Customer Reviews

Us Intelligence at the Crossroads (Brassey's Intelligence and National Security Library)

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I stumbled across the reviews of this book by chance, and was quite stunned to see what almost appears to be an orchestrated trashing of what I regard as a useful barometer of informed professional opinion.

Yes, some of the authors and some of the views of the authors are relatively conventional, but by and large I am not only quite pleased to have this book in my library, I find that the thoughts of Jennifer Sims, Douglas MacEachin, and Robert Kohler, and Britt Snider, to name just four--I like the others as well--are as essential a starting point for reform as the more radical ideas of myself, Senator Shelby, Senator Rudman, or others.

Bottom line: Roy Godson and these people have been troubled by intelligence ineffectiveness, and have done more than most to publish in this arena, than anyone else I know. This book is not the end all, but it is a vital historical reference point for any serious professional. I would not reprint it, but I would certainly recommend it as a used book acquisition, and I hope that a new set of authors comes together to provide a 21st Century "second look" in the aftermath of 9-11. In the meantime, I would point folks toward Godson's "Dirty Tricks or Trump Cards," Allen's "None So Blind," and Zegart's "Flawed by Design," inter alia. If you want a list of my top 20 recommended books, send me an email.

Insightless read for even current civilian, military intelligence or academia. All of the authors are FORMER intelligence officials, and as the saying goes-even if you reshuffel a deck of card, the same cards, or in this case, the same thoughts will remain. This book speaks out for only one clear reform-new blood in the United States and Allied Nations Intelligence Services. Can the authors all say- "original thought"? I think not.

Roy and Ernie-professors of intelligence think the Cold War is raging, and given the sorry refocus they provide for even the Intelligence professional, this book is not going to help anyone in understanding how the U.S. Intel Services can best redistribute there efforts.

Don't try this one unless you are a student of the Intelligence process. And, if you are under 50 with your brain one line, you will quickly see these Cold Warriors sre simply trying to reinvent theselves. While the Soviet Dragon was slain at the end of the Cold War, the authors claim the rather harmless snakes in the grass are just that. Enter Saddam. These snakes have grown legs and are dangerous. Fossil-write will note solve current national security problems.

This books really bit the dust. Crappy stuff and not that well written. I wish it was more inclusive of the JFK involvement, at least that is somethng we have learned from. Don't buy