See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism

See No Evil

Embarrassingly, perhaps, I knew very little about terrorism when the attacks of 9/11 happened. Maybe I was in line with most Americans in that, terrorism was not exactly the top thing on their minds. But suddenly the news were filled with names and titles that had my head spinning. And along with that came all sorts of allegations and commentary regarding the failures of the CIA in the events that led up to this catastrophe.

After watching the movie Syriana, which is essentially a film about the oil industry and the politics involved, I grew interested in this book, simply because it clearly dealt with problems regarding the agency.

Not by any means meant to be an unbiased account, See No Evil is a former agent¿s account about the events that made, in his opinion a mockery of the agency he once loved to work for. Doing his best to present the facts, the author does so without every trying to hide the fact that all of this is coming from his own point of view and his own experiences in the field. What he relates is an interesting account of numerous events that clearly show the disintegration of the CIA into the troubled organization it now is.

Broken up roughly into four parts, Mr. Baer tells his story in specific categories. The first is mostly autobiographical, an explanation of his background, his childhood and his training. The second part of the book relates his stories as a field agent, brand new to the job. The third focuses on the terrorism side while the fourth focuses on the oil companies, two concepts that seemingly often go hand in hand. All of this is tied together with bookend narrations of his own problems within the Agency.

This book reads well, with plenty of details and decent narrative, but it assumes that you have some background knowledge of the themes it deals with. In general, I would say that anybody that listens to the news will not be entirely lost here, but there are a number of times where a little wikipedia did not hurt. Unfortunately, the book was not entirely as in-depth as I would have wanted it to be and while it works as a good entry into the genre, it certainly does not stand alone and needs to be balanced with either some counter arguments or a more thorough tome that will shed greater light on the subject.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent! Insight from a CIA Field Agent

Robert Baer shares stories of his life as a CIA field agent in the Middle East. Great insight into the function/dysfunction of players in the region and the difficulty he had gathering intelligence while being stonewalled by political decision makers. His anger and frustration with an agency that he believes lost its way and failed America can't be mistaken. An interesting lesson in the dynamics of terrorism, broken promises, the Middle East and how politicians decimated the capabilities of the CIA.

Good read

Gave me insight on the politics of oil & US-middle east relationship. Make me wonder about the true intentions of those we vote into office.

Excellent book

Great look into the mind and lifestyle of a CIA operator

Memoirs of a CIA Field Agent

See No Evil is Robert Baer's memoirs as a field agent for the CIA in the Middle-East. While in the field, Baer was able to observe first-hand the decline of the CIA as an intelligence-gathering organization throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Baer asserts that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 can and should be directly attributed to this decline (which he prefers to blame primarily on the Clinton administration, although he grudgingly admits that the Reagan and Bush administrations also contributed to the problem). It's interesting to read about the ins and outs of the Middle East, not to mention the inner workings of the CIA. However, Baer often uses his narrative to make unnecessary political statements and at times to needle perceived rivals and antagonists in the federal government. Also, Baer tries to dramatize situations as though he were writing a novel (he did subsequently publish a novel in 2006, Blow the House Down, which was surprisingly well-received). By the way, this book was the inspiration for the movie Syriana, and while George Clooney's character at times appears to be based on Baer, the book is not much like the movie.

An Insiders Look

Anyone interested in getting an insiders look at terrorism and how our systems work, needs to read this. Forget political party lines, this is one man's view of his time he put in and it's quite an interesting read.

