Espionage: Spies and Secrets

By Richard M. Bennett

Book Overview

The need to defend against terrorist outrages has drawn unprecedented public attention to modern-day global espionage from the US government's involvement in the politics of the Middle East Europe and Africa to the surveillance of their own citizens by governments throughout the western world. This compelling reference resource contains over 500 entries covering every aspect of modern-day intelligence-gathering and counter-terrorism along with a comprehensive overview of its history. Global in scope Espionage focuses in particular on developments in the field of intelligence since the end of the Cold War:
-Governmental failure to foresee recent terrorist attacks against western targets
-Counter-Terrorism including the growth in commercial terrorism
-Electronic and communications surveillance
-Illegal activities by the intelligence services from around the world including assassination smuggling and torture
-Terminology and equipment explained

With entries on individual spies politicians and diplomats from the players to the patsies and profiles of the key historical events and scandals from the history of spying Espionage is the ultimate guide for journalists researchers and anyone with an interest in this highly topical controversial and chilling subject.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0753508303
• ISBN13: 9780753508305
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Virgin Pub
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 1.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Espionage Richard M. Bennett

ESPIONAGE, An Encyclopedia of Spies & Secrets will become a standard work for those who wish to lift the curtain on the hidden world of the intelligence services. Bennett pulls no punches in his caustic comments and analysis of the events of 9-11 and the failure of Western Intelligence. It makes a hugely refreshing change from the stale old, but politically acceptable analysis pumped out by authors like Nigel West and others. Bennett redraws the battle lines on many historical espionage events and dares to disagree with the usually accepted versions. Perhaps his views might be questioned sometimes, but in a ground breaking work like Espionage that comes with the territory. I found his listings of the worlds major Intelligence services fascinating and very useful. I would have liked to see more cross-referencing and background material, but perhaps when the paper-back edition is published next year we can hope for it to be an updated and expanded edition as well. Overall a must buy and I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who harbors any doubts about 'official' versions of events or the willingness of 'established' authors to rock-the-boat.