"See No Evil" by Robert Baer

I became interested in this book after watching Syriana when at the end of the movie a post-script announced “…based on the book See No Evil by Robert Baer.” Naturally I became interested in learning about the truth behind the fiction.

The movie is largely based on one of the many cases during the author’s long career as a CIA agent (this one was related to his experience with a shady investment figure from the Washington lobbying community and closely connected with Clinton’s campaign contributions scandal).

See No Evil is collection of cases, an autobiographical account of the ex-CIA agent Baer and his utter discontent with his former employer. The book is also a wake-up call, a bitter cup of strong coffee that jolts in the early morning hours of the day. It is a crash course on the history of Militant Islamism and the agent’s personal involvement in the recruitment of spies in the fight against enemies of the US. It is also an example of how not to lead a government institution. As in all bureaucratic agencies, the CIA (which it seems to me should be the least bogged in bureaucracy) succumbed a long time ago to careerism, lack of professionalism and carelessness.

As I read this book, I became worried. No - I became down right scared about the lack of intelligence the US had about this great perils of evil – the terrorism in the modern age. What do you mean the US didn’t know for years who committed the suicide bombing of the American embassy in Beirut? What do you mean agents of the CIA were trying to convert Muslim spies to Christianity and could care less about that other thing they’re hired to do (their job)? Are we talking about one of the most feared organizations in the world, or are we talking about my grandma’s church group? And what do you mean CIA agents were embezzling funds from the US government to set up their own European businesses and were never punished for that?

As the author voiced his disappointment with the CIA I huddled and shivered. If this is how CIA is being run, I better invest in a bunker underneath my back yard, because only God would be able to help me against those idiots with the bombs underneath their clothes.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more about the things going on behind the scenes in the war against terrorism.

-by Simon Cleveland