Why U.S. Intelligence Missed the Build-Up to 9-11

Author Robert Baer made a career in CIA operations from 1976 to 1997. His memoirs, SEE NO EVIL, went into print weeks after the 9/11/2001 terror attacks by air against Manhattan's Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Baer blames their success largely on the deterioration in American government intelligence gathering which he had observed and protested. *** SEE NO EVIL highlights Robert Baer at work in CIA headquarters in Virginia, training and learning languages (especially Arabic) and spying abroad in India, Lebanon, Cyprus, Tajikistan and Iraq. The book's cover says that SEE NO EVIL is 'the true story that suggested the major motion picture 'Syriana.' *** Like Syriana the film, SEE NO EVIL draws attention to the power of American petroleum multinationals. Baer asserts that more than one oil giant, such as AMOCO and EXXON, have their own advocates at work in sensitive positions within the U.S. Government. It is not just Congress that has a revolving door of people leaving for well paid jobs in the private sector. So does the CIA, asserts Baer. He gives the example of Ed Pechous, who made a meteoric career in the Agency then the next day joined petroleum barracuda Roger Tamraz as an employee, having just had official responsibility for liaison with Tamraz while heading the CIA office in Manhattan. *** The book is a good review of the successful end of the cold war and the repeated American ball dropping that occurred in the early phases of international Islamo- terrorism. Familiar names pop up: Ahmad Chalabi, now in the government of Iraq, national security advisors Tony Lake and Sandy Berger and others. Baer's book adds a colorful tessera to the evolving mosaic of what went wrong with American intelligence gathering of terrorist plans and capacities. -OOO-

Gripping, eye-opening, smart and chilling.

I bought this book because I thought the author being a former CIA agent would have a fresh and real perspective other than the barrage of political spin and pundit's hypothesis based on personal ideology. Since 9/11 I have wanted to learn more about the middle eastern conflicts, its basis and where we really stand as a country from it. This book is very eye opening and I believe he is fair - he blasts the Democrat and Republican administrations alike for the decline of the CIA and its subsequent failures to protect the United States. Its very well written, is sharp and articulate but the recounts of it make you feel like he is sitting next to you telling a story to a friend. It was an easy read, very much a page turner, like many reviewers here it is very scary and chilling once you realize how imbedded politics is in the CIA (and FBI) to the point of choosing oil over Americans lives and choosing to overlook damning intelligence of terrorist activities in favor of not offending the Saudi royal family. This book is not about fear-mongering either - in a very plain-spoken tone the author conveys his alarm and disappointment at the state of an agency that is supposed to use intelligence to protect Americans from attack, and instead cherry-picks for political purposes. And like many reviewers here, you will want to recommend this book to everyone you know.

This book will make you tell others to buy it

Baer's career is frightening and captivating. He goes through painstaking detail with you as the reader as if you were taking over from him. I learned more about terror networks, politics, spying, and the like than in any civics class. Baer's accounts make you wonder if we elected the right people in DC and calls us to action to be active citizens in the fight on terror. Thank you for this book and your story Mr. Baer

must read

Excellent book. Must read for everyone. I know the topic of terrorism is hot now, every college, and school is offering it, but i am not sure that people who teach really understand what the terrorism is all about. this book is 'must read' book. Will show you all the aspects of politics. Will show how US slept and did nothing, while US citizens were murdered. Accounts of Russia are true, I was born there and lived, and saw it first hand, nothing was made up.

This is what the CIA has come up to...

An excellent book by an outstanding man, dedicated to serving his country and standing up for its beliefs even after the ones back home stopped caring. Mr. Baer walks you through the fine lines of the CIA, from the beginnig until the end, a beginning so promising and an end that makes you think if you are really safe in this society of ours, how the CIA sunk in the bureaucracies of Washington when it should've stuck to what it was founded on and what it knew best from the beginning. I found this book very enlightening and an excellent read. I am also a strong supporter of what the United States is doing at the time in Iraq and it boggles my mind how our government chose a man like Ahmad Chalabi to be part of Iraq's reconstruction, I'm sure Mr. Baer had a fit when he heard the news...Personally, I never knew anything about Mr. Chalabi until I read this amazing book. I highly recommend this book to any reader that is interested on what some people sacrifice for this country.

This book should scare everyone!

I loved this book with all the details Mr.Baer included. Its hard to believe that anyone would have risked his life for the small salary and lack of support that was given. As I continued reading I became more an more frightened. I wish the media would investigate the many facts in this book. I fear that they to are to afraid to shake the tree. They just want to write about gossip.I look forward to more books from Mr. Baer and I thank him for his contribution to the American people.

