Playing to the Edge, Michael V. Hayden
Playing to the Edge, Michael V. Hayden
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Playing to the Edge
American Intelligence in the Age of Terror

Bestseller

Author: Michael V. Hayden

Narrator: Michael V. Hayden

Unabridged: 16 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 02/23/2016


Synopsis

An unprecedented high-level master narrative of America's intelligence wars, demonstrating in a time of new threats that espionage and the search for facts are essential to our democracy
 
For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America. "Play to the edge" was Hayden's guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran CIA.  In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticize, and this book will give them much to chew on but little easy comfort; it is an unapologetic insider's look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment.
 
How did American intelligence respond to terrorism, a major war and the most sweeping technological revolution in the last 500 years?  What was NSA before 9/11 and how did it change in its aftermath?  Why did NSA begin the controversial terrorist surveillance program that included the acquisition of domestic phone records? What else was set in motion during this period that formed the backdrop for the infamous Snowden revelations in 2013?  
 
As Director of CIA in the last three years of the Bush administration, Hayden had to deal with the rendition, detention and interrogation program as bequeathed to him by his predecessors. He also had to ramp up the agency to support its role in the targeted killing program that began to dramatically increase in July 2008. This was a time of great crisis at CIA, and some agency veterans have credited Hayden with actually saving the agency. He himself won't go that far, but he freely acknowledges that CIA helped turn the American security establishment into the most effective killing machine in the history of armed conflict.
 
For 10 years, then, General Michael Hayden was a participant in some of the most telling events in the annals of American national security. General Hayden's goals are in writing this book are simple and unwavering: No apologies. No excuses. Just what happened. And why. As he writes, "There is a story here that deserves to be told, without varnish and without spin. My view is my view, and others will certainly have different perspectives, but this view deserves to be told to create as complete a history as possible of these turbulent times. I bear no grudges, or at least not many, but I do want this to be a straightforward and readable history for that slice of the American population who depend on and appreciate intelligence, but who do not have the time to master its many obscure characteristics."

About The Author

Michael Hayden is a retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He is currently a principal at the Chertoff Group, a security consultancy founded by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Hayden also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Mason University School of Public Policy.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Miles on March 25, 2016

There was a time when I thought Michael V. Hayden and his ilk were scum, but, as Hayden himself acknowledges: “You can only dehumanize an enemy from a distance” (238). Once I let Hayden into my head, he gave my liberal, civilian ass a serious reality check. Despite its nonlinear format and a bevy of......more

Goodreads review by Marks54 on January 03, 2017

This is the personal memoir of perhaps the most visible top manager in the US intelligence community following the 9/11 attacks who served as the leader of the NSA and the CIA in Bush 43's two terms. He has a formidable media presence and is a powerful advocate for the value of US intelligence agenc......more

Goodreads review by Mary on December 22, 2021

Another book about the author’s ‘intelligence’ career defending the choices made during his tenure at various government jobs. At some point all those who enter a certain level of government feel compelled to write about their experiences. Whether it is to explain their actions/reactions or absolve......more

Goodreads review by Hans on September 30, 2016

SILENCE DOESN'T EQUAL GUILT!! Especially in the Intelligence Community. It is blatantly wrong and unjust to level accusations against organizations that can't even properly defend themselves and so are always presumed guilty of whatever hair-brained conspiracy is leveled against them! Reality is so m......more

Goodreads review by Shelby on April 21, 2020

I really enjoyed seeing the General's perspective on exploiting and disseminating intelligence in the United States especially since his tenure in government was before and after 9/11. It was enlightening to see how different things were before and how society was launched into a more pronounced bat......more