Dave's review of At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA
At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA by George Tenet
What you get out of of this book will be largely determined by the attitude with which you come into it. Partisans looking either to indict Tenet's CIA for its failures or to find support for the Bush Administration's actions will be sorely disappointed. Throughout the book, Tenet is careful to cast himself as a public servant at CIA and not a central political figure, leading many partisans to characterize the book as little more than "covering his own a--".
However, those looking for an insightful look at the modern intelligence-gathering process will be pleased. Despite the starkly apolitical tone of the book and an overarching sense that Tenet shies away from the politics of intelligence (a glaring and moderately cowardly omission, in my opinion), the portrayal of the challenges facing America in its new war on terrorism is eye-opening. Tenet is a fantastic narrator, and provides more than a few good spy stories spanning his seven years at CIA. (Everyone loves a g...more
However, those looking for an insightful look at the modern intelligence-gathering process will be pleased. Despite the starkly apolitical tone of the book and an overarching sense that Tenet shies away from the politics of intelligence (a glaring and moderately cowardly omission, in my opinion), the portrayal of the challenges facing America in its new war on terrorism is eye-opening. Tenet is a fantastic narrator, and provides more than a few good spy stories spanning his seven years at CIA. (Everyone loves a g...more
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