5 comments about Consent to Kill: A Thriller.

1. Although I read the book when it first came out, I'm now enjoying the incomparable reading of the audio book by George Guidel. He is the best voice I've heard, with the possible exception of Kenneth Branagh doing the 1st Narnia book. As far as the book is concerned: SPOILER ALERT: Thank heaven the atrocious wife Anna is no longer cluttering up the bookscape with her insufferable ego and disrespect for her husband and his work. From her tendency to be late (which invariably means that the person who is late considers her own time important and yours of no value) to her attempts to worm secrets out of the man who die to protect her (and all of us), there were times when I wanted to blow her up myself. She may have served a purpose in showing that even superman Mitch has a weak spot in his brain by getting involved with this gal, but gosh I'm glad she's gone.For that alone, this book would be worth the money. I've read every one of Vince Flynn's books and I've preordered the newest one. Go Vince!



2. Deadly skills+revenge=Exciting book.
   The presidential support is fun to read as well. Wish we had current leadership like that.



3. This book was a gift for my son, an avid reader. I had read several of Vince Flynn's books ( not this one ) and knew he would enjoy a fast paced spy novel by this acclaimed writer. A good buy.



4. The story is predictable to a point. The novel very entertaining. If you know the character Mitch Rapp, you already know he will prevail. Unlike some other Rapp novels, his character is much more believable & human in this one. The international tale is nicely woven & written. There's a good little twist used to finish the story



5. Wow! This is our first novel by Vince Flynn that we have read - and it certainly won't be our last!
   
   What a find. Vince Flynn is a fantastic writer in this genre. Just with this book alone, we like him better than Tom Clancy. Flynn juggles action/adventure and political intrigue with aplomb. Not an easy feat.
   
   Mitch Rapp is a CIA operative that actually works outside the web of counter terrorism task forces, the ultimate assassin for the USA that takes care of dirty business that not even the president knows all about.
   
   This book shows that Vince Flynn can handle solid and numerous characters that are not the typical, but interesting and deep. The husband and wife team of assassins, the showing of their internal strife while on a mission, was a breath of fresh air in the literary world. Not often you see solid character writing like this for the bad guys. (You even start to feel for the bad guys.)
   
   We have just purchased 5 more books from this author, and will be reviewing them as soon as we can get to them. So many great writers and books out there!
   
   If you haven't discovered Vince Flynn yet, and you like espionage-type adventure novels that Hollywood would salivate to make, then you need to try this author out.

5 comments about Delta Force: The Army's Elite Counterterrorist Unit.

1. The book was in excellant condition, arrived on time.



2. If I had not read Eric Haney's book "Inside Delta Force" before I read this one, I probably would have loved it. The inherent problem is that both books cover roughly the same time frame, with Beckwith's book beginning earlier (going back to Vietnam inspirations) and ending while Haney was still in Delta. Both books provide detailed coverage of Operation Eagle Claw, which can be a little redundant, but that's no one's fault really. What I liked about Beckwith's book was the understanding it gave about where the idea for Delta came from, what his operational credibility was, and the intense opposition he faced in birthing this elite unit. Some folks will be bored with the various political machinations at work, but I found it interesting to see how something like this comes to be. Less interesting to me was Beckwith's account of Selection and the like because he didn't have to go through it like Haney did. I'd definitely recommend this book, but if you only want to read ONE book on Delta, I'd recommend Haney's first. And while there is certainly some overlap in information between the two works, I read them back to back and still enjoyed them.



3. I really enjoyed this book. It gives a great history of the formation of Delta Force, but if you are only going to read one book on the subject; INSIDE DELTA FORCE by Eric Haney is much better. That said, this book is a page-turner and well written. There's a bit of self-congratulation; but Beckwith was an impressive individual.



4. Easy reading; interesting how a new unit has difficulty in coming of age in the armed forces; read this first then follow it up with "Inside Delta Force" which will give more information on what it took for an individual to function within the Unit.



5. The promise was always present, always ready to poke its head out and play peek-a-boo with the reader. Unfortunately it was never able to gain enough ground and become interesting to the reader. Beckwith's book can be broken down into three sections: Vietnam, Delta Initiation and Delta Organization.
   
   The first section is a rather dull account of Beckwith's life in Vietnam. We get to see some of the details and descriptions of his exploits in Vietnam, but for the most part he doesn't really tell the reader much. The height of his Vietnam days are his rescue of a surrounded camp. Then it ends with Beckwith back in the States.
   
   Section two drones on and on about how he was beating his head against a wall trying to get people within the army to recognize that there is a need for a Special Operations force such as Delta. We all know where this one ends, so no need for elaboration.
   
   Section three is perhaps the most boring section. We finally get to see Delta Force come together. Will we get to hear about some of the details of their missions? No, in fact most of the latter half of the book is devoted to telling the day to day detail of what each officer and soldier was doing in order to maintain their training. So and so would wake up, blow up a wall, then do some running and push ups and then go and have a few beers. So and so would crunch the intel data and assess any threats, then he would brief the unit, and return to do some more data crunching before heading home early to get four hours of sleep, only to return the next day and start all over again. This could be interesting except for the fact that Beckwith does nothing but write about this for hundreds of pages. Finally, action, something to break up the monotony. We finally get to see a glimpse of Delta as it prepares to infiltrate Iran and free the hostages in the American Embassy. Some interesting detail here, but then it ends. Nothing really happened.
   
