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

“See No Evil” was released in 2003, just 18 months after the terrorist bombings of the Twin Towers in New York City. At the time, it made a big impression, giving readers a rare look inside the secret wars of America’s intelligence services like the CIA, author Bob Baer's former employer. In the 15 years since, audiences have been exposed to shows like “24” the “Americans” and “Homeland” and reports like The 9/11 Commission Report findings as well as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s findings on CIA torture techniques. We’ve all become terror experts it seems, and the spycraft that author Bob Baer describes doesn’t feel new and grand, anymore.What has aged well, though – sadly – are his observations of the geopolitical conflicts in the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Russian-bloc countries. Those areas remain mired in the same religious radicalism, sectarian violence, and tribal wars that he described nearly two decades earlier. His work also shows how far back – as early as 1983, and at the same time agencies began to shed operatives – that the US intelligence services were aware of the potential for large-scale domestic attacks by foreign enemies. It’s grim, sobering reading, and his career dovetails with the rise of that extremism – both at home (World Trade Center bombing in 1993, Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995) and abroad (Pan Am flight 103.)As a primer of the roots of our siege mentality in this country where we make travelers remove their shoes to board a domestic flight, this book is worth your time. Baer writes that our domestic security depends on a robust and apolitical national security apparatus with global reach through well-placed human operatives. That's still a timely message.

A year ago I bought a book, "Ropes of Sand," by Wilber Eveland. Eveland's book outlined the growth and maturation of intelligence gathering in the Middle East post-World War Two through the 1970s. Eveland's book was very detailed, relating the individual story of one man's effort to work in a newly important region within the global environment, and doing so as the U.S. transitions from the OSS to the CIA.Having read Eveland's book first set the stage for Bob Baer's book. Baer's account takes off where Eveland's ends. The books were not meant to be read that way, as Eveland's book was published in 1980. The events, policies, and geography persist, evolve, and adapt over the decades "Ropes of Sand" and "See No Evil" cover, though. Reading them together provides fascinating insight into the realm, politics, concerns, and people.Baer's experiences in Syria, Lebanon, and throughout the Middle East make for a fascinating read. Yes, Bob has taken some flack for sounding somewhat bombastic, or self-congratulatory. When one reads through those few cases, and simply reads the context of the situation, the details of his experiences in the region are film-worthy (and have been adapted for film). His is not a history book, and he doesn't delve into history. For a history, read "Power, Faith, and Fantasy" by Michael Oren. Baer's is a first-hand account as a case worker, recruiting local people for gathering intelligence. If I learned one thing from Eveland and Baer, the CIA does not run spys. The CIA tries to "recruit" indigenous people to gather information. Also, people who conduct legitimate business in the realm are also recruited to keep their eyes and ears open. Simply riveting stories.A good contribution to the ever-increasing quantity of geopolitical treatises on the Middle East.

The author is easy to connect with and understand at some points of his motivations. A few questions still remain on some issues of interests but overall he did a very good job in explaining events (the best he could). Baer has a bank of knowledge on the Middle East and its actors/groups. It is rare to read similar details on the Middle East outside of the classroom environment (texts). All though I do not personally know Baer, from this book it appears that he may have taken certain issues very personal and doing so, he allowed his emotions to override the brilliance of his character. The grudge seemed to have been presented to show his actions but as you read on, it begins to control him. Granted the events and the loss of friends or associates that you depend on would affect anyone. But by placing yourself within this theater it is bound to happen, you are there for the bigger picture, the identifiers of his personal changes and questionable tactfulness are seen withering away. I am not sure if being made, in the region, only complicated the inner struggle that was already becoming present in his daily actions. He may have wanted another direction within the agency, one which was not possible when he was sent out of the area of his expertise. He did not take on change very well and instead went to the CTC. Later in the details of the CTC being a letdown, he also felt needed due to his language skills which later on appeared to be not that important, as he was placed on the back burner. As if he was losing himself and almost needed others to remind him of whom he is.I have read more than a few books on the changing dynamics of the agency and its people. From field positions and being very good at it, to the paper pusher that slowly destroys the officer. Baer was very good at what he did; when the operation environment changed he did not.

good book

Alles ok.

Quite good reading. Discovered some interesting and usefu information and facts from an inside source...Even if obviously the text was carefully filtrated before going to the grand public.

Well written book!

A real revelation on the way America sees the world and the way the Middle East works. A must read.