corrupt politicians and the only way to solve a situation that involves the safety of every American citizen is to take matters into our own hands via the power of our votes... But, politicians have recently stomped all over the way the FBI is run and essentially blamed the entire agency and its "culture" for the tragedy of September 11th, as well as a few other fiascos. The two authors worked for the FBI and I found that their explanations for various events and procedures were written, in general, with clarity and intelligence without becoming either inflammatory or sinking to fear-mongering. They encouraged trust with their even-handed writing style. The most damaging politicians are named; the authors are very specific in describing who is at fault or a danger (or has done damage in the past), rather than lumping them all into one pot. It's easy to get annoyed with those who have made it their mission to unravel the fabric of an organization that is, in the long run, really out to protect us all. So, you know . . . boo to the bad guys. I found myself rooting for the FBI. A side note: The big to-do about spying on Americans is explained well -- the reasons for domestic surveillance and investigation, I guess I should say. The "wall" that inhibits communication between various agencies is also described. Interesting stuff. Recommended? Absolutely, highly recommended. --Bookfoolery and Babble, Oct. 30, 2008

Nixon started it.

And its hard to argue with FBI veterans, Terry D. Turchie and Kathleen Puckett who maintain that President Richard Nixon started the politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation when he "put his own man,( L. Patrick Gray) in control of an organization that had proven to be a thorn in the side, of politicians for nearly half a century."

But Nixon is not the only villain threatening the FBI's methods and rules.and not all the public enemies are household names.

One major culprit is Assistant Attorney General Jamie Gorelick's 1995 order restricting "criminal and intelligence sides" from sharing information. It was the icing on the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's cake,a dessert that doesn't recognize "the true nature of 'working on the front lines, where law enforcement, terrorism and intelligence analysis collide."

Collisions continue. The list of politicians who prefer power over national protection tries hard to be non-partisan, featuring Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Al Gore. Dick Cheney `the Godfather'for secrecy in government, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush among others.

Both Bushes? "Given the actions of the first Bush White House in pardoning the principals of the [Reagan} Iran Contra scandal, it's not surprising that President George W. Bush wiuld commute the sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby after his conviction for leaking the identity of a CIA officer to the media.

"Politicians of all stripes have critically endangered national security by favoring their political allies in the intelligence community-the CIA and the military-over the FBI.

In this book, the FBI is the good guy, the White House and Congress are the bad guys and John Q. Public is the loser. The facts in "Homeland Insecurity" make you feel insecure. --"Marine Corps Times," J. Ford Huffman, Jan. 26, 2009

A department dedicated to the security of our country sounds like an excellent idea on paper, but in practice, it has problems. Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Made America Less Safe is a highly critical piece attacking the incompetence of Washington and their blunders which have made America less safe since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.

Focusing its persecution on twelve politicians who reside on both sides of political spectrum, it calls their motivations into question, making Homeland Insecurity a highly recommended piece of writing, a must read for those who are trying to figure out what's wrong with today's Washington. --Midwest Book Review, January 10, 2009

Winner of Silver Benjamin Franklin Award --Independent Book Publishers Association

Winner Silver Book of the Year Award for Freedom Fighters(IPPY) --Independent Publishers

Finalist for Book of the Year Award for Political Science. --Foreword Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: History Publishing Company, LLC; 1st edition (September 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933909331
• ISBN-13: 978-1933909332
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can Congressional Leaders Violate the Federal Crime Code without Punishment?, March 22, 2009

By 

William B. Anderson (Elizabethtown, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe (Hardcover)

Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe
Homeland Insecurity, written by two recently senior security officials of the FBI, is both brave and wise. Brave, because unlike the mainstream media in America today they are calling both Republican and Democratic politicians on the carpet for their lust for power and the devastating effect their resulting actions have had on our national security for the past 35 years. Wise, because they know what they're talking about. I was on the front lines for most of that time, and I saw it happen.
During the years 1948 to 1975 I was an FBI street agent (8 cities), a field supervisor (two cities) and an FBI Headquarters supervisor in three divisions. I was an FBI polygraph examiner for the Watergate Special Prosecutor. When I retired, I was Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission. Later, I was professor and then chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at West Chester (PA) University, 1975-87. In 2005, I was a lecturer on polygraph to the PA Bar Association membership.
I was in the FBI during the Cold War when the CIA failed utterly to penetrate their prime target--the lethal Soviet leadership/intelligence service. FBI operatives, the Childs brothers, achieved full and reliable penetration of top leadership in Russia, China, Cuba and other lesser satellites, enabling the American breakthrough to the Soviet/China leadership in the 1970's. Jimmy Carter, in his gentlemanly way, called it "better than ice cream". Henry Kissinger used this information to move the U.S. safely through this all-important opening. It was a spectacular FBI intelligence/diplomatic success, and as the authors of Homeland Insecurity point out, it didn't involve the CIA.
Nevertheless, the authors stress that current FBI Director Mueller has unwisely placed direction and control of its uber critical national security mission with elements of the CIA. Senior FBI security officials are now leaving as early as possible because of the Mueller/CIA insult (see page 252).
The authors clearly illustrate how leading national politicians of both parties have successfully and astonishingly asserted their immunity from FBI investigations. The case of Congressman William Jefferson, Louisiana, illustrates a stunning example of the fierce opposition by Federal policiticans of both parties to FBI investigations of their actions. Jefferson remains under a 16 count indictment in bribes and was involved in racketeering, money laundering and conspiracy and staff solicitation of millions of dollars from American business deals. Revelation of the indictment produced such outrage from both Republican and Democratic House leaders that President George W. Bush froze the search warrant underlying these charges because it invaded the "safe harbor" of Congress! See pages 186-190. The general theme here is Federal legislators may do as they please without enforcement of the Federal Crimes Code Title 18! Political approval for FBI investigation of politicians is incredible nonsense for Federal, state and local figures. The Federal investigation of Illinois Governor Blagojevich's shenanigans finally got the attention of Congress by trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat (still in murky resolution).
Homeland Insecurity should be required reading for every American who wonders how and why politicians operate, and what dangers they pose to U.S. national security as a result.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those who are trying to figure out what's wrong with today's Washington, January 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe (Hardcover)

A department dedicated to the security of our country sounds like an excellent idea on paper, but in practice, it has problems. "Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Made America Less Safe" is a highly critical piece attacking the incompetence of Washington and their blunders which have made America less safe since the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Focusing its persecution on twelve politicians who reside on both sides of political spectrum, it calls their motivations into question, making "Homeland Insecurity" a highly recommended piece of writing, a must read for those who are trying to figure out what's wrong with today's Washington.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book for the Law Enforcement Professional, December 6, 2008

By 

Kathleen McChesney, Ph.D. (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe (Hardcover)

A perfect book for a criminal justice, political science or history curriculum, and with important revelations for the serious reading public. Homeland Insecurity should be required reading for intelligence experts and law enforcement professionals. Intriguing, informative endnotes share the authors' insider stories. The book contains a convincing and clear justification for maintaining the FBI as the single federal agency responsible for both criminal and national security investigations. The inside information will surprise and fascinate readers.