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Neutering the CIA: Why US Intelligence Versus Trump Has Long-Term Consequences Paperback – July 26, 2023

by John A Gentry (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 35 ratings
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Neutering the CIA is an insider look at how political bias at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has undermined its effectiveness both domestically and internationally. The central case study is the impact of the bias on the interaction between the CIA and the Trump Administration, although the origins of the problem link to Robert Gates becoming head of CIA's analysis directorate in 1982, and then later, director of the CIA.


Beginning in 2016, former and currently serving US intelligence officers, mainly from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), conducted a major political campaign featuring public commentary and leaks designed to thwart the presidential candidacy, and then the presidency, of Donald Trump. This "politicization" of intelligence, which traditionally is defined as the injection of personal or organizational perspectives into intelligence products to serve personal, ideological, or organizational interests of intelligence officers, reflected a remarkable change from the once-strong CIA ethos of apolitical public service. This book describes the startling political activism of intelligence officers in recent years, identifies its causes, and evaluates its many negative consequences. Most importantly, the activists damaged the credibility of US intelligence in the eyes of Trump Administration officials and undoubtedly many future senior national leaders, thereby eroding the trust in intelligence that decision-makers must have if they are to use intelligence effectively. Although the overt activism subsided in 2021, the Biden administration has not addressed its causes. The evident success of activists in helping to defeat Trump in 2020 surely has emboldened some intelligence officers, who remain poised to attack presidential candidates whose political views they dislike. This book also identifies actions needed to address this significant threat to American democracy.

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  1. Print length
    528 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Armin Lear Press
  4. Publication date
    July 26, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.06 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1956450696
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1956450699
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Neutering the CIA is an important examination of linguistics, ideology, and purpose of intelligence operations. It holds the ability to reach a wide

audience with its insights on how modern America really works, both up front and behind the scenes, and is very highly recommended for its special in-depth examination.

D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

About the Author

John A. Gentry was for twelve years an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked mainly on economic issues concerning the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He also was senior analyst on the staff of the National Intelligence Officer for Warning in 1987-1989. In 1986 he experienced politicization from the political Right-efforts by CIA managers to make the Soviet Union and its allies look even worse than they clearly were. He approached the Senate intelligence committee about his concerns in 1991 during the confirmation hearings of Robert Gates to be director of central intelligence, recommending that Gates not be confirmed. Gates was head of CIA's analysis directorate in 1982-1986 and was, many CIA personnel then believed, responsible for the politicization. History indicates fairly clearly that politicization of all sorts is damaging in many ways, and Gentry has tracked the issue of politicization of intelligence by intelligence professionals closely ever since. The politicization since 2016 has been from the political Left, does the same kind of damage Gentry personally experienced, but is massive by historical standards and correspondingly is a much more important development in US intelligence and national political history.After completing his Ph.D. in 2008, Gentry taught at several educational institutions, including the National Defense University, George Mason University, Columbia University, and from 2011 to 2015 at National Intelligence University-the educational arm of the intelligence community. Hence, he fairly recently was a member of the IC, dealing daily with personnel from virtually all IC agencies. He is now an adjunct professor with Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He teaches courses on intelligence subjects.Especially after turning to teaching, Gentry has also written extensively on security-related subjects, especially in recent years on intelligence topics. He has published more than 30 articles on intelligence subjects, mainly in academic journals such as Intelligence and National Security and International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. He is on the editorial advisory board of International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. He has written three published books, two of which are on intelligence topics. His most recent book (with Joseph S. Gordon) is Strategic Warning Intelligence: History, Challenges, and Prospects (Georgetown University Press, 2019). He is a member of the International Studies Association, which has a vibrant intelligence studies section, and is well-known to intelligence studies scholars.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Armin Lear Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1956450696
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1956450699
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.06 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 35 ratings

