8.6.2010
Tim Weiner presents a detailed and quite readable history of the Central Intelligence Agency from its birth in the 40s to its role in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. You’ll never think of the CIA the same after reading this book; Weiner recounts the numerous failures of the agency to provide useful and accurate intelligence and its unhealthy infatuation with covert action that has harmed American interests in multiple countries.
For me, the biggest revelation was how much goes on behind closed doors without even the faintest knowledge of the American people. Most of these decisions come to define our foreign policy towards countries or regions and are made by unaccountable and often ignorant officers within the Agency. This unfortunate situation makes me think that Nancy Pelosi’s push to increase congressional oversight (read about it here) is probably a good idea.
For a critical CIA review of the book that details some of the liberties Mr. Weiner has taken, especially with the title, read this article by Nicholas Dujmovic. To see what others have to say about these claims and Mr. Weiner’s responses see this article. I think that Weiner could have been more careful with his quotations, but the issues raised don’t invalidate the main conclusions of the tome.