   The book ends with nothing interesting being shared at all. If you discount the landing and subsequent take off in Iran then you are left with a Delta that did absolutely nothing except waste tax payer's dollars. Granted, Beckwith is still in the army, and perhaps they did do some missions that are still top secret and thus Beckwith couldn't talk about. Who really knows the circumstances? But not enough was talked about. Too much was talked about the set up and organization of Delta without showing what they could actually do.
   
   Beckwith's writing is also quite horrible. Nothing about his writing made me want to read more. If you were to read it out loud I would imagine it would come out in a very monotone voice, with virtually no characterization. With Marcinko's Rogue Warrior you at least got to see and feel some of the action, to understand Marcinko's character and see it vividly within the words of his book. Not so here.
   
   Because of the uniqueness of what Beckwith was writing on, as well as the fact that he might very well not have been able to write about other missions that could have been classified, I would give this an okay rating. I would certainly not recommend this book to others.
   
   2.5 stars.

5 comments about Inside Delta Force.

1. Eric Haney, tells his tale as one of the founding members of the Delta Force, and what it took to to become a member. This book is filled with tons of informative information, plus little trinkets Eric toss's in here and there(for instance fill a squirt gun with ammonia to knock a man out).
   
   However there is nothing other, then the selection process to become a delta member, and training. There is not a journal from jungle missions, to desert ops(although Haney makes reference to comrades he later fights with, some of whom die).
   
   Despite that, this book is still very appealing. It teaches you the stunning thing these men are capable of, such as boarding airplanes in flight and the rigourous training, that makes them as close to invincible as any man will ever become.
   
   All in all, great book, great group of men it's based on.



2. Easy reading but captures your attention; tells what it takes for an individual to function in a specialized armed services unit; read "Delta Force" first to get the; both books compliment each other.



3. I was buying this as a gift for my husband, but this is the teen version of the book. However, it doesn't state that anywhere in any of the info previous to my purchase. I only realized it when I received the book and looked at the back cover by the barcode.



4. Delta Force should be allowed to take charge in the search for Osama Bin Laden. Let the Coalition Forces including the American members fight the Taliban. Give Delta one mission and one mission only. Capture or kill Osama Bin Laden. The TV Series-The Unit is my favorite TV show. It's a shame that the show doesn't give The Men of Delta Force and their exploits all the air time. We already have Army Wives another TV show that gives the wives more then enough air time. I believe that if The Unit was handed more like 24 that it would have a larger following. This is the last season for The Unit. It should be picked up by HBO. I also read the book Generation Kill and HBO has done a great job with it's miniseries based on the book. If you haven't read the book; please read it. if you haven't washed the show; please buy the Videos. It makes me proud to be an American knowing that we have such an elite military unit. It's too bad that President Bush didn't use them more. Hopefully; who ever becomes the next President will read the book and use these heroes more and correctly. A Classic American Military Book. I recommend that every true American reads this book.



5. Gave to my father for his birthday. He said one of the best books he ever read. Fast reading, was finished with it within two days.

5 comments about The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation.

1. I've read a number of books about September 11; the global politics and policies of the Clinton and Bush administrations, and I not only found this book engrossing and fascinating, but full of surprises.



2. This book is a must read for every individual who has read the 9/11 Commission Report and still believes the report was independent and is the most reliable and accurate assessment of the 9/11 attacks. Philip Shenon clearly shows how the most important member of the Commission, Philip Zelikow, the Executive Director and the 9/11 Report's main author, did his best to manipulate and sway the investigation and final report in favor of his friends and like minded ideologues in the Bush Administration.
   
   This book will undoubtedly infuriate most Americans who try to believe in our government and who expected honesty and credibility in the 9/11 investigation. Choosing the heavily conflicted Zelikow as the ED was the type of decision one would have expected from a third world country, it was the kind of decision that democracy suppressor Vladimir Putin of Russia would have been proud to have gotten away with. Shenon basically shows that when you start with rotten fish, you end up with rotten fish.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this book, it provides some good additional insight into the 9/11 investigation and shows how politicized it really was. Following are some of the other positives and negatives of this book:
   
   Positives:
   
   1. It's an easy and entertaining read, similar to the 9/11 Commission Report, and also written for mass appeal and corporate media approval.
   
   2. Has a good focus on Zelikow's many significant conflicts of interest and how the investigation and final report were heavily influenced by these conflicts.
   
   3. Highlights the incompetence and credibility concerns of Condoleezza Rice and other top Administration officials (particularly Tenet and Ashcroft, and to a lesser extent, the infinitely incurious President Bush).
   
   4. Provides some interesting insights into the commission's investigation and how important issues were addressed and resolved, including with the White House and the intelligence agencies.
   
   5. Provides interesting color and background on most of the commissioners and a handful of the key staffers.
   
   Negatives:
   
   1. Somewhat light on new facts. A lot of Shenon's information can actually be found in the 9/11 Commission Report (although with much less attention and / or buried in the footnotes) and Kean & Hamilton's, "Without Precedent." It does have the benefit of some additional insight from interviews with approximately 40 commissioners and / or staff, as well as Andy Card.
   
   2. It is almost comical that Shenon writes over 400 pages citing significant conflicts of interest by the commission's top member and author, a manipulated investigation and final report, significant and blatant intelligence failures, attempted "known" cover-ups, lying and unaccountable government and intelligence officials, etc, but then unquestionably assures us in about 1 page that only al-Qaeda was responsible??? It seems like a questionable conclusion on Shenon's part given some of the facts in his book appear to at least give rise to the "possibility" of complicity by others. David Ray Griffin's above review on March 19, 2008, actually addresses this issue in greater and more eloquent detail.
   
