Spycraft
The Secret History of the CIA's Spytechs, from Communism to Al-Qaeda
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3.8 • 31 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
An unprecedented history of the CIA's secret and amazing gadgetry behind the art of espionage
In this look at the CIA’s most secretive operations and the devices that made them possible, Spycraft tells gripping life-and-death stories about a group of spytechs—much of it never previously revealed and with images never before seen by the public.
The CIA’s Office of Technical Service is the ultrasecret department that grappled with challenges such as:
What does it take to build a quiet helicopter?
How does one embed a listening device in a cat?
What is an invisible photo used for?
These amazingly inventive devices were created and employed against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions—including the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and continuing terrorist threats. Written by Robert Wallace, the former director of the Office of Technical Service, and internationally renowned intelligence historian Keith Melton, Spycraft is both a fantastic encyclopedia of gadgetry and a revealing primer on the fundamentals of high-tech espionage.
“The first comprehensive look at the technical achievements of American espionage from the 1940s to the present.”—Wired
“Reveals more concrete information about CIA tradecraft than any book.”—The Washington Times
“This is a story I thought could never be told.”—JAMES M. OLSON, former chief of CIA counterintelligence
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Today's CIA is regularly criticized for emphasizing technology at the expense of "human intelligence." In this history of the agency's Office of Technical Services, Wallace, its former head, and academic specialist Melton (Ultimate Spy) refute the charge with exciting content and slam-bang style. The book's chief value is its perspective on the synergy of technology and tradecraft. From WWII through the Cold War and up to the present, the authors say, technical equipment for clandestine audio surveillance, for example has been an essential element of agent operations. In the post Cold War "information society," technology plays an even more significant role in fighting terrorism.
Customer Reviews
Great book on the history of spy gadgets.
Great book to understand the history and role spy gadgets and tools played in 20th century espionage.