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John A. Gentry

John A. Gentry

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John A. Gentry is an adjunct professor with Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and also teaches for the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University. He was for 12 years an intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where he worked mainly economic issues associated with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries; for two of those years, he was senior analyst on the staff of the National Intelligence Officer for Warning. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve officer, with most assignments in special operations and intelligence arenas. He was mobilized in 1996 and spent much of 1996 as a civil affairs officer in Bosnia. Dr. Gentry formerly taught at Columbia University, the College of International Security Affairs of National Defense University, and National Intelligence University. His research interests primarily are in intelligence and security studies. He has written or co-authored four books, edited or co-edited two other books, and written or co-authored about 40 articles and book chapters, mainly on intelligence subjects. He is a member of the Editorial Committee of the International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. He received his Ph.D. in political science from The George Washington University.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Gary
    5.0 out of 5 stars Much-Needed Window on the CIA’s Culture and Politicization
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Here finally is a serious, deeply researched analysis of politicization in the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), a problem that exacerbates many Americans’ loss of faith in public institutions. "Neutering the CIA” is easy to read but manages to avoid the hyperbole of many books on our current controversies. As a former IC analyst and now a professor who teaches about intelligence topics, John Gentry brings the credibility of a practitioner and the rigor of an academic to his writing.

    Anyone looking for examples of how current and former intelligence officials worked to undermine one recent administration and mis-serve another, and to influence recent electoral outcomes, will find them here. Regardless of one's politics, no one should turn a blind eye to the partisan, unprofessional behavior of CIA and other IC officials in recent years. Too many of them decided that they could not leave domestic politics to the American people. Numerous episodes are described and assessed in this book.

    But "Neutering the CIA" offers much more. First, it makes clear that the politicization of the IC is neither a new problem nor a problem coming only from one side. This book offers relevant history on the founding and growth of the IC as well as its bouts of politicization. Gentry recounts his own experience on the receiving end of efforts to manipulate intelligence from the right in the 1980s. Second, this book offers one of the best case studies I’ve read of the origins and power of institutional culture. Gentry documents how the CIA became (fairly quickly) in recent years an organization in which blatant partisan engagement is considered acceptable and even desirable. Finally, he concludes with some objective recommendations to fix things -- meaning, ideas to restore the CIA’s integrity rather than merely delivering it into the hands of another political side.

    This book is for lay readers who want to see past the tribal smokescreens. It also belongs on reading lists in college courses on intelligence and international affairs – to illustrate how the intelligence community compromises its actual mission when it gets way out of its lane.
    34 people found this helpful
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  • Roger G. Sievers
    4.0 out of 5 stars Reforms Needed
    Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
    This is a well-researched, well-written analysis of politicization in CIA from the right in the 1980s to the left in the 2000s. This process came into full view during the 2016 Presidential campaign and peaked in October 2020 with the letter signed by a number of former intelligence officials claiming that the story of Hunter Biden's laptop bore all the signs of Russian disinformation, when there was no evidence to suggest this was the case.

    The author makes a number of cogent suggestions for de-politicizing the ICIA, including by emphasizing hiring people with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Unfortunately, this and a number of other recommended remedies can only be effective with time and consistent oversight. This will require Presidential involvement, including the willingness to clamp down on biased reporting and leakers.

    Intelligence officers are basically valets. They would be well advised to recall that the President is not required to heed their information and advice in formulating or implementing policy.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Carolyn L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and well written
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent distillation and discussion of the complex factors that cause politicized intelligence, how institutions try to guard against it, and why the safeguards have broken down in recent years. A balanced account that looks at an array of factors without putting too much blame on any one thing. The book also gives some perspective on the relationship between intelligence and president Trump, putting it into historical context that is often lacking in the day-to-day chatter from the talking heads. Enjoyable to read and easy to digest.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Bogiemister
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative a good read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The author gives a very enlightening view of how the intelligence network is a self-perpetuating function and has little or no control. It is very concerning, and you get the idea the swamp needs to be drained. He gives some good ideas of how the problem can be rectified. Good Book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Maryann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Provocative and with a scholarly balance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    John Gentry delivers a work that is extremely well-documented, provocative, and important for the international conversation about the role and integrity of intelligence services, particularly those that are supposed to serve US interests.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sobering examination of recent political IC activism
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An extraordinarly thoughtful, fact based analysis of the politization of the Intelligence Community, and the intended and unintended long term consequences to our Republic.
    6 people found this helpful
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