Description
Book Synopsis: A Question of Standing deals with recognizable events that have shaped the history of the first 75 years of the CIA. Unsparing in its accounts of dirty tricks and their consequences, it values the agency's intelligence and analysis work to offer balanced judgements that avoid both celebration and condemnation of the CIA. The mission of the CIA, derived from U-1 in World War I more than from World War II's OSS, has always been intelligence. Seventy-five years ago, in the year of its creation, the National Security Act gave the agency, uniquely in world history up to that point, a democratic mandate to pursue that mission of intelligence. It gave the CIA a special standing in the conduct of US foreign relations. That standing diminished when successive American presidents ordered the CIA to exceed its original mission. When they tasked the agency secretly to overthrow democratic governments, the United States lost its international standing, and its command of a majority in the United Nations General Assembly. Such dubious operations, even the government's embrace of assassination and torture, did not diminish the standing of the CIA in US public opinion. However, domestic interventions did. CIA spying on domestic protesters led to tighter congressional oversight from the 1970s on.
The chapters in A Question of Standing offer a balanced narrative and perspective on recognizable episodes in the CIA's history. They include the Bay of Pigs invasion, the War on Terror, 9/11, the weapons of mass destruction deception, the Iran estimate of 2007, the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and Fake News. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 diminished the CIA and is construed as having been the right solution undertaken for the wrong reasons, reasons that grew out of political opportunism. The book also defends the CIA's exposure of foreign meddling in US elections.
Details
Looking to uncover the hidden truths behind the first 75 years of the CIA? Look no further than "A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA." This gripping book delves into recognizable events that have shaped the agency's history, leaving no stone unturned in its accounts of dirty tricks and their consequences.
What sets "A Question of Standing" apart is its commitment to presenting a balanced viewpoint. It neither celebrates nor condemns the CIA, instead valuing the agency's intelligence and analysis work. By offering critical yet fair assessments, this book provides an insightful perspective that will keep you turning the pages.
The CIA's mission of intelligence has always been at the core of its existence. The National Security Act, passed 75 years ago, gave the agency a unique democratic mandate to pursue that mission. With the power to shape the conduct of US foreign relations, the CIA once held a special standing in the world.
However, "A Question of Standing" reveals how this standing diminished over time as successive American presidents used the CIA for purposes beyond its original mission. The agency was covertly tasked with overthrowing democratic governments, eroding US international standing and weakening its influence in the United Nations.
While these dubious operations failed to sway US public opinion of the CIA, domestic interventions had a different effect. The book uncovers instances of CIA spying on domestic protesters, leading to tighter congressional oversight. This turning point sparked a new era of accountability, ensuring that the CIA's actions would be subjected to scrutiny.
The chapters in "A Question of Standing" offer a captivating narrative that touches on significant episodes in the CIA's history. From the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion to the aftermath of 9/11, from the weapons of mass destruction deception to the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and even the recent issue of Fake News, this book examines it all.
By delving into the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, "A Question of Standing" sheds light on how political opportunism led to a diminished CIA. However, it also defends the agency's efforts in exposing foreign meddling in US elections, showcasing the importance of its work in safeguarding democracy.
Ready to uncover the untold stories of the CIA? Grab your copy of "A Question of Standing: The History of the CIA" today and gain a deeper understanding of the agency's complex journey.
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