America's Secret War

Inside the Struggle Between the United States and Its Enemies

By: George Friedman

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Dubbed by Barron's as "The Shadow CIA", Stratfor, George Friedman's global intelligence company, has provided analysis to Fortune 500 companies, news outlets, and even the U.S. government. Now Friedman delivers the geopolitical story that the mainstream media has been unable to uncover, the startling truth behind America's foreign policy and war effort in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond.

Stratfor, one of the world's most respected private global intelligence firms, has an unmatched ability to provide clear perspective on the current geopolitical map. In America's Secret War, George Friedman identifies the United States' most dangerous enemies, delves into presidential strategies of the last quarter century, and reveals the real reasons behind the attack of September 11, and the Bush administration's motivation for the war in Iraq. It describes in eye-opening detail America's covert and overt efforts in the global war against terrorism: Not only are U.S. armies in combat on every continent but also, since September 11, the intelligence services of dozens of nations have been operating in close partnership with the CIA.

America's Secret War is an unprecedented look at the new world war being waged behind the scenes today. It is sure to stir debate and capture headlines around the world.

©2004 George Friedman (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Stratfor is changing the way we think about news." (American Spectator)
"A clearer, deeper, and subtler understanding of the post-9/11 world than we will ever get from listening to the cacophony of talking heads on television." (Booklist)

Decent subject matter but....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Biran Emerson's reading drove me a little crazy, it's not his voice, it's the way his tone fluctuates because he's

Would you be willing to try another one of Brian Emerson’s performances?

absolutely not

Do you think America's Secret War needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Only if it's edited.

A must for understanding the U.S. after 911

In-depth analysis of US responses after 911. A clear story and analysis. Very easy to follow despite of it being a difficult geopolitics subject. Book is well written and read.

completely non political

except tothe extent of Clauswitz's assertion that war is a part of politics.

Only found this author in past year. He writes about his topics artfully, clearly, and, most importantly, insightfully.
Narration was perfect

Enlightening account of hidden events.

informative account of what went on behind the scenes before and after 9/11. Now I need a book that continues the tale from 2004 until now...

Putting facts in Perspective!

If you buy this book to discover secrets in the secret war you probably won't find them. The book doesn't really reveal any new facts (read Charlie Wilson's war for that!).

What the book does is take a step back and examine the motives, tactics and strategies involved. The book does point out the US sucesses AND mistakes as well as the Al-Qaida successes and mistakes. In this sense it is a welcome refresher after the Coulters(liberals =bad) , Michael Moores and German WW2 revisionists (Bush = bad, everybody else is good). In this respect the book did a great job at actually trying to be objective.

When reading this a lot of puzzles pieces of the last few years fell into place. It offers reflection on all the stacks of "breaking news" we endure every day.

A point of critique:
The book does focus very much on 09/11, Afghanistan, Iraq and lacks in describing the other "battlefields". Like the Philippines, Nigeria, Western Europe , Bosnia, Kosovo, Global shipping, global finance etc. etc. In that way the book lacks a bit the unprecedented broadness of the war.

A good analyses, some more of this is badly needed. (Sorry partisan writers)

Informative

As with any information now days I tend to be skeptical. Throughout my life news media taught me to be this way by misrepresenting the truth. The book contains a lot of history about the Arab people. A lot of intelligence the author says is true based on the intelligence his company has gathered. Some of the things he is talking about in the book (written in 2004) are coming to fruition recently. It's fascinating stuff. If you are interested in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars at all it is worth your time to listen to. Enjoy!

Excellent listen, hard to judge accuracy

I've listened to all of the 9-11 hearings and had read a number of things about Al Qaeda and homeland security prior to the attacks. I found this book to be fantastic, not because it helps explain some of the inexplicable moves of the Bush administration (though it does that), but because of the "Great Power" perspective Friedman sheds.

In fact, listening to this book is much like listening to an analysis of European Wars by Machiavelli--while I don't know how much of his judgment is correct, it's an approach that we don't encounter in the mainstream media of the left or the right.

The two concerns I have about the book are: the author seems to give a short shrift to long term strategic power and alliances, describing things in only the near term and the validity of what is going on within the different governments that are inscrutable to us ordinary mortals.

All in all, a solid read, and I would recommend it.

Turning on the lights

I rank this book as one of most important I've read this year. Like many, I found myself polarized by 9/11 and the run up to the Iraq War. I came to my own conclusions about what was happening and why. Friedman's fine book showed me that I had alot to learn. He makes a point of avoiding emotional approaches, choosing to focus on the political and historical underpinnings of the current situation, and how the conflict has actually played out. I recommend it to anyone, left or right, who truly cares about our collective future. Friedman has 'turned on the lights'.

Exceptional

This is a superb book that everyone should read. Well written, comprehensive, and honest. I only wish there were more. It doesn't lays out success and failure without grinding any partisan axes.

Fasinating

I enjoy history and politics (while not a scholar by any means) and I get frustrated by the news because so little of the story is ever really told. I found this book very enlightening and engaging despite it being a non-fiction book.