"A blockbuster book . . . Just astounding."—Rush Limbaugh
"Explosive . . . A methodical, well-thought-out, easy-to-read book . . . that will shock the average American."—Sean Hannity
In his explosive new book, New York Times bestselling author Bill Gertz uncovers the most significant threat to U.S. national security America’s enemies—including radical terrorist groups—are arming themselves with the world’s most dangerous weapons. And they’re doing it with the help of America’s supposed allies. Worst of all, the U.S. has let it all happen.
Using his unparalleled access to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities, Gertz names names, revealing which of our “friends” have placed greed over principle to make America’s enemies far more deadly and the world a far more dangerous place. In Treachery , Gertz tells the whole story, complete with previously unpublished classified intelligence documents, and based on dozens of exclusive interviews with senior U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
In shocking detail, Treachery
•How Iraqi insurgents are killing U.S. soldiers with weapons that France, Germany, and Russia sold them
•How the French and German governments turn a blind eye to arms sales to rogue regimes and terrorist states like Iran, Syria, and North Korea
•How intelligence reports show that China supplied arms to al Qaeda after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America
•The real story of why Libya dismantled its nuclear program—how U.S. intelligence caught the Libyans red-handed trying to smuggle in nuclear weapons technology
•How Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation network is even more extensive than has been reported
•The CIA report revealing that al Qaeda is pursuing—and may already have—nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
•The classified intelligence showing that Russia and France were cooperating with Saddam Hussein even after the 2003 Iraq war broke out
•The full story of how Saddam exploited the United Nations “oil for food” program, not only to line his own pockets but also to rebuild Iraq’s weapons and missile programs
•How U.S. security lapses have enabled our enemies to target Americans using our own weapons technology secrets
Only Bill Gertz has the contacts and the knowledge to tell the complete story of how France, Germany, Russia, China, and other countries have armed our enemies to the teeth. Treachery is also the definitive account of what the U.S. government is doing to counter the threat—and of how our leaders have too often failed us.
“Gertz is legendary among national security reporters for the quality of his sources...He is the envy of his competitors.”— Washington Monthly
“ Treachery , with its reams of classified and other inside information, reveals how our nation’s enemies obtain weapons from China, Russia, France, Germany, and other supposed friends. The book is must-reading if you want to know the confidential story of the growing danger of global arms proliferation.”—Rowan Scarborough, Pentagon reporter, Washington Times , and bestselling author of Rumsfeld’s War
“Two big factors will determine America’s national security over the next twenty years. The first is the capability of our military systems as determined by the health of our defense industrial base. And, second, the extent to which our adversaries are able to buy or steal advanced military technology from the U.S. and our allies. Bill Gertz focuses superbly on the hemorrhaging of critical military technology to our enemies. Treachery should be read by all our policymakers."—Congressman Duncan Hunter of California, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
“Bill Gertz has written a bone-chilling exposé about what has been done behind our backs. Can we ever be safe? You must read this.”—Greta Van Susteren, host of Fox News’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren
“Bill Gertz gets it! Treachery brilliantly exposes our allies who have become our enemies in the War on Terror just because the U.N., France, Germany, and Russia looked at Iraq and other rogue states as trading partners rather than enablers of terrorism. This is a major piece of work in the War on Terror.”—Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney, USAF (Ret.), bestselling author of Endgame
“[Gertz] has access to more intelligence information than anyone I know.”—Former Defense Secretary William S. Cohen
“The hottest reporter in town...He breaks dozens of big stories every year, and he’s read carefully by people who follow national security issues.”— Washington Post
“Bill Gertz remains a national asset.”— Weekly Standard
Gertz unveils how foreign 'allies' are arming some of the most dangerous people in the world such as tyrants like Qaddafi. He comes at it from a betrayal of America angle. The truth is every country has only one important thing to do, and that's do what's in their individual best interest. He seems to forget that. But he does tell an interesting story worth reading regardless of his thoughts on it.
If you are familiar with Bill Gertz you are likely aware that he is a columnist for the Washington Times with apparently very good contacts w/i the N.Security/Intel communities and that he has a conservative view (schocking, I know --he writes for the Wash. Times!!) In this book you get both--some good reporting on the issue of international weapons trafficking and a lot of the conservative view point.
The first half to 2/3 of the book do a decent job of providing descriptions of how AQ Khan's network developed, how S. Hussein and Libya have continued to obtain weapons despite intl. pressure. Overall this is a good overiew, as each of these issues has received more thorough analysis in other works. Keep in mind that depending on your political persuasion, much of this material you will have to skim, as the author peppers his descriptions with a great deal of rhetoric about "betrayl" etc. Also, these descriptions are completely one sided. There is no mention of how the US allies, such as Israel, may also be involved in weapons trafficking. Furthermore, the author makes no effort to examine broader issues of the arms trade and larger impacts--ie how the US arming allies such as Saudi Arabia can adversely affect the climate in the ME and create an incentive (or at the very least an excuse) for Iranain WMD programs.
The last sections of the book provide recommendations for more aggressive military/intelligence operations. Much of this section sounds as if it may have been written by Jerry Bruckheimer. Gertz completely glosses over how the US will obtain the intel necessary for these surgical SOCOM operations. At the same time Gertz also goes on a tirade against "Washington bureaucrats" in the IC and Dept. of State who apprently are the main obstacle to many successful operation. In all fairness his general ideas for more rapid collaboration/approval process is interesting, and I would have liked to have seen this point more thoroughly explained and with out all the rhetoric.
Frightening to learn that our so-called "friends" sell nuclear, biological and conventional weapons and components to our enemies. It is no surprise when our enemies, such as North Korea and Iran, do so. Even Pakistan. However, theoretically, France, Germany, China and Russia are our allies. They sold these to our enemies before and after 9/11.
The UN did nothing the many instances when this info was brought to their attention.
China has sold hundreds of assault rifles to Los Angeles gang members. Just an example.
I found the book full of interesting information about how other countries are arming rogue states. It provides some background on why some countries supported or not the Iraq War or at least part of their stand on the war. It is a bit disturbing to think what our enemies and those of freedom could do with the weapons of mass destruction.
whatever enables war secures peace TJ, weapons everywhere, Iraqi centrifuge equipment, Russian alliances and distrust, lies key to fooling naïve people of foolish governments, easy to make high yield by dropping half with highly enriched, trust but verify, Libya bomb nightclub and flight 103, best way to keep peace is to deter aggression, unchecked proliferation appeasement fails the people.