Bombs, Bugs, Drugs, and Thugs: Intelligence and America's by Loch K. Johnson

By Loch K. Johnson

Recent years have visible a variety of books concerning the looming risk posed to Western society by way of organic and chemical terrorism, by means of narcoterrorists, and via the unpredictable leaders of rogue international locations. a few of these works were alarmist. a few were brilliant and measured. yet none has been through Loch Johnson.

Johnson, writer of the acclaimed Secret corporations and "an skilled overseer of intelligence" (Foreign Affairs), right here examines the current country and destiny demanding situations of yankee strategic intelligence. Written in his trademark style--dubbed "highly readable" through Publishers Weekly--and drawing on dozens of non-public interviews and contacts, Johnson takes good thing about his insider entry to discover how the USA at the present time aspires to accomplish not anything lower than "global transparency," ferreting out info on strength hazards in each nook of the world.

And but the yankee defense institution, for all its bold assets, know-how, and networks, at present is still a unfastened federation of person fortresses, instead of a good built-in "community" of firms operating jointly to supply the President with actual details on overseas threats and possibilities. Intelligence failure, just like the misidentified chinese language embassy in Belgrade by accident bombed by way of a NATO pilot, is the inevitable consequence while the nation's 13 mystery companies steadfastly withstand the necessity for primary coordination.

Ranging broadly and boldly over such arguable themes because the intelligence position of the United international locations (which Johnson believes could be multiplied) and even if assassination might be part of America's overseas coverage (an choice he rejects for worry that the U.S. could then be forged not just as worldwide policeman but in addition as international godfather), Loch ok. Johnson the following maps out a serious and prescriptive imaginative and prescient of the way forward for American intelligence.

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The reality was that Hong Kong Chinese residents felt little or no active loyalty to British rule; many saw themselves as merely temporary migrants in what was assumed to be a safe haven, or at least a less dangerous foreign enclave, on the South China coast. The Hong Kong authorities had judged themselves largely powerless to stem this tide of refugees and equally had felt unable to do much for their welfare once the new arrivals were ensconced in Hong Kong. Even wealthier long-established Chinese merchant families possessing British nationality would shortly be seen to have a decidedly weak attachment to the Crown.

All played necessary roles but in terms of Hong Kong's long-term future it was MacDougall who deserves to be singled out for particular praise. MacDougall's job as chief civil affairs officer required both careful attention to his immediate instructions to ensure the 'maintenance of law and order and prevention of disease and unrest' and a lengthy agenda for reconstruction and reorganization. Initial British governmental thinking for Hong Kong appears to have reckoned with substantial changes to the prewar structure, including administrative and educational reforms, but the lack of personnel in the first months after repossession inevitably encouraged an ad hoc approach by the government.

Even if more had been attempted to enlist the support of Chinese residents in Hong Kong and there had been greater cooperation between rival civil and military agencies, the deficiencies remain striking. Major-General Maltby had too few troops and Governor Young was in charge of a badly demoralized colony. There was still a degree of outward self-confidence in the last months of 1941 but evidence such as the shipping out of expatriate families to Australia, revelations of serious instances of official corruption and the massed departure of Chinese refugees suggest that all was indeed not well.

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