Time For Americans to take back America!

I read Mr. Baer's second title (Sleeping With The Devil: How Washington Sold Our Souls For Saudi Crude) before reading See No Evil, so I thought I would be braced for what he had to say in See No Evil, but I must admit that I'm even more intrigued and disturbed by the events as told by Mr. Baer in this book. I've ALWAYS said that we, as nation, lost sight our founding fathers credo of 'a government by the people and for the people' Today, the powers in modern government have transformed our system into one that's by the rich and special interest groups and for the rich and special interest groups. Maybe it's time that Americans wake-up and take-back America from the despots that are running it or should I say ruining it! Read this book and pass it on to a friend. Thanks Mr. Baer for all you've done or tried to do for our country!

EDUCATION IN TERRORISM

AMAZING BOOK FOR AN AVERAGE, FIRST TIME READER LEARNING OPERATIONS INSIDE THE CIA, AND THE HERO'S THEY REALLY ARE!!!! BOB BAER IS AN AMAZING MAN.....HOPEFULLY HE'S BACK FROM RETIREMENT. NEED MORE DEDICATED MEN LIKE HIM. FASCINATING, INTRIGUING, DISTURBING...MAYBE 9/11 COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

NEED MORE WRITERS LIKE THIS

The writer has written a book sending chills down my spine, but this is what we need. I have a Political Prisoner who are desperate to get hold of the writer, can you please assist. Regards E Cornelius Morkel Olivier P du Toit Attorneys Strand, Cape Town, South Africa

See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism

A very believable primer of intelligence-gathering... Baer is trained more to listen than to talk. This Gub-ment edited book follows one CIA field officer's career from recruitment to retirement; with lots of detailed clandestine Middle Eastern operations. Baer reveals Clintonian non-policy, where everything seems to be for sale ( or worse ), and the great-parcers can justify anything. This litany of betrayal is revealed, and exposed as the root cause of our present dilemna. As a perfect humorous flip-side,I recommend Keshner's "COCKPIT CONFESSIONS OF AN AIRLINE PILOT." Don't be turned off by the title, it should go by "A Jewish Mossad Agent Flys Muslims to Mecca/Medina." Keshner lived in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and he exposes the core-rotteness of liberal (non)values, and shows us what the Muslim world is really all about ( my islam is holier than your islam ). What a funny book. The hot-fudge here is the Indonesian and middle-east flying, the whipped cream is the sex.... the great pokes to the Saudis is our cherry on top... my kinda Sundae.

See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism

A very believable primer of intelligence-gathering... Baer is trained more to listen than to talk. This Gub-ment edited book follows one CIA field officer's career from recruitment to retirement; with lots of detailed clandestine Middle Eastern operations. Baer reveals Clintonian non-policy, where everything seems to be for sale ( or worse ), and the great-parcers can justify anything. This litany of betrayal is revealed, and exposed as the root cause of our present dilemna. As a perfect humorous flip-side,I recommend Keshner's "COCKPIT CONFESSIONS OF AN AIRLINE PILOT." Don't be turned off by the title, it should go by "A Jewish Mossad Agent Flys Muslims to Mecca/Medina." Keshner lived in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and he exposes the core-rotteness of liberal (non)values, and shows us what the Muslim world is really all about ( my islam is holier than your islam ). What a funny book. The hot-fudge here is the Indonesian and middle-east flying, the whipped cream is the sex.... the great pokes to the Saudis is our cherry on top... my kinda Sundae.