   America failed the victims and families of 9/11 when we sat idly by and blindly accepted the white washed 9/11 Commission Report. Unfortunately, we will probably never have a reinvestigation of the 9/11 attacks, but Philip Shenon has at least done his part in showing a vastly different story to the account held in the 9/11 Commission Report. For his part, Shenon has corrected a small piece of history, I can only hope that some of the other commissioners or staffers follow in his footsteps in further setting the record straight.



3. If you are interested in 9/11 quickly move your mouse to the 1-click button (nay, sign up for Amazon Prime first so the book arrives faster) and read this book and The Looming Tower. From the latter you will learn about Al-Qaeda -- those that created and run it and those that try to stop it. From the former you will learn about those who tried to stop it, and those such as Aschroft and Rice, who claim they tried but did everything they could to ignore it.
   
   Although the primary story of the book is the dysfunctional workings of the 9/11 commission and the whitewashing that occurred as they were manipulated away from politically damaging information and instead took a "praise everyone" approach, the back story of the inept handling of information in the CIA, FBI, NSA and White House is even more interesting.
   
   The book will leave you wondering "Why?". And more importantly, will we need to wait 100 years before all the players are dead and someone can really dig into and write about what really happened.
   
   If you are a diehard Bush supporter, don't read this book. It will force you to question whether Bush and his advisors are great. And that would be problematic for a simple world. Also avoid fairy tales such as "The Emporer Has No Clothes" which could equally test your faith.
   
   If you are unsure or mixed about your feelings of the Bush presidency, or you think he and the war in Iraq stink, this book will be fascinating and will raise many questions.



4. This book is about the machinations behind the scenes at the 9/11 Commission and how those machinations ultimately led to the report of the 9/11 Commission. There was a great deal of skepticism about the credibility of the 9/11 report and it is these beliefs, often true, though sometimes not, which Shenon investigates in this revealing and somewhat disturbing book. I say disturbing because of the extent to which the commission was politicized and employed to fight partisan battles. Obviously it would be impossible to withdraw political considerations from any process, but one would think that in an investigation into one of the most tragic, dreadful attacks on the United States, important people could put aside political interests and simply tell the truth. Obviously that was unlikely-I am not Pollyannish enough to believe otherwise, but one can hope.
   
   The Bush administration was opposed to the concept of an investigation into the September 11 attacks at first. They were grudgingly forced, by the protests of some prominent widows of the September 11 attacks and increasingly, by public pressure, to agree to the formation of a commission. Philip Shenon, who covered the activities of the Commission for the New York Times has turned over a lot of stones and investigated a lot of leads to see where interference and stonewalling manifested themselves in the investigation; of course such activities were not universal, but they did happen a lot.
   
   Once the Bush administration realized they would have to accept an investigation into the attacks of September 11, President Bush selected controversial former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to be executive director. The executive director would be the commissioner who signed off on all parts of the commission's findings. However, his unwillingness to divulge some of his clients cut short his candidacy for the position and instead, the White House turned to Philip Zelikow, a Russia scholar with close ties to Condoleeza Rice, then US National Security Advisor. His ties to Rice were deemed unimportant during the selection process and he was cleared to be head of the Commission. Additionally, Shenon writes that the White House's selection of high-profile bi-partisan heads of the commission, men who would have given the commission more credibility and who might have made its mandate more urgent-former Sen. George Mitchell and former Clinton cabinet member Richard Holbrook among them-could not serve, and instead the White House turned to former Rep. Lee Hamilton (R-Indiana) and former New Jersey governor, Thomas Kean (D). Both men were very reasonable and competent but it would seem their lesser political stature and more passive political identities hindered their ability to get access to the full range of documents they might have wanted in order to conduct a more complete investigation for the Commission. Whether their selection was welcomed by those who wanted to cover up some of the activities which happened in the run-up to 9/11 is unknown, but it would seem that the Commission could have done a more comprehensive investigation (whether one liked what one found being immaterial) had the Commission been headed by Mitchell and another more prominent politico.
   
   Shenon was the beneficiary of a lot of co-operation from people integral to the investigation and this enhances the credibility of his book. We know that the conclusions he reaches are based on the co-operation and involvement of many with a great deal of influence within the Commission. We get sufficient background on all the commissioners so that we know a little bit about all of them, and what their interests might be. The vast majority of the commissioners seem to be well-chosen for their task and they seem, by-and-large, to do a great job in a very challenging and historic investigation.
   
   The book, ultimately, seems to be the story of the very smooth but somewhat manipulative way in which Philip Zelikow leads the 9/11 Commission. He creates enemies on the staff due to a brusque, imperious manner, and the perception that he is a tool of the Bush administration in an attempt to game the commission. Shenon also documents the manner in which Zelikow sets up the commission so that he has the final say on the way the various sections of the report are worded which does not diminish claims that Shenon is a biased player in the investigation into the events preceding 9/11. To this reader, Zelikow's selection was a very crafty way to game the findings of the 9/11 commission. More than that, the selection of Kean and Hamilton allowed Zelikow to lead the commission with a freer hand. It would seem-at least to me-that Kean and Hamilton were not skeptical enough of Zelikow's motives.
   
   In any case, this is ultimately a carefully researched, thoughtful look at the work of a commission whose work was undeniably valuable, but which was to some degree gamed by interests within the Bush administration. For anyone curious about a very politicized era and the degree to which the 9/11 commission was compromised to some degree by politicization, this is a crucial read.



5. I have to point out that I really enjoyed this book just for the sheer insider details on the inner workings of the very flawed 9/11 Commission investigation provided by someone that was there from day one, and that is Philip Shenon.What sealed it for me was how Shenon quietly and mysteriously leaves and open ended statement for all to ponder over at the very very end of his book (page 423). SEE BELOW.
   
