Ric is a former PJ turned CIA contractor instructing the Contras in the early 80's before being picked up fulltime by the Agency. He bounced in and out of Ground Branch over his career, had some pretty spicy assignments, one of the guys who tracked UBL from well before 9/11, Chief of Ops at the Counter Terrorism Center when 9/11 happened...you get the idea.
Fantastic book. He came to the US as a Cuban "orphan" essentially and would retire as an SIS-2, which is a 2-star level position. The book is a great read, not boring, but it is also detailed. He went through this mysterious practice of submitting his manuscript for review, and as such there are significant portions which are redacted. Almost refreshingly for an autobio, I think he spends as much time praising others as he does in "I" mode. His section on the Philippines is fascinating and how he integrated his family into working overseas, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the evac, etc. I think his book is a great addition to anyone piecing together the CIA's work in tracking UBL and our post-9/11 efforts in Afghanistan. His book, Waugh, Coll, Schroen and others I don't recall all fill in the gaps between the various books and stories.
I kind of wish he'd spent more time on his PJ service, I believe he was a Reservist, but I think it is a really good book.
I give this 4, maybe 4.5, out of 5 dead Communists.
Fantastic book. He came to the US as a Cuban "orphan" essentially and would retire as an SIS-2, which is a 2-star level position. The book is a great read, not boring, but it is also detailed. He went through this mysterious practice of submitting his manuscript for review, and as such there are significant portions which are redacted. Almost refreshingly for an autobio, I think he spends as much time praising others as he does in "I" mode. His section on the Philippines is fascinating and how he integrated his family into working overseas, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the evac, etc. I think his book is a great addition to anyone piecing together the CIA's work in tracking UBL and our post-9/11 efforts in Afghanistan. His book, Waugh, Coll, Schroen and others I don't recall all fill in the gaps between the various books and stories.
I kind of wish he'd spent more time on his PJ service, I believe he was a Reservist, but I think it is a really good book.
I give this 4, maybe 4.5, out of 5 dead Communists.