Spying In America in the Post 9/11 World - by Ronald Marks (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book examines the realities of living in the United States after the events of September 11th, 2001, and evaluates the challenges in gathering internal intelligence without severely compromising personal liberties.
In the United States, there are a staggering number of agents of the CIA, FBI, and state, local, and tribal police, all authorized and empowered to collect intelligence. But is there a way to use these vast resources to gather intelligence in a socially tolerable fashion and still maintain our cherished civil liberties?

This book presents a thorough investigation of intelligence collection in the United States that examines the delicate balance of civil liberties with the effectiveness of intelligence collection. It contains a history of domestic intelligence in America, a description of the various threats against our nation, and a discussion of the complexities of deciding what kind of information needs to be collected-- and against whom. The conclusion succinctly states the author's opinions on what needs to be done to best address the issue.

• Maps clarify America's security threats in a global and domestic context
• Photographs depict historic events like the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the signing of the U.S. Constitution
• Includes a bibliography of reference sources and recommended reading as well as an index of interviewees and quotations
• A glossary explains the most commonly used terms in intelligence and homeland security

Book Synopsis

This book examines the realities of living in the United States after the events of September 11th, 2001, and evaluates the challenges in gathering internal intelligence without severely compromising personal liberties.

In the United States, there are a staggering number of agents of the CIA, FBI, and state, local, and tribal police, all authorized and empowered to collect intelligence. But is there a way to use these vast resources to gather intelligence in a socially tolerable fashion and still maintain our cherished civil liberties?

This book presents a thorough investigation of intelligence collection in the United States that examines the delicate balance of civil liberties with the effectiveness of intelligence collection. It contains a history of domestic intelligence in America, a description of the various threats against our nation, and a discussion of the complexities of deciding what kind of information needs to be collected-- and against whom. The conclusion succinctly states the author's opinions on what needs to be done to best address the issue.

Review Quotes

"This is a superb book that addresses the problem of creating a new US intelligence community that meets the exigencies of this new age of domestic terrorism. It is a very readable book that explains the sprawling, arcane intelligence apparatus to the lay reader. However, written by a former CIA official and academic, the book is filled with insights that will inform those with a technical and professional orientation." --Choice

About the Author

Ronald A. Marks is senior fellow at George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute, Washington, DC, and a former CIA senior official.