   What do I mean by that? Well, to me, Shenon contradicts all other 400 + pages of his book with that final selection of words.And to me, that is fascinating in the fact that he confesses to wanting to tell us more but he is afraid to.Why? Is he terrified of losing his D.C. insider status?
   
   
   As someone else points out here, you must read David Ray Griffin's review
   of Shenon's book to find out what very important issues Shenon leaves out of his book.See March 19th,2008 review.
   
   I don't need to go over all the points to DRG's review, but I urge you to read it for yourself.
   
   But ultimately, BOTH Griffin and Shenon fail to point out the main ommission, and that is Israel's complicit connection to the 9/11 attacks, which is the smoking gun.
   
   Despite all the coverups that seem to lead above and beyond just hiding whom was at fault in the U.S. government - past and present, Shenon does not go above and beyond to find out the real story.
   
   It disturbs me to this day that Shenon writes (page 118) in his book that conspiracy theories were well debunked early on and that evidence of Al Qeada alone was behind the attacks based on a Bin Laden video tape (which was proven to NOT be him) and that OBL dispatched 19 Arab hijackers personally and that all of them were aboard the four planes is laughable being that the mainstream media and other credible sources , domestic and internationally, have reported 7 of the hijackers alive post 9/11.
   
   Then Shenon mentions the well documented money plot.Where in his book does he describe the commission's details on the money plot? Kean himself was quoted as saying that "the money trail was of unimportance".
   But we all know it is and was, it's just that the commission did not even mention the Pakistan ISI Chief and his wiring of $100,000 to Atta just prior to 9/11.
   
   This part of Shenon's book may NOT of been read by most reader's because it is in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section of the book at the very end and in the final paragraph.Shenon writes this:
   
   "if the full truth is ever told about
   September 11, 2001, 'it will be the doing of the
   9/11 families'
   . "It has not been told yet."
   
   What hasn't been told yet? Shenon writes that the attacks were just what the commission said it was.19 hijackers on four planes as ordered & carried out by Bin Laden.
   
   Shenon tells us of the failures of the Bush administration,the CIA,the NSC,FBI, and so on and goes into detail about the blame game.
   
   It seems to me Shenon covered it all here.
   
   What truth by the 9/11 families is there still yet to be told? And how would they be the ones that will tell it, if no one in the U.S. government is willing to reinvestigate despite the numerous protests by the families and 9/11 activists?
   
   I emailed Shenon initially once to praise him for his book and he replied immediately with a thank you.
   But when I followed up with several emails with this question, he has ignored me.
   
   Hi Philip,
   
   One quick question.
   
   What did you mean SPECIFICALLY about the ending comment in your book The Commission? Being that your book just came out recently, what does the family have left in their game plan after all these years (it's been about 4 since the commission report was published).Is there something we should know about?
   
   What truth if ever told would be the doing of the 9/11 families that has not been told yet?
   We already know about the sheer incompetence at the least.
   
   There is only one thing left.
   
   I can handle your thoughts if you are willing to share them with me!
   
   Best,
   Marc
   
   As far as I am concerned, Shenon's book has added to the conspiracy phenomenom of 9/11.
   

5 comments about Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency (Inalienable Rights).

1. The bottom line is Posner's analysis lacks any historical basis or credibility. The "founding fathers" lived during an era much more perilous than "post 9/11" life in the United States (despite all of the fear-mongering by Bush, the echo-chamber mainstream media, and Posner, etc.). Civil liberties have been dangerously and erroneously abridged many times in American history, yet we always seem to not learn the crucial lesson. History has shown that every one of these episodes: Sedition Act (1798) by John Adams, suspension of habeas corpus by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, another Sedition Act by Woodrow Wilson during WW I, and Japanese-American internment by Franklin Roosevelt during WW II was wrong, unnecessary, and repudiated by courts and historians after the fact. Massive violations of civil liberties did not enhance U.S. national security.
   
   To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, those who would surrender a little liberty for a little security deserve neither liberty nor security.
   
   We do not need new laws like the Patriot Acts or any tampering with the Constitution (especially habeas corpus). We should not EVER torture ANYONE. Here's what every American citizen should demand of every elected official or candidate seeking office:
   
   * Prohibit military commissions whose verdicts are suspect except in places of active hostilities where a battlefield tribunal is necessary to obtain fresh testimony or to prevent anarchy;
   * Prohibit the use of secret evidence or evidence obtained by torture or coercion in military or civilian tribunals;
   * Prohibit the detention of American citizens as unlawful enemy combatants without proof of criminal activity on the President's say-so;
   * Restore habeas corpus for alleged alien enemy combatants, i.e., non-citizens who have allegedly participated in active hostilities against the United States, to protect the innocent;
   * Prohibit the National Security Agency from intercepting phone conversations or emails or breaking and entering homes on the President's say-so in violation of federal law;
   * Empower the House of Representatives and the Senate collectively to challenge in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of signing statements that declare the intent of the President to disregard duly enacted provisions of bills he has signed into law because he maintains they are unconstitutional;
   * Prohibit the executive from invoking the state secrets privilege to deny justice to victims of constitutional violations perpetrated by government officers or agents; and, establish legislative-executive committees in the House and Senate to adjudicate the withholding of information from Congress based on executive privilege that obstructs oversight and government in the sunshine;
   * Prohibit the President from kidnapping, detaining, and torturing persons abroad in collaboration with foreign governments;
   * Amend the Espionage Act to permit journalists to report on classified national security matters without fear of prosecution; and;
   * Prohibit the listing of individuals or organizations with a presence in the United States as global terrorists or global terrorist organizations based on secret evidence.
   
