2024 the best of enemies true story review
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“[The United States’ goal in Angola] was not to keep out the Cubans and Soviets but to make their imperial efforts as costly as possible to prove that, after Vietnam, we were still capable of response, however insane. It is the story that has been told, and in impressive and convincing detail, by John Stockwell, the former chief of the CIA’s Angola ‘task force.’ His book should not be missed. Since strategic thought survives by ignoring experience, it has a highly professional interest in avoiding accounts such as this. By the same token, all who are alarmed about the tendency toward such strategic thinking should strongly welcome Mr. Stockwell’s book.” ―John Kenneth Galbraith, New York Review of Books
In Search of Enemies is much more than the story of the only war to be found when the CIA sought to recoup its prestige after the Vietnam debacle. Though no American troops were committed to Angola, only “advisors,” many millions were spent, many thousands died, and many lies were told to the American people, in waging a war without purpose to American vital interests and without hope of victory.
Publisher : W. W. Norton; First Edition (March 17, 1984)
Language : English
Paperback : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0393009262
ISBN-13 : 978-0393009262
Item Weight : 15.1 ounces
Dimensions : 5 x 1 x 8 inches
Reviewer: Andrew
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Incredible, Unknown American History
Review: First, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a book in great condition as compared to it's selling description.Second, I learned of this book while watching a YouTube video documentary about the authors last months in Vietnam. He is a very well spoken person, & that carries over into his writing.Third, the old saying "Those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it" clearly applies to the CIA. Observant & thinking people would see the similarities between this authors experience in Vietnam & what the United States experienced (repeated) in both Iraq & Afghanistan. I coined the phrase, "Make enough mistakes, & you learn what NOT to do." This is usually true for most.Overall a grade of "A++", & I intend to purchase his other books along with many of those he referenced in the book. From Amazon, it possible!
Reviewer: Pame
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This isn't a fiction book. Facts aren't always exciting.
Review: Okay, for starters I see 1-2 stars reviews saying that this book is boring and not enough explosions for a book about war. Coming from Angola, I can tell you that their where enough explosions. However, this book isn't about that. It's about the corruption of a government and it's involvement in a war, that they had no business being in. So yeah, it is a bit boring to read about off the books politics, what did you expect? If your looking for facts from a ex-CIA personal this book is great. If your looking for action and downright fiction, pick up another book.As far as from the conditions the book I received, because I bought this used, it was good. Missing the dust jacket, and the sides are slightly yellowing. Other than those too minor cosmetic imperfections the book in more than acceptable.
Reviewer: Jonathan W. Hackett
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Telling Parable that is Sadly True
Review: What does a war machine do after more than two decades of sustained, intricate intelligence operations in a kinetic environment? Should the machine be powered down, rested, and reevaluated? Or should it pivot from Asia to another continent to face Russia? This is not a story of US intelligence and military activities after withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2021 and pivoting to Ukraine, though recent events certainly mirror Stockwell's story. Instead, this is an earlier story about another war in Asia and another pivot toward confronting Russia, this time in 1976 in Angola.Stockwell played a major role in this war America forgot. That war in Angola is full of lessons about the tyranny of bureaucracy, the inability of practitioners to stop practicing, and the force of habit driving us toward doom even when failure is accepted from the outset. Indeed, the presidential finding authorizing the covert war in Angola explicitly directed the CIA to avoid victory -- the goal was instead to hemorrhage Russian coffers and bleed Angolan bodies, all to keep Russia "on its toes" after the US abandoned Vietnam the year before. What lessons can a story like this teach us? And, more importantly, are we ready to listen?
Reviewer: XUSMICO1-87
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: classic truth
Review: a spot-on hands down accurate read of USI activity and the good old boy protection racket and the creation of threats to forward political goals and keep the senior staff employed, "war is a racket". accurate account of inside USI political games regarding promotions, friends in high places
Reviewer: Nathaniel Wallace
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Amazing Book from a Brilliant and Intrepid Man, John Stockwell!
Review: Stockwell should be required reading! If more read his work we'd be a far less propagandized society, than the one we've unfortunately become here in the U.S.
Reviewer: Fred Shoppin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Must Read
Review: This is a must read for anyone interesting in US foreign policy or war issues as it illustrates in detail who the CIA runs a covert operation, from beginning to end. It ain't pretty, if you believes in the Constitution. The author illustrates how the CIA lies, to Congress, to the public, and even to the layers within its bureaucratic web.
Reviewer: Pitawas
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A good companion to my audiobook
Review: History tends to repeat itself, and thus book provides preview of similar things to come.
Reviewer: Geoffrey A.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: CIA covert operations
Review: Quite an exposure of CIA covert operations extending from 1949 to this day covering the globe, an identical modus operandi for the current war with Ukraine. Just change the names and country.
Reviewer: Geoffrey Lowe
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: As a soldier in the South African Defence Force, there were plenty of suspicions about CIA involvement in the Angolan conflict. I spent a total of 6 months on the South West African / Angolan border. There was a lot of speculation that we were fighting a proxy war for the Americans. It was good to know that we were right.
Reviewer: Mari-Liis Maarend
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Arrived in perfect condition. Enjoyed the book.
Reviewer: septiniosevero
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Elegà el libro para un trabajo y me gustó bastan te por ver la CIA desde dentro, no todo por supuesto, pero aprendes que la CIA no lo hace todo por dinero, ni por petróleo, ni por materias primas, ni por posición estratégica. Naturalmente pega saltos de cosas que no puede o no quiere decir, como el contenido de algunas reuniones.
Reviewer: Segontra
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Muss zugeben, dass ich das Buch bis heute nicht zu Ende gelesen habe. Stockwell, ein alter CIA Haudegen, ist jedoch klar zu empfehlen, wenn man sich ein Bild von der Szene machen will.
Reviewer: Eddie Concannon
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Braces unclip regularly very annoying.but delivery very good and fast.