****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
It is unfortunate that the publisher chose the sensational "The Rise of America's Surveillance State" as the subtitle for Shane Harris' fine book, for this is hardly the red meat for privacy activists that the title would imply. Instead, Harris has compiled a fascinating chronicle of America's war on terror using electronic technology going back to the 1983 bombing of the US Marines barrack in Lebanon through the early months of the Obama administration. It is also an arms-length biography of retired US Navy Admiral John Poindexter, Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor who is best remembered for his role and conviction in the Iran-Contra affair and his loyalty to his boss.When it comes to the age-old debate between security and privacy, author Harris clearly leans to the latter. But give him credit for spinning a well-balanced book that focuses on the facts, avoiding obvious temptations to allow politics - on either side of the aisle - while laying out the challenges, obstacles, personalities, and stakes involved as the convoluted maze of US agencies and bureaus run over themselves in trying to prevent another 9/11 - or worse. I don't think I was reading too much between the lines to guess that Harris started out wanting to dislike Poindexter, but ended up respecting and even liking the man - the tragically flawed hero who has dedicated his life, in private and public endeavors, to keeping America safe - a mission he continues today. Along with Poindexter, the wide supporting cast is well drawn and unvarnished in their accomplishments and foibles while trying to find the bad guys and keep US citizens' privacy mostly intact.Despite the bits and bytes of subject matter that could lead to a sleep-inducing yawner of a book, Harris tells a dramatic - even suspenseful - tale, spinning his narrative with rare insight into infamous events including the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Kobar Towers bombing, and of course 9/11. Going back to 1983 and Beruit, the theme is constant: lots of ability to collect "data," but when it comes to recognizing patterns and connecting the dots, technology deployed by the alphabet soup of supposed defense agencies is widely inadequate. Making matters worse, maddening bureaucracies of influential people - of both noble and ignoble intent - continually hamper serious attempts to upgrade our nation's defenses to state-of-the-art electronic surveillance, detection, and analysis.In short, put this one on my "must read" list - the rare non-fiction book that takes a complex and difficult subject and makes it understandable and, despite the serious content, entertaining. It is a great primer in the utter inefficiencies and intolerable rivalries between competing federal bureaucracies, a terrific character study, and a highly illuminating history of spies and spy craft in the era beyond James Bond. A well written and timely book - highly recommended.
