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The Official HH Book Club List

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  • GrundleStiltzkinGrundleStiltzkin Member Posts: 61,516 Standard Supporter
    Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA


    I am now seeing from my own shit above this is the same guym who wrote about the Epphh Bee Eye.

    The author's view of the CIA is so dim that I feel like I need to find something else for balance.

    Chort, reading the first review now on GoodReads:
    But any work of journalism, to be regarded as great, must be objective and here is the problem with this book: it is such a pervasivley negative account, it reports that the CIA is so off the charts bad, that a reader wonders if Weiner is just slamming them page after page. Surely in over 60 years of service the CIA has done something right.


    I think some of the Tug denizens might cheer this grim assessment. But at the same tim, the CIA as depicted in the book can't rig a tinpot South American election.

    There's some hilarious chincompetence depicted. I already can't remember what shithole country it was, but a female ambassador was doing things the CIA didn't care for. Agents bugged her office, taped the ambassador making lovey dovey sounds directed at a female name, and leaked it as the ambassador having a lesbian affair with her secretary. Nope, she was petting her dwag.

    Anyhow, as far as technical writing gifts go, well-written book. And everything is attributed. I do wonder what was left out.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club

    Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA


    I am now seeing from my own shit above this is the same guym who wrote about the Epphh Bee Eye.

    The author's view of the CIA is so dim that I feel like I need to find something else for balance.

    Chort, reading the first review now on GoodReads:

    But any work of journalism, to be regarded as great, must be objective and here is the problem with this book: it is such a pervasivley negative account, it reports that the CIA is so off the charts bad, that a reader wonders if Weiner is just slamming them page after page. Surely in over 60 years of service the CIA has done something right.


    I think some of the Tug denizens might cheer this grim assessment. But at the same tim, the CIA as depicted in the book can't rig a tinpot South American election.

    There's some hilarious chincompetence depicted. I already can't remember what shithole country it was, but a female ambassador was doing things the CIA didn't care for. Agents bugged her office, taped the ambassador making lovey dovey sounds directed at a female name, and leaked it as the ambassador having a lesbian affair with her secretary. Nope, she was petting her dwag.

    Anyhow, as far as technical writing gifts go, well-written book. And everything is attributed. I do wonder what was left out.
    Chincompetent government agencies capable of pulling off the most intricate of conspiracies and keeping secrets for 60 plus years always makes me chortle.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club
    Really been enjoying Pearlman's book about the Showtime era Lakers (HBO series "Winning Time" was based off this book).

    I was a YUGE Lakers fan as a yoot in the mid - 80's and yet little Yella didn't know who the fuck Jack McKinney or how Dr. Buss got rich.



  • haiehaie Member, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 22,927 Swaye's Wigwam
    Finally bought Heat 2. Have heard nothing but great things about it.
  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club

    @CFetters_Nacho_Lover in honor of the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on this Wednesday, I just finished Max Hasting's epic on Vietnam.

    It's a little dense on spots and not for the feint of heart with ADHD, but I found it incredibly helpful in adding to my knowledge of that clusterfuck.

    Hastings remains the finest military historian of our time.

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  • CFetters_Nacho_LoverCFetters_Nacho_Lover Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 31,507 Founders Club

    Read it a few years ago. Great job telling the entire story of American involvement.

    If you’re not read it, I also recommend Bright Shining Lie.

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  • PurpleThrobberPurpleThrobber Member Posts: 46,545 Standard Supporter
    edited April 28

    Waiting for the sequel: Victoria Nuland and America in Ukraine.

    TITTT, I know.

    But I'm right too.

    Try also "How to Hide an Empire" by Daniel Immerwahr.

  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club
    edited April 28

    Ukraine via-a-vis Vietnam is a poor analogy, however. TITTT.

    16,000 American (mostly conscript) grunts didn't die in Ukraine last year (i.e., the 1968 body count for the US). The Ukrainians have mostly held off the Ruskies w/o US troops or deployment of US Air Power.

    The ARVN relied heavily on both.

  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club

    The Vietnamese would have been far better offer staying as a French colony and getting independence down the road. Probably would have happened by the 70's or 80s.

    Those guys who signed on with Uncle Ho ultimately made their country much worse off than otherwise would have been the case.

  • YellowSnowYellowSnow Moderator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 36,903 Founders Club

    Looks like Spotify can read How to Hide and Empire to me for story time!!

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