John R. Stockwell is a former CIA officer who became a critic of United States government policies after serving in the Agency for thirteen years serving seven tours of duty. After managing U.S. involvement in the Angolan Civil War as Chief of the Angola Task Force during its 1975 covert operations, he resigned and wrote In Search of Enemies, a book which remains the only detailed, insider's account of a major CIA "covert action."As a Marine, Stockwell was a CIA paramilitary intelligence case officer in three wars: the Congo Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Angolan War of Independence. His military rank is Major. Beginning his career in 1964, Stockwell spent six years in Africa, Chief of Base in the Katanga during the Bob Denard invasion in 1968, then Chief of Station in Bujumbura, Burundi in 1970, before being transferred to Vietnam to oversee intelligence operations in the Tay Ninh province and was awarded the CIA Medal of Merit for keeping his post open until the last days of the fall of Saigon in 1975. In December 1976 he resigned from the CIA, citing deep concerns for the methods and results of CIA paramilitary operations in third world countries and testified before Congressional committees. Two years later, he wrote the exposé In Search of Enemies, about that experience and its broader implications. He claimed that the CIA was counterproductive to national security, and that its "secret wars" provided no benefit for the United States. The CIA, he stated, had singled out the MPLA to be an enemy in Angola despite the fact that the MPLA wanted relations with the United States and had not committed a single act of aggression against the United States. In 1978 he appeared on the popular American television program 60 Minutes, claiming that CIA Director William Colby and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger had systematically lied to Congress about the CIA's operations.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Please read this book. It tells all, that you didn't know about the direction and practices of your own country. I attended a lecture by John Stockwell and he pleads for you to not purchase this book but pirate it from your local library. The US government sued him and won the rights to this book so all proceeds go to the CIA or the Federal government. Also read "The Grand Chessboard" This is the blue print for the United States foreign policy. You will be blown away.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By B. Odlum
Format:Hardcover
In the last decade, a lot of CIA exposés have been published, with the declassification of many previously unavailable documents. What distinguishes this one is that it was originally published in 1976, which makes it one of the first, and it is written by an extraordinary man who could not have been more personally involved in the subject of his book.
If you are looking for a James Bond genre spy novel, you will be disappointed. If you want to understand, in detail, the actual structure and dynamics of a covert CIA operation, this book is the jackpot. In the early 1970's Mr. Stockwell was in charge of the Angola Task Force. He knows what he is talking about. This book is very direct and hits hard. For the most part Stockwell just presents the facts and allows the reader to decide, but of course the book is written after he experienced a moral rectification and left the CIA. The book is intended as an insider's exposé, and it does a fantastic job. He makes no attempt to justify his own role in the drama, referring to himself as a "villain".
Personally, I found the author to be a fascinating man. He grew up in the heart of the Belgium Congo, where he learned French and Tshiluba, one of the many native languages of the country. Obviously, he got a first hand glimpse of an African nation colonized by a European power. I assume he learned English from his parents, his vocabulary is slightly more extensive than my own.
Later he joined the Marines, and as a reconnaissance officer on a Navy cruise he engaged in covert hydrographic surveys off the western African coast. Afterwards, as a CIA officer, he did a tour of duty in Vietnam, but has apparently had many CIA experiences in many African countries as well. I hope this man writes a biography someday, it would be fascinating.
As the author himself recommends, buy a used copy of this book already in circulation, not a new copy. The CIA sued Stockwell over publication of this book, and all new sales proceeds go to the agency, not to him. That by itself is a strong recommendation to read his story.
If you are looking for a James Bond genre spy novel, you will be disappointed. If you want to understand, in detail, the actual structure and dynamics of a covert CIA operation, this book is the jackpot. In the early 1970's Mr. Stockwell was in charge of the Angola Task Force. He knows what he is talking about. This book is very direct and hits hard. For the most part Stockwell just presents the facts and allows the reader to decide, but of course the book is written after he experienced a moral rectification and left the CIA. The book is intended as an insider's exposé, and it does a fantastic job. He makes no attempt to justify his own role in the drama, referring to himself as a "villain".
Personally, I found the author to be a fascinating man. He grew up in the heart of the Belgium Congo, where he learned French and Tshiluba, one of the many native languages of the country. Obviously, he got a first hand glimpse of an African nation colonized by a European power. I assume he learned English from his parents, his vocabulary is slightly more extensive than my own.
Later he joined the Marines, and as a reconnaissance officer on a Navy cruise he engaged in covert hydrographic surveys off the western African coast. Afterwards, as a CIA officer, he did a tour of duty in Vietnam, but has apparently had many CIA experiences in many African countries as well. I hope this man writes a biography someday, it would be fascinating.
As the author himself recommends, buy a used copy of this book already in circulation, not a new copy. The CIA sued Stockwell over publication of this book, and all new sales proceeds go to the agency, not to him. That by itself is a strong recommendation to read his story.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By VC1983
Format:Paperback
I first read this book 27 years ago as a senior in college. The author spent several days on campus lecturing to a small group of seniors who took part in this particualr seminar course. It was absolutely fascinating. I will read this book again.
Later that year I formally applied to the CIA's training program. I attended a large group orientation meeting - maybe 60 people. In the course of the meeting a list of suggested reading material was passed out to all. During Q & A time I asked the CIA presenter why Stockwell's book was conspicuously absent from the reading list. "Oh, you must be the guy from Vassar." was his only comment. He correctly identified me out of an otherwise anonymous group of applicants just from the question I asked. He knew Stockwell was on campus. He knew I must have attended his class. These guys do their homework. I'll never forget it.
Later that year I formally applied to the CIA's training program. I attended a large group orientation meeting - maybe 60 people. In the course of the meeting a list of suggested reading material was passed out to all. During Q & A time I asked the CIA presenter why Stockwell's book was conspicuously absent from the reading list. "Oh, you must be the guy from Vassar." was his only comment. He correctly identified me out of an otherwise anonymous group of applicants just from the question I asked. He knew Stockwell was on campus. He knew I must have attended his class. These guys do their homework. I'll never forget it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
CIA
Well written book on the operations of the CIA in Angola by a well-respected authority who was once on the inside. Read more
Published on March 8, 2010 by Gary L. Story
2.0 out of 5 stars
In a word - DRY
Not to put too fine a point on it but this book is DRY - almost like a text book. There is very little action and/or suspense brought forth about involvement in the Angola... Read more
Published on October 5, 2006 by Hemming Weigh
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hardened cynic
It is most interesting to read Mr. Stockwell in light of the fall of the Soviet Union. Before it fell, he was preaching the dread of nuclear annihilation and the common... Read more
Published on December 16, 2005 by Scott
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clay Feet, Wrong Bullets, CIA's African War
By the former Chief of the Angola Task Force at CIA, this book is a classic on the Keystone Kops aspects of paramilitary operations as run by the CIA"s Special Operations... Read more
Published on April 8, 2000 by Robert David STEELE Vivas
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