Waubonsee Community College

National security intelligence, secret operations in defense of the democracies, Loch K. Johnson

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

National security intelligence

bibliography

761376632

Loch K. Johnson

secret operations in defense of the democracies

National security intelligence is a vast, complicated, and important topic, made doubly hard for citizens to understand because of the thick veils of secrecy that surround it. This definitive introduction to the field guides readers skilfully through this hidden side of government. It not only explains the three primary missions of intelligence - information collection and analysis, counterintelligence, and covert action - it also explores the wider dilemmas posed by the existence of secret government organizations in 'open' societies. With over thirty-five years of experience studying intelligence agencies and their activities, Loch Johnson illuminates difficult questions such as why intelligence organizations make mistakes in assessing world events; why some intelligence officers decide to work against their own country on behalf of foreign regimes; and how agencies succumb to scandals, including spying on the very citizens they are meant to protect. National Security Intelligence is tailor-made to meet the interests of students and general readers who care about how nations protect themselves against threats through the establishment of intelligence organizations - and how they continue to strive for safeguards to prevent the misuse of this secret power. -- Book Description

The first line of defense -- Intelligence collection and analysis: knowing about the world -- Covert action: secret attempts to shape history -- Counterintelligence: the hunt for moles -- Safeguards against the abuse of secret power -- National security intelligence: shield and hidden sword of the democracies