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Jose A. Rodriguez

Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives Hardcover – April 30, 2012

by Rodriguez Jr. Jose A (Author), Bill Harlow (Author)

4.6 522 ratings

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An explosive memoir about the creation and implementation of the controversial Enhanced Interrogation Techniques by the former Chief Operations Officer for the CIA's Counterterrorism Center.

While the American public is aware of the CIA’s use of highly controversial “enhanced interrogation techniques,” few know the man who, in the wake of September 11, led all U.S. counterterrorism operations and oversaw the use of those procedures—procedures that obtained vital and timely intelligence and helped safeguard the nation from future attacks.

Puerto Rican–born Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr., served the United States for twenty-five years as an undercover officer before bringing his wealth of field knowledge to the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center; now, in this riveting account and fascinating life story, one of America’s top undercover operatives reveals how hard measures have derailed terrorist activity targeting the U.S., and saved countless American lives. Fully disclosed here for the first time are the undercover operations and tactics implemented during the George W. Bush presidency—which were approved by the highest levels of the U.S. government, certified as legal by the Department of Justice, and supported by bipartisan leadership of congressional intelligence oversight committees.

But as the shock of 9/11 faded, the support that the intelligence community enjoyed and deserved gave way to shortsighted and potentially dangerous political correctness. One by one, the tools needed to successfully fight terrorism were banished, and the men and women who volunteered to carry out our nation’s orders in combating al-Qa'ida found themselves second-guessed, hamstrung, and investigated— including Rodriguez himself. In effect, the United States has chosen to willfully and unilaterally disarm itself in the war on terror. In Hard Measures, Rodriguez convincingly argues for the techniques used, and uncompromisingly details when these techniques were necessary, why they worked, and how, ultimately, they contributed to the capture of the world’s most-wanted terror operatives, including Usama bin Ladin. From law school student to CIA recruit to his role as America’s top spy, Rodriguez’s full story is one of utmost importance—a rare, insider’s look at an issue that demands attention. Above all, it’s a reasoned, imperative, and fully informed case for hard measures, and an explosive and gripping account of the real war on terror— where it’s been and where it’s headed.

***

Terrorism has always been one of the toughest targets on which to collect intelligence. The secrets you want to steal frequently don’t reside in computer systems, which can be hacked, or safes, which can be broken into, but in the inner recesses of a handful of individuals’ minds.

The cliché about intelligence work is that it is like working on a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle but not having the box top to show you what the finished picture should look like. If only it were that easy. In fact, it is more like working on a million-piece puzzle with no box top, and having millions more random pieces that look like they might fit, but actually are from different puzzles altogether.

It fell to us to make sense of the countless fragments of information and to take action on the chunks of the puzzle, which represented a real and growing threat to the United States and our allies.

—from Hard Measures

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Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Threshold Editions
Publication date

April 30, 2012
Dimensions

6.12 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

1451663471
ISBN-13

978-1451663471
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

522 global ratings

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Couldn't put it down...

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2014

Verified Purchase

An excellent book in every respect. Fascinating, well thought out, well written and in the end, extremely convincing.

Having heard all the arguments, pro- and con-, about the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques," the book sets out the "pro-" case in terms that are stark and assertive. Yes, he is defending the CIA position of the time; but it is an entirely defensible position in the context of his presentation. While I went into the book with my [supportive] opinion already cast, it answered many questions for me in concise language.

It is a pity that few who oppose EIT will ever read the book. While I enjoyed reading the early history of his engagement with the CIA, the book gives so much more perspective on the application of the techniques, particularly, "waterboarding". The perspective of the extraordinary steps that were taken to maximize the information gain while continuing to treat these detainees with humanitarian respect is the story that isn't told in the media. I believe the accounts provided to be totally honest as told from the point of view of the person in the best position to tell the story, and it is told with great precision and without trying to hide the downsides.

The material about the destruction of the tapes was excellent, and makes the entire ordeal even more astounding; it is inconceivable to me that with the extraordinary care he used someone still felt it necessary to try to humiliate him with trumped up criminal charges and, in the end, a meaningless censure.

Having read many books on CIA operations this is the first I've seen give any real reference to the effects living under cover have on the CIA professional's family.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the CIA's enhanced interrogation program, particularly those who opposed it.

2 people found this helpful

Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2013

Verified Purchase

Well written, gripping and an "on the scene" account of what really happened.
.
He is diplomatic in his descriptions but lets you know in no uncertain terms certain politicians lied about "not knowing" about waterboarding. In particular, Nancy Pelosi. Why believe Jose and not Pelosi? The proof he offers is compelling and virtually irrefutable. Peter Goss, who at the time served with Pelosi on the same Congressional oversight panel and was at all the briefings, wrote an editorial in the Washington Post saying he was "slack jawed" at the fact certain oversight committee members denied being briefed when he, Goss, was there, when he heard it and was told in plain-English terms. In other words, according to Goss, Jose is the truth teller. Really more evidence of the nonsense going on in the political circles.
.
The book is hard to put down and is a great read. It's like "Homeland" but real life. And more interesting.

2 people found this helpful

Outstanding Look Inside the CIA’s Interrogation Program

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a well written autobiography. The book is an easy read and gives a fascinating look at the CIA’s use of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (EIT).

For those who read the US Senate’s RDI (i.e. torture) report, this book gives the rest of the story.
It does not refute the events but it does place them in context, along with missing information that effectively tells a completely different story. The Senate report now appears to have been written without any academic rigor and with a pre-determined ending.