   (from the American Freedom Agenda)



2. This is an intellectual approach towards whether or not we allow civilian rights to be infringed upon in times of crisis and what that allows, leading towards an almost totalitarian state by goverment. Agree or disagree, the arguments are presented well here.



3. Federal Appeals Court Judge Richard A. Posner is known for being both prolific and controversial. In addition to authoring one of the most important academic treatises in the field of law and economics, he is also known for writing on more controversial topics ranging from the 2000 Presidential election to sex. And it's when he writes on these topics, covering areas that are both controversial and likely to be the subject of high-profile Constitutional case law, that he's often at his most interesting, even when you don't agree with him.
   
   In Not A Suicide Pact: The Constitution In A Time Of National Emergency, Posner examines the questions and conflicts that have arisen between national security and individual liberty in the wake of the War on Terror and asks the question of just how far Courts should go in either protecting liberty or granting leeway to the state to deal with a perceived emergency.
   
   Posner's entire thesis with respect to the roles that liberty and safety should play in Constitutional jurisprudence can be summed up in the paragraph that opens the conclusion to the book:
   
   "Constitutional rights are largely created by the Supreme Court, by loose interpretation of the constitutional text. Created as they are in response to the felt needs and conditions of the time, they can be and frequently are modified by the Court in response to changes in those needs and conditions. A constitutional right should be modified when changed circumstances indicate that the right no loner strikes a sensible balance between competing constitutional values, such as personal liberty and public safety. A national emergency, such as a war, creates a disequilibrium in the existing system of constitutional rights. Concerns for public safety now weigh more heavily than liberties in recognition that the relative weights of the competing interests have changed in favor of safety. That is the pragmatic response, and pragmatism is a dominant feature not only of American culture at large but also of the American judicial culture."
   
   If you're someone like myself who views individual liberty and the protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights as immutable, a paragraph like that is bound to make your blood boil. And, I will admit that there were several times when I found myself wanting to argue with Posner over one obscure point or another (which I imagine would be a fascinating intellectual experience in itself).
   
   Posner's approach, however, is entirely understandable for two reasons. First, it is entirely consistent with his broader adherence to law and economics, which is all about balancing, and pragmatism, and finding efficient outcomes, as a legal philosophy. Second, he's a Federal Judge and, with rare exceptions, the approach that he suggests in this book is entirely consistent with the way that most Federal Judges seem to view questions of the proper line to draw between individual liberty and public safety.
   
   That doesn't mean that Posner is correct, though.
   
   First, there's his view of individual/constitutional rights as something that are strictly judge made, rather than something that exist independent of the whim of the judiciary. Because of what Posner contends to be the inherent vaguenesss of the Constitutional text, it is up to Judges to determine the boundaries of constitutional liberty. The problems with this approach are replete and exist throughout the 200+ years that the Supreme Court has existed. All too frequently, judges have interpreted portions of the Constitution too narrowly, or too broadly, or just ignored it entirely and ruled based on how that though the case should be decided. Leaving the definition of civil liberties strictly and exclusively in the hands of an unelected judiciary is, in the end, a recipe for disaster.
   
   Given Posner's views on the malleability of constitutional rights, it isn't entirely surprising where he comes down on the debate over when and how much individual liberty should be sacrificed in the name of public safety at a time of supposed national emergency, such as that represented by the War on Terror. With very few, though very interesting exceptions, Posner would give more power to the state to fight the threat posed by terrorism -- notwithstanding the fact that, except for September 11th, there hasn't been evidence of a single foreign terrorist plot on American soil in over five years -- at the expense of individual liberty and privacy.
   
   Another area which Posner brushes over is the fact that national emergencies have, in the past, served as the justification for increases in the size, scope, and power of government. Posner briefly addresses this issue by citing examples from the Post-WW2 and Cold War eras of government regulation that has since abated. In reality, of course, the end of each of these supposed emergencies still resulted in a Federal Government that exerted more control than it did at the time the "crisis" started.
   
   Of course, much of that is explained by the fact that local incumbents in law enforcement find it in their interest to point out how bad things would be under a second term.
   
   There are some points one which I must admit that Judge Posner is right. There is a distinct difference between law enforcement and intelligence gathering. And there seem to be far fewer Constitutional limitations on intelligence gathering, which logically must be considered part of the Article II power of the Executive Branch, than on law enforcement, which finds itself limited by the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments, just to name a few.
   
   And maybe that makes sense.
   
   The purpose of intelligence gathering is, or at least, should be, preventing attacks on the homeland, whether from terrorists or foreign nations, from happening. Law enforcement steps in only after an attack has occurred. In the case of terrorism, law enforcement is an admittedly ineffective tool.There's no point in filing criminal charges against the 19 men who hijacked planes on September 11th, but if we'd been able to break up that conspiracy on September 9th........well, that wouldn't have been a bad thing after all.
   
   In the end, as Posner points out, and as reluctant as I may be willing to admit, it may well be true that there is a trade-off between liberty and security that we all will have to make a decision on in the near future.
   
   On each side, there's an extreme that is entirely unpleasant. Too little government vigilance in the face of a real terrorist threat could lead to the deaths of millions. Too severe a restriction on individual liberty could lead to a free reign for destruction.



4. As a layman I found Posner's book to be a very interesting way to learn about the issues with constitutional law not only in a time of crisis, but in general. He starts out with a discussion on how constitutional rights are created. It clarified many of the questions I had in my mind on how the constitution could be interpreted the way it is. It even made sense. He then explained how national security shapes those rights. He argues for a balance between security and rights.
   
