Thomas H. Henriksen is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he focuses on American foreign policy, international political affairs, insurgencies, and counterterrorism. He is a trustee of the George C. Marshall Foundation and has been a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships and the US Army Science Board.
Eyes, Ears, and Daggers is arguably the best book on the
relationship of the modern Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and
the Special Operations Forces (SOF). From the American Revolution
to the Office of Strategic Services and the subsequent birth of the
CIA and the SOF, the relationship among intelligence, paramilitary,
psychological operations, the SOF, and the broader Special
Operations community can be summed up as yin and yang, constantly
adjusting, rebalancing, and ebbing and flowing with the good and
the bad. When it has counted, the CIA's resources, relationships,
and authorities, combined with the SOF capabilities and capacity,
have provided our nation with exquisite tactical actions that have
achieved decisive and often strategic effects. Thomas Henriksen's
well-researched work, using analyses based on open-source and
published works, will serve students, researchers, and the public,
providing an understanding of the unique and incredible
relationship between two of our nation's most important
organizations: the CIA and the SOF." — David S. Maxwell (colonel,
ret., US Army Special Forces), associate director, Center for
Security Studies, Georgetown University
"This clearly written account of the evolution of the working
relationship between irregular US military units and the
paramilitary activities of the Central Intelligence Agency(CIA) is
exciting and important. Henriksen's compelling analysis is that
cooperation between Special Operation forces and the CIA is
necessary in today's struggle against the large terrorist
organizations, Al Qaeda and ISIS, that are operating in many
countries of the Islamic world." — John Deutch, former director of
the Central Intelligence Agency and deputy secretary of defense
"Eyes, Ears, and Daggers is a primer on what makes our Special
Operations Forces so special. Henriksen shows how the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s inability to provide the intelligence
essential to the military forces' operation has caused the Pentagon
to develop its own intelligence, how the CIA pushed back, and how
battlefield necessity has been key to mastering bureaucratic
rivalries. This book teaches the cautionary lesson that the skills
and bravery of frontline operators are hostage to high officials'
proper focus on the mission to be accomplished. It should be read
by all who count on our special forces in the fight against
terrorism." — Angelo Codevilla, professor emeritus of international
relations at Boston University
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
