If this book had been written by Jimmy Breslin, it would be, “The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight Part Deux.” Only this book was not written by Jimmy Breslin and the consequences to our prestige as a nation, respect in the world and national security are much more serious. However it is a very interesting read, at many times incredible in the audacity of some missions sometimes just shocking in the stupidity displayed by what are supposed to be our nation’s best.
Mr. Weiner lays out the history of the CIA from the very beginning until our very recent history. In the process through extensive interviews and research of declassified documents, he tells a very unnerving story of what our CIA is, what it was meant to be and what it thinks it is. It is a damning indictment of the agency, the various directors and many of the presidents in power during its existence.
Must read book. – Grimmy
I just finished this excellent book. Here’s page 5, as an example:
“Ask the American people if they want a moment of silence for children to pray if they desire in public school, and 94 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if they support making English the official language of the United States, and 87 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if al Qaeda poses a serious threat to our
country, and 93 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if they believe it is possible to negotiate with terrorist groups like al Qaeda, and 79 percent say no.
Ask the American people if the Social Security system is broken, and 80 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if it is important for the president and Congress to address the Social Security mess within the next few years, and 96 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if they support the option of a single income tax rate of 17 percent for everyone, with standard exemptions for each adult, married couple, and child dependent, and 71 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if they support drilling for oil off America’s coasts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and 73 percent say yes.
Ask the American people if they support building more nuclear power plants to cut carbon emissions and reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and 65 percent say yes.”
There is more just like this on page 38. This book Real Change, by Newt Gingrich, is a quick read. Please grab a copy and thumb through it, at the very least.
Grimgold