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)

great for insomniatic therapy

Don't listen to this while operating a motor vehicle. Do not operate machinery while listening to this one.😴

Yes!

Great book that details the political twists and turns behind the War on Terror. This is the most holistic explanation I have heard on the invasion of Iraq. Excellent content and the delivery was great too. Would highly recommend.

Top book

If you ever want to understand geo politics read George Friedman at Stratfor and all of his books. He understand the way the world works.

Great Content

Overall it’s a good look at Arab nation geopolitics and U.S. involvement in the GWOT.

Vacant

This is a poor attempt to justify lies and egoism which led to the death of many and destruction of much without remorse.

40% accurate

the events since this was written do not much agree with story as told here

What an ABSOLUTE piece of JUNK!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

For there to be ANY truth to this book AT ALL! The author has NEVER served in ANY branch of the military, has never been deployed, nothing. Yet he tries to speak as an authority of how other countries view us. PLEASE! I was there, I fought in Desert Storm, and the thousands of Iraq's we took as prisoners, the Saudi's, the Kwaitie's, and the many others I saw were scared to death of us. Physically we American's stand taller than 99% of the people from that region, militarily wise we train better than any of the other countries that I served with which include the British Desert Rats, the French, the Saudi's, and on and on. This junk of the Saudi's think American's are a "weak" fighting force is just plain absurd! When I looked into the Saudi's eye's before the war all I saw was fear. I could go on and on, because I WAS THERE unlike the author.

What could George Friedman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I really thought this book was going to be factual and speak to the little skirmishes that happen under the radar. Nope, the author decided to speak about the Gulf War's, what caused the Afghanistan war(like he would know). And it really irked me when he spoke about Generals as if they were stupid. Dude if you know so much enlist and show them how it's done. You'd never make it out of basic.

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

Absolutely not.

What character would you cut from America's Secret War?

Geez, who cares, this book was so fiction it wasn't funny.

Any additional comments?

Yes, can I get my credit back to purchase another book? And can I rate this book any lower than 1 star?

This should be listed under fiction

This is one of the most poorly written fact based books I have ever read. The author continually jumps from coming to a fact based answer to jumping from solid facts to his beliefs and thoughts on what he says people thought and why they took action. George packs the facts and his ideas so close together that it is sometimes difficult to separate them. He never makes the clear separation and makes it more of a historical fiction as if he is the main character, present and around for every major incident. I do not recommend this book to anyone who like scholastic material. If you like to shake your head continually and to laugh at his pathetic attempts at making connection, then this book is for you. Enjoy!

Worst of Audible presents...

In my opinion this is a story full of falsehoods presented as facts. In America's Secret War, Friedman rivals Michael Moore for twists of reality. This book discussed no relevant, new information regarding the state of american intelligence agencies. Friedman apparently authored the book to feed the paranoia of those intent on believing in government conspiracies and ineptitude, but provides no substantive facts to back up his claims. My personal experience working in and with said agencies contradicts many of the Friedmans claims calling into question all of his hyperbole. Enjoy one of the many other better books such as Digital Fortress, Chatter, or Puzzle Palace, but skip this piece of work.

CIA Propaganda At Its Very Best

I fully and firmly believe that;
1. This book was written by a Coprophagous Troglodyte.
2. No single person, but the publicity (Read; Propaganda) division of the CIA wrote this to conceal facts and evidence of that agency's complicity in the False Flag Operation commonly known as "9/11".
3. Evidence of this being written by the CIA Propaganda division is;
A. Stating that; Bush, Chaney, Rumsfeld, and non of the myriad of "Alphabet Government Agencies could possibly have known in advance that the attacks were going to happen.
1. Such as holding a simulation on the same day of this event was purely a coincidence.
B. Stating that; The JFK Assassination was a "Lone Gunman" (proven false within a few minutes of the assassination and continually proven to be a false government narrative ever since then), as well as The OKC Bombing (proven to be a false narrative within a few minutes of the bombing and continually proven to be a false government narrative ever since then), plus 2 or 3 others that that I laughed at when I heard it, but have since slipped my memory.

I kept waiting for him to explain just how it is that jet fuel (which burns in the hundreds of degrees) was able to melt steel (which melts in the thousands of degrees) and the miracle of not one, not two, but three (3) buildings collapsing that day (one of them being announced as having fallen about 20 minutes before it actually fell) within their on footprint (which in the entire history of the world has never happened without the aid of Planted, Shaped, and Timed explosive charges until that day). I finally had to stop listening several hours before the audiobook finished because of the insult on my intellect.

If you doubt one single word of what I am saying I challenge you to prove that I am lying.