Foreign Intelligence Organizations Richelson.pdf

Richelson ( The U.S. Intelligence Community ) provides detailed historical and organizational descriptions of the intelligence services of eight nations, including Britain, France, Israel, and China (but not the USSR or any Third World nations). Historical cases (e.g., the Falklands) provide some sense of the capability, operational style, and political environment of intelligence agencies. Richelson draws only modest but illuminating conclusions: for example, that the maturity and technical advance of such agencies contributes to a safer world. He is also sensitive to the "dark side." Writers of spy thrillers and lay readers should find useful and exciting bits among the more mundane discussions, of interest to specialists and students.