Homeland Insecurity: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe

Turchie, a former FBI Deputy Assistant Director, and Puckett, an author and former Special Agent (Hunting the American Terrorist), bring their expertise to bear in a spirited defense of the bureau and a stinging attack on those who would limit its scope. Damning ""the exercise of unfettered political power"" in Washington that has constrained FBI operations, the authors charge politicians with being ""literally addicted to the perks and pleasures of power,"" their only aim to protect themselves from exposure. Comparing Washington's political culture to the ""royal courts of monarchies and the ancient Roman Senate,"" they specifically charge presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush with ""concealment, lying, and deception,"" and are particularly unsparing in their criticism of VP Dick Cheney. Truly fascinating insights crop up throughout, such as their discussion of Associate FBI Director Mark Felt, aka ""Deep Throat,"" who was attempting to expose Hoover's successor L. Patrick Gray, a Nixon appointee with an important role in the Watergate cover up. Though their dim view of those who've worked to defend civil liberties (President Ford, Senator Frank Church, Rep. Don Edwards, etc.) and clamorous frustration may rub some the wrong way, Turchie and Puckett provide an account full of intriguing sidelights from inside the bureau.