Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence

by Abram N. Shulsky, Gary J. Schmitt

A thoroughly updated revision of the first comprehensive overview of intelligence designed for both the student and the general reader, Silent Warfare is an insider’s guide to a shadowy, often misunderstood world. Leading intelligence scholars Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt clearly explain such topics as the principles of collection, analysis, counterintelligence, and covert action, and their interrelationship with policymakers and democratic values.

This new edition takes account of the expanding literature in the field of intelligence and deals with the consequences for intelligence of vast recent changes in telecommunication and computer technology the new “information age.” It also reflects the world’s strategic changes since the end of the Cold War. This landmark book provides a valuable framework for understanding today’s headlines, as well as the many developments likely to come in the real world of the spy.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Espionage, Politics, International Relations, Military Fiction, Political Science

262 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

Reviews

[VIXEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good textbook for the intel professional. It's not an "entertainment" book. It's raw information for the "need to know" user. It is worth your time to read if you are a student of intel.

[Arianne See · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Intelligence is thus caught in a dilemma that reflects its dual nature. Intelligence seeks to learn all it can about the world, and its goal may be characterized by the biblical verse that Allen Dulles, President Eisenhower’s director of central intelligence, adopted as the CIA’s motto: “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” But intelligence can never forget that the attainment of the truth involves a struggle with a human enemy who is fighting back—or that truth is not the goal, but only a means toward victory.”

[Dierregi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got interested in intelligence while visiting the sites of D-Day. What a fascinating history! During WWII, the British had the XX-System and with their "disinformation" broadcasts, they undermined the Abwehr (the German secret service) from the inside. Thus, the Germans were convinced the Allied would attack from Calais and that Normandy was "just" a diversion.

However, after having read this book, I discovered that the XX-System was perhaps the last success of British intelligence. Even if I was never under the impression that James Bond is in any way realistic as a spy, I had no idea that the failures of MI6 were so huge and that so many double agents worked undetected for years. Apart form the infamous Kim Philby, I learnt about George Blake, who should be even more infamous and who's still alive and well, living in Mother Russia after having betrayed his country and caused many deaths.

Also noticeable the CIA and FBI failures. The CIA mole was a guy named Ames, described as a "Philandering, alcoholic underachiever", but nevertheless left free to break havoc for years. FBI bad guy was Hanssen. Both Ames and Hanssen are incarcerated for life, while Blake managed to escape from prison (another British failure...)

Apart from the occasional example of what may go wrong - and it is A LOT - this book is mostly a very technical and very well written manual of how intelligence is organised and what is important, with some interesting insight on the uneasy relation intelligence-politics.

[Kevin Warman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Academic and informative. I greatly struggled to get through this one. The authors' style and knowledge of intelligence are both impressive. And, yet, it is easy to get lost in detail or the philosophical discussions brought forth in the writing.

[ST · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Dry. Expected it to be more interesting. Whatever :) very useful introduction.

[TENN2ARIZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly comprehensive overview of the components of intelligence and the interface between analysts and policymakers.

[Meeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

thorough

[Yoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academic primer on intelligence (as in cloak and dagger, not IQ). It's fairly brief and the prose is dry; if you're expecting thrilling spy anecdotes, you want a different book. The overview of concepts and philosophical approaches is useful, but be aware that the book is notably West-centric in general and USA-centric in particular. In part this is probably due to accessibility of information, but a great deal of space is devoted to organizational and policy issues peculiar to the USA, so if you're looking for more generalized information, this might not be ideal.

[Taha Rizvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a good, comprehensive primer on a widely misunderstood part of statecraft. It's geared more towards policymakers and academics and not the general readership; the language is dry and the text becomes too tedious at times. If you're looking for a riveting book on espionage with anecdotes and amusing tales, this isn't it.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indispensable addition to the library of anyone interested in intelligence. It is concise enough to be enjoyed by casual readers but retains academic authority. Silent Warfare starts out slow but is rewarding for those who have the patience for it.

P.s.
Don't skip the end notes! (It nearly comprises a quarter of the book)

[Mike Barretta · Rating 2 out of 5]

after reading "intelligence: from secrets to policy" , this book was dry, boring, and did little more than define very common terms like "covert action".

[Ryan Washington]

OK so far.

[14 · Rating 1 out of 5]

School is the only reason I read this dry shit.