   The next four chapters discuss the rights against detention, the rights against brutal interrogation and searches and seizures, the rights of privacy, and finally the right of free speech. These chapters brought out the arguments based on security and also the arguments of civil libertarians. Posner tended to argue for a balance between those views that changes given the circumstances. In case of dire emergency, the president should be able to suspend some rights. I thought the discussion in the concluding chapter on Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus was a good way to illustrate his point. Should the constitution be amended to allow this action, or should it continue to be illegal? He brings up the pros and cons of each and his conclusion makes sense to me.
   
   Posner's writing style is very clear and I found that as a layman this complex issue was understandable. Do I agree with all of his conclusions? Probably not; but the general concept of balancing personal security and rights does ring as a principle worth considering. I recommend this book for anyone with an interest in constitutional law and the current war on terror.



5. In another, perhaps better world, Judge Posner would have been a Republican nominee for the Supreme Court. His age reputedly barred him in this one.
   
   Unfortunately, for this book, you could probably stop at the title, and that would give you the gist.
   
   Judge Posner's thesis is that at a time of war, noone can be allowed to second judge the nation's security establishment. Moreover, he argues that judges are particularly unsuitable for the task. He offers examples from history to buttress his thesis.
   
   Unfortunately, unless one starts out with the premise that his conclusion is intrinsically correct, his arguments read, at least to my eyes, as somewhat cyclical and self-serving.
   
   After all, judges balance competing consideration in a vast array of other types of cases all the time. Why not in matters of national security? He also ignores key problems, at least in my reading:
   
   1. Lincoln's actions WERE widely condemned, often fiercely resisted, and are considered by legal historians to be a blot on his legacy.
   
   2. Korematsu, the Japanese internment case, was based on submissions to the Supreme Court that the Justice Department KNEW to be untrue. So the most famous instance of the Constitution not being a suicide pact was based on a lie, a lie that many DOJ official vigorously protested at the time.
   
   As Judge Reinhardt said about Judge Posner, the problem is not in his writing. He is a fine writer, and his writing is enjoyable. The problem is with his thinking and conclusions.

5 comments about War by Other Means: An Insider's Account of the War on Terror.

1. In "Not a Suicide Pact," Judge Richard Posner offers an argument for sweeping executive power in the "war on terror" both better reasoned and more thoughtful than John Yoo does here. Still, as one of the architects of the Bush policy, Yoo's work offers a fascinating, and at times chilling, insight into the thinking within the White House. For the most part, Yoo's arguments remain on at best fragile legal footing, often cherry picking evidence and benefiting greatly from the fact that this book, like all books, is a monologue rather than a discussion. Despite that, one might at least hope that, as a lawyer, Yoo would at least create defenses that pass the smell test.
   
   Examples abound of thin arguments in support of administration policies. One must, however, give Yoo credit for taking positions few would want to make, such as arguing for the constitutionality of the since repudiated internment of Japanese in WWII as an example of the legitimate use of executive war powers. Of course that the Senate had, in '42, actually declared war, is a detail given scant attention. Nor does the author ever give much consideration to the rather ambiguous notion of "a war on terror" never choosing to wonder as to how one determines the end date to such a struggle. Likewise does this self proclaimed conservative claim that the post 9/11 Congressional resolution for war in Afghanistan gave the president cart blanch to violate civil liberties, this despite the fact that the majority of legislators state that this was far from their intent. So much for conservative notions of legislative intent.
   
   Nor does Yoo seem bothered by contradictions in his own argument. Thus, he claims that citizens need not worry about executive excess, since these will be reined in by the judiciary. Yet at the same time, he decries the judiciary as overly meddlesome. Similarly disturbing is the author's apparent ease in dismissing the central role the constitution gives the legislature in governing, in effect turning the Framer's intent on its head by arguing for a near unrestrained executive.
   
   In the end, simply for the window Yoo offers into the administration, this book proves worthwhile, though all and all the view proves frightening. Though I disagree with him often in his book, Judge Posner offers a far more thoughtful and honest defense of current efforts by the White House to claim greater power. Yoo, on the other hand, here will convince no one other than those true believers who've already shared the cool Aid.



2. WAR BY OTHER MEANS: AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF THE WAR ON TERROR is not your ordinary survey of 9/11: comes from one of the members of a skeletal staff at the Office of Legal Council who stayed behind while Washington, D.C. evacuated in the aftermath of events, and thus offers the observations of one who had a ringside seat to the politics behind the response to al Qaeda. It was John Yoo's analysis which led to some of Bush's most controversial approaches and politics, from Guantanamo Bay to military trials and the Patriot Act: WAR BY OTHER MEANS surveys not only events and personalities, but the even more important legal foundations of these decisions, offering an unprecedented view of events key to any thorough understanding.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. John Yoo saw himself as a king-maker. The only trouble was that he chose as his "king" a deeply flawed man. Now, he is into C.Y.A.
   
   Maybe if Yoo had experienced torture himself, he would bring real understanding to the subject.
   
   My only question is: why is he still on the faculty of a prestigious university?



4. Anyone who really wants to understand how the legal decisions in the War on Terror were made, rather than depend on the red state-blue state polemical attacks, should read John Yoo's book. That he perceived his first duty to be to protect the nation and to protect those in our military and intelligence services, who are on the front lines, rather than to protect political correctness or the Bush administration, is to his credit. He, too, is a soldier defending us, but in his case, moral rather than physical courage was called for. This Marine veteran says thank you to him.
   
