James bamford s the puzzle palace was a national bestseller when it was first published and now regarded as a classic. It also covers the history of espionage in the united states from uses of the fulton surfacetoair recovery system to retrieve personnel on arctic ocean drift stations to operation northwoods, a declassified us military plan that bamford. The idea of writing a book about the nsa had occurred to me several. The untold history of the national security agency. Us navy vietnam author of the puzzle palace, the definitive book on the nsa, which was published under dire threat in 1982 from the nsa. I first read this report on the nsa national security agency in 1987 and was so moved by author james bamford descriptions that i visited fort meade, maryland to verify its existence. A washington post best book of the year james bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america. Jun 10, 20 bamfords 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic eavesdropping is a necessary part of a post911 world that the n. As it is a nonfiction work i must admit that it is rather dry reading for the reader used to spyvsspy fictional excitement. The nsa has no constitutional right to secretly obtain the telephone records of every american citizen on a daily basis, subject them to sophisticated data mining and store them. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author, journalist and documentary producer widely noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa. They know much more than you think by james bamford. For the september 2014 issue of wired magazine bamford spent three days in moscow interviewing edward snowden, the most time any journalist has spent with him there.
James bamford is the nations foremost expert on the national security agency nsa. Bamford talked about the results of his research into the inner workings of the national security agency. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping of america, the author makes a few nods to this image by referencing the tony scott thriller enemy of. For example, james clapper, the director of national intelligence, was asked at a senate hearing in march whether the nsa. Author james bamford, who has written three books about the national security agency nsa, talks about the history of nsa spying and the. The internationally best selling, new york times best selling author, expert on national security issues, new book out the shadow factory, his most recent book, body of secrets was just mindboggling. Oct 02, 2014 for 30 years, james bamford obsessively documented the secretive national security agency. Oct 11, 2008 the latest book by james bamford, an expert on the national security agency, reconstructs the agencys recent history. James bamfords the puzzle palace was a national bestseller when it was first published and now regarded as a classic. Author james bamford, who has written three books about the national security agency nsa, talked about the history of nsa spying and the nsas surveillance of american citizens since the. James bamford audio books, best sellers, author bio. No book description is available for the wizards of langley. Now with a new afterword describing the security lapses that preceded the attacks of september 11, 2001, body of secrets takes us to the inner sanctum of americas spy world. His rolling stone article the man who sold the war won the 2006 national magazine award for reporting.
The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america, journalist james bamford reveals that the ultrasecret agency has half a million people on its. His new expose on the nsa is called body of secrets. The headquarters of the national security agency, fort meade, maryland. In 2008, bamford released the third book in his trilogy, the shadow factory.
The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on. Well, i wrote ai wrote an earlier book on nsa which was the first and only book ever written on nsa back in 1982. Jan 01, 2008 james bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s. Body of secrets by james bamford the author of a pioneering work on the nsa delivers a new book of revelations about the mysterious agencys coverups, eavesdropping and secret missions. This book has been optimized for viewing at a monitor.
Bamford, who served in the navy and studied law before becoming a journalist, published three more books after the puzzle palace, composing a tetralogy about the n. Since then i have written two more books about the nsa, as well as numerous magazine articles including two previous cover stories about the nsa for. Author james bamford james bamford, author of two books about the national security agency, talks about what the agency does, the constraints its supposed to operate under. The national security agency is the worlds most powerful, most farreaching espionage. The untold history of the national security agency just how much information will be stored in these windowless cybertemples. The puzzle palace is a book written by james bamford and published in 1982. Author james bamford, who has written three books about the national security agency nsa, talked about president obamas remarks on surveillance policy. Apr 25, 2001 body of secrets by james bamford the author of a pioneering work on the nsa delivers a new book of revelations about the mysterious agencys coverups, eavesdropping and secret missions. In midmay, edward snowden, an american in his late twenties, walked through the onyx entrance of the mira hotel on nathan road in hong kong and checked in. Formerly the washington investigative producer for.
For the first time, he tells of his turn as an nsa whistleblower. Now, bamford describes the transformation of the nsa since 911, as the agency increasingly turns its hightech gaze within americas borders. The shadow factory takes us on a behind the scenes tour of the nsa and the development of what bamford calls the surveillance industrial complex following 911. James bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s. James bamford is a columnist, bestselling author, journalist, and documentary producer. In the followup to his bestselling puzzle palace, james bamford reveals the nsas hidden role in. Author james bamford, a former naval security group communications technician and an investigative producer for abcs world news tonight, first publicized the agencys operations in his 1982 book. It is the first major, popular work devoted entirely to the history and workings of the national security agency nsa, a united states intelligence organization. Author james bamford, who has written three books about the national security agency nsa, talked about the history of nsa spying and the nsas. The national security agency is the worlds most powerful, most farreaching espionage organization. I read this book less from a perspective of worry about government intrusion or even national security but more from a desire to understand the technology that the nsa utilizes to. In body of secrets he offers shocking new details about the inner workings of the agency, gathered through unique access to thousands of internal documents and interviews with current and former officials.
