Synopses & Reviews
In A Pretext for War, acclaimed author James Bamford-whose classic book The Puzzle Palace first revealed the existence of the National Security Agency-draws on his unparalleled access to top intelligence sources to produce a devastating expos? of the intelligence community and the Bush administration. A Pretext for War reveals the systematic weaknesses behind the failure to detect or prevent the 9/11 attacks, and details the Bush administrations subsequent misuse of intelligence to sell preemptive war to the American people. Filled with unprecedented new revelations, from the sites of “undisclosed locations” to the actual sources of Americas Middle East policy, A Pretext for War is essential reading for anyone concerned about the security of the United States.
Review
"A Pretext for War...provides a useful, new and sobering stream of information especially as the fallout from the Vulcans' crusade looms as a potentially decisive issue in a crucial election year." The Washington Post World
Review
"In the end Mr. Bamford's conclusions are alarming, if not unfamiliar ones: that incompetence, timidity and a lack of readiness contributed to the failure to prevent the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and that misinformation, ideological agendas and poor intelligence led to the decision to go to war against Iraq." Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
Review
"A Pretext for War not only contains significant new information, but also combines that information with previously known material to make better sense of Sept. 11 and its aftermath than any other book I have read....This is a vital book to read in a presidential and congressional election year or any other year." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Synopsis
A Pretext for War reveals the systematic weaknesses behind the failure to detect or prevent the 9/11 attacks, and details the Bush administration s subsequent misuse of intelligence to sell preemptive war to the American people. Filled with unprecedented revelations, from the sites of undisclosed locations to the actual sources of America s Middle East policy, A Pretext for War is essential reading for anyone concerned about the security of the United States.
Acclaimed author James Bamford whose classic bookThe Puzzle Palacefirst revealed the existence of the National Security Agency draws on his unparalleled access to top intelligence sources to produce a devastating expose of the intelligence community and the Bush administration.
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About the Author
JAMES BAMFORD, the author of the bestsellers Body of Secrets and The Puzzle Palace, has written extensively on national security issues, including investigative cover stories for the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine. Formerly the Washington investigative producer for ABCs World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and a distinguished visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, he lives in Washington, D.C.