Review by Choice Review
Turner, a former CIA analyst and public affairs officer, maintains that US intelligence fails because of "bureaucratic pathologies." The process is flawed, so the problem is systemic and not related to any particular intelligence directors or presidents. In summarizing the failures, the author emphasizes inaccurate, short-term "tactical warnings" pertaining to recognizing specific dangers, but he does not find fault with long-term "strategic warnings" evaluating the existence of threats to US interests. Turner lists American intelligence failures but does not provide case studies or new revelations based on previously classified information. His concluding section, entitled "Toward Smarter Intelligence," includes valid proposals, but they are basically conventional rather than pathbreaking. In reality, the book's title is somewhat misleading, since this is an excellent introduction to the subject of US Intelligence and not fundamentally a critique of its shortcomings. Turner aptly discusses collection, analysis, counterintelligence, covert action, the history and structure of the intelligence community, and comparisons with other countries' intelligence operations. His presentation is clear, accurate, easily understandable, and should serve as a top-rate text. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Undergraduate students, not graduate students or intelligence professionals. A. Klinghoffer Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