Probably the best place within the entire region to install a listening post is the indian city of mumbai, james bamford writes in the. Sep 16, 2001 james bamford first explored the secrets of nsa in his bestselling book, the puzzle palace. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency is a book by james bamford about the nsa and its operations. Jan 11, 2009 probably the best place within the entire region to install a listening post is the indian city of mumbai, james bamford writes in the shadow factory. For 30 years, james bamford obsessively documented the secretive national security agency. In 1982, james bamford published the puzzle palace, his first expose on the national security agency. James bamford, the author of wireds cover story on the nsas growing. Now bamford describes the transformation of the nsa since 911, as the agency increasingly turns its hightech ears on the american public. They know much more than you think by james bamford the. James bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his. James bamford was raised in natick, massachusetts, and spent three years in the navy before attending law school in boston on the g. The nsa is the largest, most secretive and most powerful intelligence agency in the world.
This book is an in depth look at the national security agency. Bamfords 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic eavesdropping is a necessary part of a post911 world that the n. Sep 04, 2008 james bamford first penetrated the wall of silence surrounding the nsa in 1982, with the muchtalked about us bestseller the puzzle palace. But that was only the beginning of its hightech invasiveness, as bamford. The national security agency s eavesdropping on phone calls, emails, and other communications skyrocketed after 911. James bamford, who wrote one of the really good books about american intelligence. With a staff of 38,000 people, it dwarfs the cia in budget, manpower and influence. Congressional committees and a special federal court are charged with overseeing its work, although they are committed to secrecy, and the court can hear. Body of secrets by james bamford houston chronicle.
In the puzzle palace, james bamford revealed the existence of the nsa, the largest, most secretive, and bestfinanced intelligence organization. As the nsas surveillance technology expands and many americans grow disenchanted with the agencys activities since. Now he brings the story up to the present, filling in the many blank holes along the way. Jun 03, 2001 author james bamford, a former naval security group communications technician and an investigative producer for abcs world news tonight, first publicized the agencys operations in his 1982 book. Recent headlines have linked it to economic espionage throughout europe and to the ongoing hunt for the terrorist leader osama bin laden. This book has been optimized for viewing at a monitor setting. The title refers to a nickname for the nsa, which is headquartered in fort meade, maryland. The nsa is building the countrys biggest spy center. Still, the us intelligence agencies also seem to have adopted orwells idea of doublethinkto be conscious of complete truthfulness, he wrote, while telling carefully constructed lies. For 30 years, james bamford obsessively documented the secretive. It was called the puzzle palace, and it took the first look at the agency that does all this eavesdropping andsignals intelligence is the technical term for iteavesdropping, codebreaking and so forth. Mar 19, 2018 james bamford is the author of the shadow factory. Aug 15, 20 we know little about what uses the nsa makes of most information available to itit claims to have exposed a number of terrorist plotsand it has yet to be shown what effects its activities may have on the lives of most american citizens. Sep 23, 1982 james bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author, journalist and documentary producer widely noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa.
Us navy vietnam author of the puzzle palace, the definitive book on the nsa, which was published under dire threat in 1982 from the nsa for bamford. In the followup to his bestselling puzzle palace, james banford reveals the nsas. Author james bamford discusses the history of nsa spying and nsas surveillance of american citizens since the 911 attacks. Now with a new afterword describing the security lapses that preceded. In the puzzle palace, james bamford revealed the existence of the nsa, the largest, most secretive, and bestfinanced intelligence organization in the world 5 out of 5 stars listen to this audiobook. Award winning investigative reporter james bamford discusses bush and the nsas felonious warrantless wiretapping and the neoconservative agenda to drive this country to war with iran mp3 here james bamford was raised in natick, massachusetts, and spent three years in the navy before attending law school in boston on the g. The latest book by james bamford, an expert on the national security agency, reconstructs the agencys recent history. Award winning investigative reporter james bamford discusses bush and the nsas felonious warrantless wiretapping and the neoconservative agenda to drive this country to war with iran. Jun 05, 2018 a washington post best book of the year james bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america and a documentary filmmaker for pbs. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency 2001.
1110 726 71 78 594 546 213 1310 1464 777 530 814 80 855 222 401 1026 1380 976 1007 4 788 1379 843 399 972 116 1190 1545 1257 186 804 1135 766 315 308 146