Securing Freedom: The Former Head of MI5 on Freedom, Intelligence, the Rule of Law, Torture and Security

by Eliza Manningham-Buller

In this sobering and remarkably frank analysis based on her 2011 BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures, Eliza Manningham-Buller, ex-Director General of MI5, the British security service, talks about key events during her tenure—from 9/11 to the threat of the IRA and al-Qaeda. She states that torture works but must never be used, how intelligence is gathered, why surveillance is necessary to protect democracy, the importance of the rule of law, and why without security there can be no liberty. Eliza Manningham-Buller retired in 2007 after thirty-three years at MI5.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2012

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part love letter, part manifesto, this little book discusses more what the British intelligence services should aspire to than what they are. That being said I found the discussion of the dignity of our democracy and legal institutions a little saddening. Only a few short years later and I don’t think it would have been written now.

[PolicemanPrawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just propaganda from the intelligence services. They are wonderful people working their hardest to improve the world, and so on. There is minimal discussion of the bad things they do, which is expected given the author is a former M15 head.

[Nawasandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satu hal penting yang musti digarisbawahi oleh setiap pembaca. Bahwa betapa klandestinnya suatu operasi intelijen, ia tetap akuntabel dan transparan di depan parlemen. Inilah peran intelijen era ini. Bukan lagi melawan totalitarian, komunis dan fasis melainkan mengamankan kemerdekaan sipil dalam sistem demokrasi.

Eliza, pensiunan MI5 juga mengatakan bahwa terorisme adalah kriminalitas, bukan "perang" (sebagaimana US Bush Jr. sering katakan). Teror adalah tindakan kriminal yg kejam dengan skala yg besar yg bertujuan politik (hal.29).

Hal itu juga ditekankan oleh Eliza kepada masyarakat di Barat, bahwa ini bukan perang Salib. Pelaku teror adalah kriminil, ini bukan benturan peradaban. Ini murni kriminal. Pelakunya harus disidang didepan pengadilan rakyat. Brilian bagaimana Eliza mengisolasi situasi supaya tidak tereskalasi dan skalanya meluas.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on her Reith lectures in 2013, manningham-buller sets out her view of the purpose of intelligence and security, which is chiefly that it must take place in conjunction with diplomacy, political engagement, economic stability etc. She believes intelligence services must be governed by laws and abhors the use of torture even if it is effective.
I kept wondering how her being a woman made a difference (or not) to approaches taken during her time, how her staff felt and behaved and so on. She certainly seems fair, level-headed and aware of the hypocrisies that the UK and other countries betray when politicians preach peace and democracy and wage war instead. Someone you'd like to have dinner with, if she'd let her guard down

[Arie Rahayu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Menarik nih. Jadi tau perspektifnya (mantan) bos MI5. Bahwa mereka banyak nggak setuju dengan keputusan-keputusan GWB. Bahwa mereka khawatir dengan kelahiran kembali rezim fasis (true for Russia). Bahwa mereka aware dengan persepsi Islamophobia di kalangan muslim, yang terus banyak dimanfaatkan oleh pemimpin yang korup.