
The Agency: A History of the CIA
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Narrated by:
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Hugh Wilford
There’s a fundamental tension buried within the heart of the CIA’s mission to protect the American people: between democratic accountability and the inherent need for secrecy. Ultimately, it’s US citizens who bear the responsibility of staying informed about what the CIA has done and continues to do.
In these 24 engrossing lectures, explore the roles the CIA has played in recent American history, from the eve of the Cold War against communism to the 21st-century War on Terror. You’ll delve into some of the most remarkable successes, including the sound intelligence CIA spy planes provided during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the admirable performance of the CIA throughout much of the Vietnam War, as well as historic failures, including the agency’s slowness spotting the rise of radical Islamism (including the September 11 attacks).
In many cases, the lectures lead you to consider important questions about the nature of the CIA and its role in shaping modern history. What makes particular regions of the world ripe for the CIA’s attention? How successful are techniques like drone strikes, rendition, and interrogation? How does the CIA compare with its depiction in much of popular culture?
Here, in Professor Wilford’s unbiased exploration of the CIA’s inner workings, is everything you need to come to your own conclusions about what “the Agency” might have done right, what it might have done wrong, and what it should do in the future.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Idk other ppl are hearing,but this is a great book
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This same perspective does lead him to oversimplify a handful of important events and succumb to the “conventional knowledge” take on some more modern (and thus more immediately controversial) topics and there are a handful of pronunciation errors, some of which are recurring that are a touch difficult at times.
Overall, though, I have not found nearly as good or objective of a history of the CIA or American covert action abroad anywhere else and am deeply grateful for the learning experience and would recommend this to anyone hoping for a better understanding of the subject.
A deeply fascinating, largely objective take on a controversial topic
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I Spy
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Gripping. Insightful. Sometimes stunning
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An honest assessment
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Interesting history of Our Spies, modest bias
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Everything you wanted to know about the CIA
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Great until the end
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Story only
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Job well done.
It is worth every penny.
Thank you
Balanced, well researched and I love it!
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