Hard Measures

How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9-11 Saved American Lives

By: Jose A. Rodriguez Jr.

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

From a top-level operative in the counterterrorism unit of the CIA comes an explosive memoir about the behind-the-scenes fight against Al Qaeda after September 11.

Since the death of Osama Bin Laden, interest in counterterrorism is at an all-time high. Most people don’t know that Bin Laden’s death was the culmination of years of covert operations and tactics largely overseen by Jose Rodriguez from 2001 to late 2007 and built on by his successors.

Like a real-life Jack Bauer from television’s 24, Rodriguez’s sometimes controversial tenure as Chief of the Agency’s Counterterrorism Center involved CIA officers capturing and detaining key senior Al Qaeda operatives and implementing Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, tools which were an integral part of the War on Terror but are no longer available to those fighting America's fiercest foes.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Columbia, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez shares his unlikely journey from law school student to CIA recruit and finally, at the end of a 31-year career, to being America’s top spy. Rodriguez sparked controversy and a three-year investigation by his decision to order the destruction of videotapes showing CIA officers conducting harsh, but what he describes as “legal, necessary, and effective interrogation[s]”.

Riveting and timely, Hard Measures also examines how the current political climate and resulting policies have negatively impacted the CIA’s efficiency - even taking away the mechanisms that made feats like the successful Bin Laden operation possible.

©2012 Jose A. Rodriguez Jr (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Jose Rodriguez guided some of the CIA's greatest counterterror victories, and his story is one of courage, commitment, and decisiveness. In this book, he provides concrete details about the value of the Agency's interrogation program of terrorists - a program which thwarted terrorist attacks and has made America safer." (General Michael V. Hayden, USAF [Ret.] Former Director of Central Intelligence)

Firsthand Account

Incredibly insightful and eye opening story from someone who was actually there when things happened. There’s so many widely spread false narratives regarding the CIA’s Enhanced Interrogation Techniques and how/why they were used, what the results were from it. This book is perhaps the most informative and accurate breakdown of what it was, providing true clarity in regards to all the false claims of torture and illegality of the actions taken in those years after 9/11.

Truly a must-read for those interested in the war on terror and the aftermath of 9/11.

Making clear the CIA's role in fighting Terrorism

This book explains clearly how the CIA operates to glean intelligence and maintain the safeguards necessary to insure that detainees are not tortured. All the while doing what is needed to get the intel. that keeps America safe from Radical Islam.

Solid counter-narrative to the media/political one

I've read a number of articles on the topic of enhanced interrogation from unbiased investigative journalists - an increasingly rare thing. So I knew what the ultimate tone was going to be. It fleshes the story out as much as the author can. I believe him and agree with him.

The most frightening aspect is how the media and politicans can be so disingenuous, and/or worse. They did the same stuff with the NSA and PRISM. It's a very real problem and ironic that many of the people talking about the Trump effect and not being able to walk that back, were doing things we also cannot walk back years before Trump. The arbiters of truth have lost their way. This is just another major example. At this point we see it daily in many smaller ways. It's death by a thousand cuts.

I'm grateful that Americans like Mr. Rodriguez still choose to serve our country. I don't know how much longer they will put up with the backstabbing. We are our own worst enemies at this point.

An American Hero

Where does Hard Measures rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Hard Measures ranks in the top 10 books.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jose Rodriguez because he is a sane voice in an insane government.

What does Sean Pratt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a great reading voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Rodriguez received his letter of reprimand.

Any additional comments?

A great book written by a true American hero.

Very well detailed book, more than expected.

Must read before considering a career into any Govnment Agency. The World has turned neurotic with baeucratic red tape. There are too many rules & regulations as we pursuit some man made false utopian society. LET'S GO BACK TO THE BASICS OF DEFENDING OR FAMILIES. THE TAPES SHOULD BE DESTROYED TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND PEOPLE. We need more common sense in our World. It's clear all branches of governments need term limits for all elected officials. Politicians need to be impeached for lieing to the public. Honesty is the best policy. I'm highly impressed with the author's integrity and fortitude. We need more honest people in government. Traitors need to be hung to stop corruption. As our society moves away from GOD we loose our moral integrity. Bring back the basic Ten Commandments. The World needs the teachings of Jesus Christ and his teachings found in the Bible & Book of Mormon. Reading these work's of GOD will make interigation & eventually killing 'mad dog' terrorists easier to understand and morally correct. See Alma Ch. 51 for better understanding. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/51

This man is a national treasure.

This man is a national treasure and a true hero to our country. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an ignorant shitbag.

Thank you

Dear Mr Jose A. Rodrigues, thank you for sharing your story and you life at CIA.
Thank you for the dedication and the leadership on the decisions that not only save our life’s but save the life of officers of the CIA that put their life in the life to safe this country from another terrorist attack.
Man like you should receive a Medal of Honor a Nobel price.

Thank you.

To Set the Record Straight

Jose Rodriguez, a 25-year veteran of CIA undercover operations, sets out in Hard Measures to describe the agency’s response to 9/11. The result is an informative, insightful, entertaining and worthwhile read. The strength of the book is in the personal memoir-like insights which bring readers as close to the feel of what took place as possible without revealing state secrets. Readers may disagree with Rodriguez s analysis or find fault with his point of view, but each page brings detail worth considering. That said, I think that the book s subtitle, How Aggressive CIA Actions after 9/11 Saved American Lives, is a little misleading. The book fulfills that aim, but to me the book s true focus is on defending Rodriguez s work while at the CIA during that era. Rodriguez was a controversial person at the CIA and he justifiably seeks to set the record straight. The chapters making his case do not detract from the entire volume nor should it discourage readers from taking up the book. Rodriguez has done a great service by leaving his memoir-like insights behind for all to see. The reading of Sean Pratt is excellent. There is an afterward presented by Rodriguez in person.

Water Boarding Detail Post 9/11 - The Inside Story

What did you love best about Hard Measures?

It told how water boarding works, how often it was used after 9/11, and the kind of information that resulted. The media missed most of the main points here.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Measures?

The press criticized the process saying that most of the useful information gained happened after the water boarding stopped when that is how it is supposed to work.

What does Sean Pratt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did a fine job. He keep me interested the whole way.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Thoughtful and well delivered

Where does Hard Measures rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best

What other book might you compare Hard Measures to and why?

American sniper

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The details concerning advanced interrogation techniques

Any additional comments?

Well written and delivered by a great narrator. I found it to be informative and enjoyed the revelations of his work within the CIA as well as a few details concerning his personal life.