The book also provides a good perspective with regards to the destroyed video tapes. More than anything else, this is an insider’s view of government bureaucracy and how sometimes, it is impossible to make a decision. Regardless of the reader’s opinion of these tapes, there is no doubt that Mr. Rodriguez acted to safeguard the lives of his officers and their families.

The book includes several photos but only half are interesting. There is little value in photos of Mr. Rodriguez’s family vacation or when he met the actor Robert DeNiro. That said, the remaining photos highlight his interaction with important individuals and certainly have historical interest.

Bottom line: this is a pretty good book and the narrative moves quickly. The most fascinating part of this book is how it clearly highlights the historical inaccuracies of the U. S. Senate’s RDI report without even trying. Truly, a fascinating look at how politics and covert action collide.

3 people found this helpful

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Gluecksdrache

Interessante Biographie und Plädoyer für die Verteidigung westlicher Werte

Reviewed in Germany on January 30, 2015

Verified Purchase

Dieses Buch ist eine interessante Biographie über eine mehr als 30 Jahre andauernde Karriere beim amerikanischen Geheimdienst. Gleich zu Anfang beschreibt der Autor die Grundlage bzw. Grundzüge der Veröffentlichung: Diese ist mit Autorisierung des Dienstherrn entstanden, um nicht durch Nennung von Klarnamen oder exakten Adressen seine ehemaligen Kolleginnen und Kollegen zu gefährden.

Der Autor beschreibt anfangs seine Jugend in südamerikanischen Staaten, bevor er als Puerto-Ricanischer Einwanderer für die CIA den Kampf gegen Drogenhandel und Geldwäsche an verschiedenen Standorten aufnahm. Im Gegensatz zu den illegalen Berichten eines amerikanischen Systemadministrators, der in Russland Unterschlupf gefunden hat, beschreibt er den Sinn hinter den Aktionen und die vorhandene Bedrohung für die Gesellschaft. Wobei ich mir aus deutscher Perspektive heraus gar nicht bewusst war, wie groß die Bedrohung durch Drogen schon vor Jahrzehnten war.

Er beschreibt einige seiner langjährigen Einsätze in südamerikanischen Staaten und auch die persönlichen Opfer, die die Familie und seine Angehörigen bringen mussten. Der Schwerpunkt des Buches liegt dann im Zeitraum ab 2001. Er beschreibt die Suche nach den Al-Qaida Terroristen mit sehr einprägsamen Bildern. Im Gegensatz zu der früheren Ost-West-Konfrontation müsste man nicht vergleichsweise einfach Armeen und Truppenbewegungen beobachten. Stattdessen gebraucht er das Wortbild der Suche nach der Nadel im Heuhaufen noch drastischer: Zur Abwehr gegen die terroristische Bedrohung müssten 1.000 Puzzle aus kleinen Mosaiksteinen zusammengesetzt werden. Wobei niemand weiß, wie das Lagebild im Endeffekt aussehen wird.

Der Autor beleuchtet auch einige Rückschläge bei den Aktionen und macht den enormen Aufwand vorstellbar. Einen führenden Terroristen konnte man nur verhaften, weil gleichzeitig 40 Objekte durchsucht worden sind. Darüber hinaus spricht das Buch auch Klartext gegenüber verfälschenden Presseberichten. Die Eskalationsstufen der Verhörmethoden ("enhanced interrogation techniques") werden beschrieben. Dabei geht er sehr exakt und genau vor und zeigt die Übertreibungen so mancher anderer Medien auf, beispielsweise wie aus insgesamt 183 Wassertropfen in der Regenbogen-Presse 183 einzelne Folterungen geworden sind.

Bei Umsetzung der Maßnahmen nach 9/11 wird der Autor auch teilweise nachdenklich: Er hat geschätzte Kollegen bei Bombenanschlägen verloren, manchmal fehlte auch die Unterstützung der Politik.

Einiges Erstaunliches ist mir an diesem Buch aufgefallen:

1.) Wie viele Einzelmaßnahmen und wie viel Aufwand für die Verteidigung der Freiheit ergriffen werden müssen.
2.) Wie klar und deutlich der Autor auch über Fehleinschätzungen, Bedenken und die Frage nach dem richtigen Weg spricht.
3.) Herr Rodriguez schreibt in einem Teil des Buches über die Rangstufe, die er erreicht hat. Obwohl er diese Besoldungsstufe mit einem Generalsrang bei der Armee vergleicht, litt er teilweise sehr deutlich unter der Bürokratie und teilweise auch wechselnden Vorgaben.
4.) Er berichtet auch, dass ihn manchmal Zufälle vorangebracht haben.
5.) Seine Karriere ist ein ganz indirektes Plädoyer für eine offene, westliche Gesellschaft. So äußert er mehrmals seine Verwunderung, dass er als Puerto-Ricanischer Einwanderer eine so führende Stellung bei der Bekämpfung des Terrorismus innehaben konnte.

Wer über gute Englisch-Kenntnisse verfügt, der sollte das Buch unbedingt lesen.

Wer ein Buch über die jüngere amerikanische und internationale Politik sucht, der ist hier genau richtig. Und sollte nicht auf die Ablenkungen in der Art eines Edward S. oder Glenn G. hereinfallen.

Wegen einer sorgfältigen Themenauswahl, einigen interessanten Bildern und der schönen Sprache gebe ich dem Buch die vollen 5 Sterne.

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Rupertbe

This man kept America safe

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great book which exposes all the lies of the obama administration who would rather prosecute american Heroes than catch terrorists.

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