The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > Article Comments > How (not) to maintain and manage power > Comments

How (not) to maintain and manage power : Comments

By Reg Little, published 16/4/2008

Book review: 'Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA', by Tim Weiner, reveals a failing and deficient CIA.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. All
Maybe a book worth buying.

Yet, how can an author assess the performance of an intelligence agency (covering collection, covert action and analysis) when he only has a knowledge of, or can use, old overt sources? Many of the events seem dated and rehashed.

Recent and current assessment is not possible without access and nothing but leaks (genuine or padding in official speeches) reach the public.

The global political axes both the article and book author wish to grind detract from their message. Repeated references to the decline in American power prompt me to ask where's your proof? By what measures is the US declining? Militarily and finacially its still far ahead of all other countries.

Cultural domination? Whose movies do we watch?

If the CIA has been such a failure since its creation (just after WWII) the US' continual dominance hasn't demonstrably suffered.

Its interesting that British spy literature is genteel and colourful while American products are contiually downbeat and gray. Those who have a clearer picture can write about it.

Pete
Posted by plantagenet, Wednesday, 16 April 2008 5:38:07 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy