central intelligence agency

Describes the life of a CIA officer, including their work recruiting agents and spies, how they gather intelligence, and work to keep the United States safe from terrorism.

For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge is playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust in your cleats. Otherwise, by holding back, you may protect yourself, but you'll be less successful in reaching your goals. This was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran the CIA. This book is an insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head-on, in the moment, which is to say in the wake of 9/11, a major war, and sweeping technological change.

Compares and contrasts the FBI and CIA, two agencies whose primary objective is to protect American citizens and uphold the laws of the United States; covers the origins and history of each; and explores the failure to prevent the 9/11 terrorist attacks and changing roles of both.

Details the history and evolution of America's covert war activities, examining how they have been authorized and practiced, their patterns and consequences, and why presidents have turned to secret military action.

"[In this] story of a man with a conscience working at the CIA (1966-1990) during the height of the Cold War between Washington and Moscow, Mel Goodman settles old scores as he offers first-hand accounts of the inner workings of the CIA and how high-level officials compromise national security by pressuring those below them to support their career-advancing political agendas"--Provided by publisher.

British intelligence agent Rob Gray teams up with American CIA operative Jenn Maxwell in an attempt to foil a terrorist plot to attack the Tower of London.

Detailed account of the relations between the FBI and CIA based on newly declassified documents and interviews with former agents.

"An unprecedented high-level master narrative of America's intelligence wars, from the only person ever to helm both the CIA and the NSA, at a time of heinous new threats and momentous change For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America. "Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran the CIA. In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticize, and this book will give them much to chew on but little easy comfort. It is an unapologetic insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment. How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war, and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last five hundred years? What was the NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath? Why did the NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013? "--.

"An early reader's guide to CIA spies, introducing American espionage history, famous agents such as Aldrich Ames, technology such as spy satellites, and the dangers all spies face"--Provided by publisher.

In 2013, Americans learned that a former FBI agent turned private investigator, who disappeared in Iran in 2007, had been there on a mission for the CIA. Robert Levinson's mission was secret and the hunt to rescue him revealed the shadowlands between crime, business, espionage, and the law, where secrets are currency and betrayal is commonplace.