Secret Agencies: U.S. Intelligence in a Hostile World - Hardcover

Johnson, Professor Loch K.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300066112 ISBN 13: 9780300066111

Publisher: Yale University Press, 1996

Synopsis

Explores the future role of America's intelligence agencies in the aftermath of the Cold War, including such issues as when aggressive clandestine operations are justified, whether the U.S. should engage in economic espionage, and intelligence accountability. UP.

About this title

About the Author

Loch K. Johnson is Regents Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia.

Reviews

It is doubtful if any intelligence agency can ever be totally "clean." By their nature, they attract adventurers and renegades. Some are sincere patriots, others merely self-serving and potential defectors. Johnson ably mixes an overview of the purpose and philosophy of clandestine operations with a chronicle of the activities and relationships of current U.S. agencies. There is even George Washington's secret code number (711), as well as "Rebel Rose" O'Neil's contribution to Confederate victory at the battle of Bull Run. Johnson, a University of Georgia political science professor, is evenhanded in describing U.S. intelligence's successes, as well as its dirty-pool black marks?the Allende affair, internal surveillance of Vietnam protesters, Iran-Contra and others less well-known. He also describes clearly the attempts at control of this "secret government," its operations and, especially, its finances. Not all intelligence efforts have been successful, and many have enraged both the executive and legislative branches. At one point, Senator Daniel Moynihan even advocated total abolition of the CIA. The author assesses the future of both overt and covert operations, mentioning the downgrading of hi-tech intelligence since the end of the Cold War and reemergence of the old cloak-and-dagger techniques. The primary sources are impressive, and the text, though dense, is highly readable. Illustrations.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This is an easy-to-read account of the evolution of the postwar U.S. intelligence establishment, an assessment of its successes and failures, and the problems it faces today. The "hostile world" referred to in the subtitle could actually be the U.S. Congress because Johnson gives accounts throughout of how Congress and others tried to exercise effective oversight of a very independent-minded and traditionally secret bureaucracy. Johnson, a former congressional staff aide for intelligence, tries to be evenhanded and understanding about the vital necessity for intelligence agencies in a dangerous world and their problems, but he definitely believes they could probably be doing things more efficiently and legally. Johnson (A Season of Inquiry, LJ 6/1/85, and America's Secret Power, Oxford Univ., 1989, both about the U.S. intelligence community) has used open sources, interviews, declassified reports, and other government documents. Several informative charts and graphs are included, along with a list of acronyms and abbreviations. Recommended for the intelligence collections of public and academic libraries. (Index not seen.)-Daniel K. Blewett, Loyola Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300066112
• ISBN 13: 9780300066111
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 282