   Robert A. Hall
   Author of "The Good Bits."



5. John Yoo is a short-sighted and dangerous man, and is quite possibly a war criminal. It seems ironically obvious that if you want to claim the moral high ground, you better HAVE the moral high ground; this book attempts to argue, in eight painfully dry chapters, why torturing goat farmers and bugging your own people is, somehow, that high ground.
   
   Insane.
   
   Certainly, it sheds light into how someone claiming to be a "compassionate conservative" and "loving guy," as George W. Bush has, would likewise attempt to claim that waterboarding someone who may or may not be guilty of a crime is a good thing. Like any drug addict (and Bush, as a dry-drunk, is most certainly that), our President has found a new fix: power. And John Yoo is an all too eager enabler.
   
   Reading this book was like watching a car crash is slow motion...from inside the car. I had to take a shower three times to wash the stink off...

5 comments about The Day Before Midnight.

1. Great book, plenty of action and suspense! Reads fast and very hard to put down (like Hunter's Bob Lee Swagger novels). The plot is rather contrived, but overall believable. My main beef is with the COL Dick Puller character, who I thought was the weakest character in the book (the Army should have left him retired-- he was, after all, retired in disgrace for a reason!). COL Puller never impressed me as being the great tactician the author intended. Instead, he seemed rigid and outdated in his tactical approach to the battle scenario presented. COL Puller simply "wasted" the Maryland guardsmen in a poorly planned and executed frontal assault against an entrenched enemy force without even trying to obtain basic pre-op intelligence (such as what might be under that "tarp" in front of the silo entrance). Puller even implied the guardsmen were expendible at that stage of the operation, though better planning on his part might have achieved a more favorable outcome for them and the mission. Also, seems that Puller could have simply planned (even if only as his backup contingency) to blow up the MX missle when it exited the silo (missles aren't going very fast at that point of the launch sequence). Better yet, he could have dismantled/destroyed the silo hangers directly to prevent a missle launching through them. Destroying the missle or silo directly would have been easier than trying to fight his way to the launch capsule at the end of the elevator shaft, or trying to infiltrate a small team through an uncertain (erosion-created) tunnel network at the base of the mountain. As it was, he never did have any such backup plan, should his "race against time" not succeed. But Puller-quibbling aside, The Day Before Midnight was still a very suspenseful book, one well worth the read.



2. When I talk to other Stephen Hunter fans, it's surprising to see how many of them don't know about this book. Probably because it's not a Swagger book.
   
   That said, even after Pale Horse Coming and Havana, "Day Before Midnight" is still my favorite Stephen Hunter book. It should be mandatory reading for everyone in the National Guard. I've read this book three times.
   
   An unidentified military force overtakes a U.S. nuclear missile silo. The hostile troops fortify their position outside the silo. Untested National Guard troops are closest to the scene, so they are sent in first. The U.S. commander has to make a lot of tough choices, because some of our guys are going to get killed, but they have to get into the silo before the bad guys can launch the missile. (Hunter creates plausible technical reasons why we can't just bomb them to smithereens.)
   
   Hunter did a great job keeping the tension going, all while giving us great action scenes of small unit military combat. Unlike the Swagger books, where Hunter keeps the action close to the main character, this book follows many different characters and storylines, all headed toward the same place and time.



3. From anyone but Stephen Hunter this would be considered as good as it gets, but if you've been along on the many adventures of the Swagger family this may seem kinda average. That doesn't mean it's bad, it isn't. Fact is, it's hard to put down even if it is rather unbelievable in places. Sure not on a par with "Point of Impact" however!



4. This book was fantastic. I could not turn the pages fast enough to see the story develop. It was non-stop action from start to finish, but also enough detail, story and character development to keep the reader on edge. Be warned, it is obviously a little dated because of its cold war theme, but don't be too concerned -- its still a great action story. The book is definitely one of the most exciting, interesting books I have ever read. This is my second Hunter book, and he definitely does his homework. His research and knowledge is unmatched.



5. By referring (in my expectations) to his Lee Swagger (sniper)books this book is something very different.As a story it is so complicated that the American way of organizing the military in it is unbelievable.
   It can't be true.
   The coincidences,one after one,put on top of each other,it makes me nervous.

5 comments about Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities, Second Edition.

1. The attacks of 9/11 have put America into the awareness of terrorists within its borders more than ever. "Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities" is a manual for those in charge of tracking down these criminals. Covering the origins of terrorists and what makes them do what they do, "Terrorist Recognition Handbook" offers an examination of common and uncommon terrorist tactics - and how to identify an attack before it happens. Presented in an easy to use handbook format, "Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities" is highly recommended for those in charge of security and community library military collections.



2. This book is an essential book for the intelligence operative, the fiction writer or anybody interested in the vital topic of terrorist operations. The author breaks the book down into understandable sections so that the reader can gain a comprehensive understanding of terrorism and terrorists. Afterward, you will understand weapons, cell organization, motivation, profiles and various active terrorist groups.



3. This book contains a lot of information relating to detecting terrorists BEFORE they strike. This is vitally important. The information out there on this is scattered all over the place and in varying detail. This book clearly and comprehensively covers many aspects of recognising terrorist pre-attack activities.
   
   It includes information like some basic terrorist profiles and the pitfalls of profiling, terrorist cells and recognising key terrorist activities such as safe houses, terrorist surveillance techniques, terrorist attack cycle and terrorist tactics and intent.
   