Incendiary

The courageous author of this book offers readers a rich supply of vital information. Much concerns the terrorist trails he found to converge at the feet of Yasir Arafat-whom Baer labels an eminently unworthy Nobel laureate. Baer undoubtedly risked his life often. He learned that PLO or Force 17 operatives were involved in virtually every major terrorist attack in the last two decades "There may even be a trail [from Arafat] to Osama bin Laden," Baer concludes. But by the mid-1990s, the CIA had stopped following good leads. His well-developed and frightening point: As the Cold War waned, the CIA quickly transformed from into a politically correct bureaucracy, more interested in promoting corporate and big oil interests than gathering critical intelligence. That's too bad, because as a Middle East operative, Baer picked up great information on terrorists including Arafat. Born in Cairo as Muhammad 'Abd al-Rauf Arafat al-Qudwa in 1929, Baer writes, Arafat hails from the same prominent Huysayni clan that spawned Jerusalem Mufti Hajj Amin el-Huysayni, indicted at Nuremberg for World War II war crimes. After studying at University of Cairo, Baer reports, Arafat became a second lieutenant in Egypt's army, joined Egypt's Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, and has never renounced his ties with these violent sects. Baer reports that Arafat was arrested for sedition, fled to Kuwait and founded Fateh in the 1950s, drawing members from the Muslim Brotherhood and Palestinian Arabs; he soon actively took up violence. Not without reason, Baer writes, Arafat never earned the trust of other Arab leaders. In 1977, he reports, Arafat joined the Middle Eastern fundamentalist tide, asking Abu Jihad to organize Fateh into an umbrella Committee of 77. Through Student Cells, Baer reports, fundamentalist Munir Shafiq Asal recruited young Palestinian and Lebanese Arabs, including 'Imad Fa'iz Mughniyah. Bear reports that Mughniyah, a Shi'a Muslim from southern Lebanon, kidnapped Beirut CIA chief William Buckley on March 16, 1984, negotiated with Arafat in Tunis for the release of four Soviet diplomats kidnapped in Beirut in September 1985, and earned $200,000 from PLO security chief Abu Iyad for the favor. (Buckley died in captivity.) Bear discovered Mughaniyah's links to Hizballah and Iran's Pasdaran, the latter headed by Ali Saleh Shamkhani, now Iran's defense minister. He discovered Mughaniyah's ties to the Dec. 25, 1986 hijacking of an Iraqi airliner, which crashed in Saudi Arabia, killing everyone aboard. Baer discovered that another Fateh commander, Azmi Sughayr, ordered the April 18, 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut that killed 63, including 17 Americans and six CIA officers. Sughayr, who intended to kill Ambassador John Habib, hired PLO operative Mohammed Na'if Jada to give the signal for the explosive-laden pickup to hit the embassy compound. (Happily, Habib was not at the embassy. Jada survived the blast and landed in custody.) Baer also discovered Sughayr's ties to Iran: After Jada's release, he traveled to Dubai and connected with Anis Abdullah Hassan (Abu Ali), who headed a Fateh cell in the Gulf. Abu Ali worked for Abd-Al-Latif Salah, an associate of Arafat's representative to Iran's Islamic Jihad Organization. And bomber Muhammad Hassuna had in 1983 left Lebanon to fight with Iran against Iraq. His family was told he was killed on the front; but he probably drove the deadly truck. Baer also learned that Arafat supported the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood's 1982 insurrection against Hafiz Al-Asad in Hama. In June 1983, Asad retaliated with a full-scale counter-attack. In December 1983, under Syrian fire, Arafat evacuated 4,000 followers from Tripoli on five Greek ships to Tunis. Baer later learned that Sughayr stayed behind to lead terrorists for Iran's Pasdaran. These included Ali Dib (aka Khudur Salamah) and Abd Al-Latif Salah, a Jordan-born Palestinian Fateh member. Baer discovered that Sughayr joined

On the Money

I approached this book with some suspiscions and still don't agree with everything the author has to say. That being said, this book provide the average reader with an inside look into the real world of espionage in the field as well as political and bureauocratic realities in Washington. Baer's book is not unbiased but his center conclusions are valid. This is a must read for anyone interested in espionage,terrorism,and foreign policy and the disconnects between field operatives and decision makers.

ONCE YOU START READING YOU CANT STOP TILL ITS OVER

Robert Baer did a wonderful job putting his life in the CIA on paper. I felt as if I were there with him sneaking around in the shadows of the Middle East. See No Evil had my heart pounding more than once! It is a must read for anyone who cares about what is going on in our own government and what is not... Go get See No Evil now!