America's Secret War

Inside the Struggle Between the United States and Its Enemies

By: George Friedman

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

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 content, real narration problems

This book offers many rational, dispassionate insights into the war on terror. Friedman does not go easy on the U.S.'s missteps and dissemblings, but neither does he obsess on them like the disloyal left is wont to do. Instead, he provides a balanced expose on the behind-the-scenes machinations and how the gears of decision-making turn in Washington, the capitals of Europe, and the caves of Afghanistan.

Now, the narration... truly distracting, especially since the narrator pronounced the end of every third or fourth sentence with a comma instead of a period. Amateurish.

America's Secret War

The pieces don't fit. The information and point of view presented by Mr. Friedman appear to be a revisionist's view of the Iraq and Afganistan Wars. He has interesting theories but be sure to read other authors to get a well rounded picture. Much information was left out of his story to make his pieces fit. He appeared to have information not available to U.S. Intelligence (knowing what Al Sistani was thinking and planning)yet closed his chapter on Tora Bora saying we don't know what happened. While it is an interesting perspective and easy listening, don't be taken in until you have read other accounts. It is careful not to make the administration (except Donald Rumsfeld) look bad. It is the rosiest picture of the war I have read yet. It would be interesting to see how he spins the last 6 months of the Iraq war.

An Educated Analysis, not for Politicos

Any analysis of a hidden and complex relationship such as that between Al Quaeda and the U.S. is going to have some flaws, and no analysis is going to please everyone. What I find so praiseworthy of the Stratfor analysis is that it strives to be as astute and unbiased as possible. I am sure there are biases, but there certainly is no obvious political intention to those biases.

So, this will disappoint both diehard liberals and conservatives, who will come away unsatisfied: liberals thinking that it defends Bush's actions, conservatives thinking that it demonizes him. It does neither. Instead, it provides much food for thought in the midst of a dangerous situation in a complex world. At the least, it demonstrates that the special interests and flag-waving that characterize the political parties are just superficial issues that have little direct effect upon international politics and terrorism. Instead, the parties utilize their ability to influence votes to gain the White House (and Congress) so that they can employ their own nuance of diplomacy and strongarming.

This book has changed my entire view of Iraq. Perhaps the war was not the only way to deal with the terrorist situation, but the alternative choices were pretty lousy as well.

Unfortunately, this book does not empower the reader (listener) by providing new insight, it only helps to better understand. And it does make one realize how impotent an individual American is.

Interesting book, but kind of boring narrating

This book is loaded with very good analysis of the Terrorist activities. The narrator is kind of monotonous, but the contents keep you hooked.

Superficially clever but fundamentally flippant

What did you like best about America's Secret War? What did you like least?

1. The best point of this book is it brings together some off-beaten-path view of the US actions since 9/11
2. The worst point is its examination of these views is fundamentally flippant, and repetitive. The author loves his own shallow insight so much that he repeats them tiresomely as if simply repetition gives it weight it does not carry through its actual substance.

Has America's Secret War turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. It covers a interesting topic, and its poseur treatment makes me want to read a real book.

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

Not much, except for the ability to go through it during driving commute

Could you see America's Secret War being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

No

This is the most important book you read all year!

Reports come in on a daily basis of dead and wounded in Iraq. Protests come from all sides demanding that we get out and bring our boys home. Critics argue that we are just over there for the oil. So how did we end up fighting a war in Iraq? George Friedman takes us inside the Intelligence community and back to the beginnings of al-Qa'ida. To understand today's issues in the Middle East Friedman helps us to understand the history of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Kosovo. He helps us to navigate the lies that are so critical in times of war. He drives home that it is a war that is being fought right here on our U.S. soil. This is a struggle that will affect all of us here in America for many years to come. This is information that every American needs to know and understand.

Riveting and Complex

I didn't know most of the things in this book. It's very complex – it’s an antidote to the superficiality of Farid Zakaria’s "Post-American World."

Fantastic !

An absolutely fantastic book for all those who like to know more about the mysteries leading to 9/11 and why it could not have been prevented.

Very thought provoking

What a wonderful book!! It does not take sides on the war, just lays out the facts for the reader to absorb. I will have to watch the news even closer now to try and see the backdoor plays that effect the global political scene.

Every American should read this book

The War on Terror has devolved into a highly polarized debate over America's involvement in Iraq. At one extreme are the flag-wavers who insist that America's freedom and way of life are threatened by bloodthirsty terrorists bent on our destruction. At the other end of the spectrum are the liberals who decry the war in Iraq, spread defeatism, and seek to portray George W. Bush as an incompetent, nearly criminal idiot. George Friedman's astute analysis of the context for the war on terror dispels both sets of myths. With logic and lucidity, Mr. Friedman deftly explains the global context from which the War on
Terror sprang. Without excusing the barbarity of September 11 and other atrocities, he helps us to question the simplistic label of "terrorist" and to understand Al Qaeda's true aims. This book was a fascinating look at the complexity of political and military maneuvering on both sides, as well as with other nations. Who is an ally? Who is an enemy? The answers are not so simplistic as we've been led to believe. If you want to understand the world that you live in, you must read America's Secret War.