Customer Reviews

Vaults, Mirrors, and Masks: Rediscovering U.S. Counterintelligence

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The late General William E. Odom (U.S.A. ret)wrote a quite good book on intelligence reform, "Fixing Intelligence" (Yale 1997) in which he argued among other things that the U.S. Counter-Intelligence (CI)program was entirely dysfunctional and needed to be completely rebuilt. This book does not support this claim, but rather argues that the U.S. often relegates CI to the back burner and thereby increases the threats to national security in an increasingly chaotic post-Cold War world.

The book is a compilation of essays by scholars and former senior officials concerned with U.S. National Security issues. Although one of its sub-sections is entitled, "Tools and Tactics" the book is not really concerned with substantive CI operational issues. It does good service by establishing the theoretical background for CI organization and operations and the strategic considerations that should inform the implementation of CI programs. A central theme that one can find running through the book's essays is that that CI is a rubric that covers not only countering foreign human spying, but also incorporates computer and communications network security, including information assurance. Another focus is on offensive CI operations including deception, double agents, and active operations against foreign CI agencies. This book would be a good text with which to begin a serious look at upgrading U.S. CI capability, but lacks the depth to develop any structural and cultural changes to the CI arena.

Gerber is an incredibly knowledgeable source on the world of intelligence. This book is an excellent addition to the current dialog on transforming U.S. counterintelligence which has never been more important than today. Vaults, Mirrors, & Masks takes true (as opposed to hyped) experts from the field and adeptly addresses the unique and pressing counterintelligence challenges facing the U.S. Intelligence Community today. This critical area is one that Gerber is well suited as editor given his major role in intelligence operations against the USSR during his decades long career in operations at the Agency.

Simply put, this is a must read for those interested in intelligence. Highly recommended.

In an era of inevitable globalizaton, this book is as insightful for corporate leaders as it is for government officials. Chapter 8 by Sandia National Lab Fellow Jim Gosler, is the most penetrating assessment available of cyber counterintelligence issues facing America. Chapter 13, by former senior State Department official Jennifer Sims and retired CIA officer Burton Gerber provides a compelling overview of all the key issues plus recommendations on a path forward. Burton Gerber is the giant of 20th century American espionage.

On page 111 of the book, "Vaults, Mirrors, and Masks", There is a totally false statement that Peter Lee was a Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist. If this is an example of the "facts" in this book, why should I believe any other proposed facts in this book? The fact is that he was an employee of TRW!