The Assault on Intelligence

American National Security in an Age of Lies

By: Michael V. Hayden

Narrated by: Michael V. Hayden

A blistering critique of the forces threatening the American intelligence community, beginning with the President of the United States himself, in a time when that community's work has never been harder or more important

In the face of a President who lobs accusations without facts, evidence, or logic, truth tellers are under attack. Meanwhile, the world order is teetering on the brink. North Korea is on the verge of having a nuclear weapon that could reach all of the United States, Russians have mastered a new form of information warfare that undercuts democracy, and the role of China in the global community remains unclear. There will always be value to experience and expertise, devotion to facts, humility in the face of complexity, and a respect for ideas, but in this moment they seem more important, and more endangered, than they've ever been. American Intelligence--the ultimate truth teller--has a responsibility in a post-truth world beyond merely warning of external dangers, and in The Assault on Intelligence, General Michael Hayden takes up that urgent work with profound passion, insight and authority.

It is a sobering vision. The American intelligence community is more at risk than is commonly understood, for every good reason. Civil war or societal collapse is not necessarily imminent or inevitable, but our democracy's core structures, processes, and attitudes are under great stress. Many of the premises on which we have based our understanding of governance are now challenged, eroded, or simply gone. And we have a President in office who responds to overwhelming evidence from the intelligence community that the Russians are, by all acceptable standards of cyber conflict, in a state of outright war against us, not by leading a strong response, but by shooting the messenger.

There are fundamental changes afoot in the world and in this country. The Assault on Intelligence shows us what they are, reveals how crippled we've become in our capacity to address them, and points toward a series of effective responses. Because when we lose our intelligence, literally and figuratively, democracy dies.

Critic reviews

“For a longtime spook, Hayden is a breezy and direct writer. He reduces complex issues of cyber and information warfare to essentials, and his polemic is leavened with humor and sympathy. He is at his best, though, when he shifts to a purely analytical tone. He coolly forecasts the direction of America under Trump, explains the intelligence that foreign governments are likely to collect from the president’s Twitter feed and describes the benefits Russia drew from the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Kremlin-connected Russian attorneys and senior Trump campaign officials.” — The New York Times

“The more important, absorbing and disturbing aspect of Hayden’s book is the analysis from his professional perspective of what Trump and Trumpism mean for the intelligence community. It is sober, nuanced and, quite frankly, scary as hell.” - Mark Galeotti, Washington Post

Great content from someone who understands intel

Hayden is an enlightened leader and someone who I trust with the facts. A great book on timely matters of freedom, democracy, truth and American values.

Some very good insight of the status of someone trying to keep their life work from being obsolete, not much help with how to manage a changing world.

Great Intelligence Book

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from General Hayden. It is a great overview of how Intelligence is a cornerstone of a free and secure Republic . In addition, it captures the current unfortunate degradation of this valuable supporting system under the current Executive Administration.

Courageous and insightful

If you REALLY want to ....

Understand the division that exists in the United States today, you should read this book.

Wonderful, thoughtful, personal tour of the heavy issues by a master teacher and leader.

General Hayden writes about matters both nuanced and explosive with equal care and focus. It’s impossible to read or listen to his analysis without pining for more. What a teacher. What a very good man. Let’s hope he remains in touch with his people, his agencies and the leaders we need in 2020 and beyond to help our nation rebuild, our leaders recalibrate. There will be much work ahead for everyone.