   It is quite detailed and at the same time doesn't waffle. It is useful, practical information all in the one place. Recommended highly.
   
   lowtechcombat.blogspot.com



4. Well researched and written. The author does a good job providing the reader with fundamental knowledge in accordance with terrorism. A must read for anyone interested in learning more about this subject.



5. 5-Stars on Mr. Nance's "Terrorist Recognition Hamdbook!" This should be considered a Terrorist Primer on terrorist awareness and preparedness for observing terrorist surveillance indicators and preplanning. It is "well-worth" the price tag and it is highly recommended!
   
   Jeff Strohman, Antiterrorism Program Manager and Senior Instructor, USMC

5 comments about Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the Us.

1. There's little argument that Steve Emerson is a, if not the, preeminent American authority on Jihad in America. It was in this context that I placed an order for Jihad Incorporated.
   
   However, rather than a series of enlightening tales of muslim infiltration and terror plots, this reads more like the work of a forensic accountant.
   
   Personally, I found the endless people with various permutations of names including the word "Mohamed" and literally hundreds of heretofore unknown organizations with "names" that are more accurately called "sounds" to be mind boggling.
   
   It's probably a good reference book for Intel Professionals who already track these individuals and organizations, but short of that, it's not a good read for the layperson.



2. Back in October 2006, a few weeks after I received my copy of this book, I covered a forum on the Muslim Brotherhood at which apologists posing as analysts claimed that the Brothers were democratic, reform-minded and liberating.
   
   Of course, a study of the writings and sayings of Muslim Brotherhood leaders invited to that conference--and rightly refused entry to the U.S. by immigration authorities--would have revealed the foolishness of this contention.
   
   Alas, there are too many who still believe that there is no threat to the U.S. or Western civilization from Islamic radicals. The delusional souls who accept this--including many in the mainstream media who think pulling out of Iraq will solve all America's problems--should read this book.
   
   Many of the groups and incidents reported here are old hat to those of us who report and write about Islamic terrorism and the Islamic war against the West. But the collection of data herein is very important all the same--because most Americans know absolutely nothing about the insidious and pervasive nature of the Islamic network and the infiltration of radical organizations into every facet of U.S. life.
   
   This book not only reports frequent calls from these Muslim radicals--on U.S. soil--to eliminate the U.S. Constitution and replace it with Islamic law. It also reports the massive funding directed at achieving that goal, and the hundreds of terror attacks that have been thwarted in the last several years.
   
   What I find most appalling, is that these events are seldom reported in the mainstream newspapers, television stations or in other major news outlets.
   
   Although the New York University Center for Law and Security denies this fact--terrorism is a real and pervasive danger, and it is predominantly perpetrated by Islamic radicals, usually posing as "moderates." Unfortunately, most of the legal, academic and media communities have been completely duped by these people.
   
   But thanks to this book, Americans can easily learn the extent of the danger facing us, and the importance of banning the Muslim Brotherhood and all its unindicted co-conspirator offspring, such as the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim American Society, Muslim Students Association, and so on.
   
   One really has to wonder why only one or two presidential candidates have said anything about the elephant sitting in America's heartland, and pretend that platitudes about "change" mean anything, when our very survival as a nation is at stake.
   
   Read the book, and during primary season especially, ask candidates what they plan to do about this--and how quickly they intend to reinstate the wrongly discharged Islamic scholar MAJ (USAR) Stephen Coughlin to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
   
   --Alyssa A. Lappen



3. I haven't received the book yet and my e-mails reporting have not yet been answered.



4. This book is like a history lesson, a long, long, long history lesson on the inside workings of Jihad. It will fascinate you, and you will learn things you never knew existed from the world of Islam. I highly recommend this book.



5. 
   The War on Terror only came into view for many by the infamous Attack on America on 9/11.However;Emerson's book shows in detail how this attack on Western Civilization ,more appropriately called Jihad has been seriously underway since the early 1980's. Until 9/11 ,it was only those who followed world events very closely and in great detail ,that were even familiar with the name of bin Laden.
   Make no mistake about it,and Emerson spells it out in utmost detail ,that there is a monstrous clash between the Muslim world and the Judo/Christian worlds well in progress ;that is undoubtly unlikely to abate without the defeat,annihilation,and capitulation of one or the other.
   Such clashes have often occurred in history with Communism,Facism,and Nazism,being such recent struggles. There are many who refuse to acknowledge how determined and serious this confrontation really is and who believe that accomodation and appeasement will resolve this conflict. Such has been proven in the past and it is only with peril that will result if it is believed it can be successful here.
   Emerson has covered all the events and people who have been carrying out this attak in great detail and provides 2500 backup notes and references for further study. The book is also provided with an extremely detailed Index of 45 pages.
   If you are one who finds all the people and events that have been in the news over the past 25 or so years very confusing,this book will show you why such has been the case and will be a big help and resource in helping you to put it all in order and perspective.
   The book is quite a heavy read,simply because it covers so much and gives such detail;however it is so well put together that any particular event or person can easily be found and details obtained;including reams of notes for further information.For that reason,this book is an excellent resource and can easily be considered "a difinitive account" on Jihad and The War on Terror. I know I'll be turning to it frequently in the future.
   The one thing that comes through; is how our enemies have infiltrated every aspect of our society and how they have used our freedoms ,laws and justice to their advantage and our detriment.Emerson shows in detail how these enemies have been welcomed into our society,given the benefits of all our freedoms and protection;only to turn around and use our trust to attack us.
   More so than ever in the past,it will become next to impossible to determine who can be trusted and who cannot.Exceptional vigilance may not even be enough.
   If you want to find out what is really going on in the world today;you won't find a better source of information than this book.

No comments about The Way of the World CD: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism.