"Facts And Fears Hard Truths From A Life In Intelligence" by James R. Clapper--Book Review

Clapper, James R. with Trey Brown.  Facts And Fears Hard Truths From A Life In Intelligence (New York, NY Viking 2018)

First and foremost, let me say that this is one of the books that every American citizen should read.  If you only intend to read one book this year, this book is just as viable a candidate to be that singular book as any other.  James Clapper grew up in the American intelligence community because his father was an American intelligence officer.  His wife's parents also raised her in the intelligence community and she spent her career working in that area also.  Clapper rose from the lowest entry level position to be in charge of the entire seventeen agency American intelligence service.  He served honorably and well at all levels of the intelligence service and is one of the most experienced former intelligence administrators to ever work in the field.  His co-author Trey Brown served as his speech writer for several years both as an intelligence agency head and as Director Of National Intelligence.  The two men have produced an informative, honest, well written book.  

The one real drawback to the book in my mind lies in the fact that both authors are incredibly well versed in the language of acronyms which permeates all levels of government service.  The average reader is not likely to be so and the book is filled with hundreds of acronyms for numerous agencies at all levels of the federal government.  In defense of the authors, editor, and publisher, the book does have a Glossary of Abbreviations in the back which actually covers more than three pages.  But, if you are not particularly adept at reading and remembering those acronyms, you find yourself flipping back and forth to that glossary as you read which makes it time consuming and mildly irritating.  But, once again in defense of the team which produced the book, eliminating the glossary and printing the full names of all those government agencies every time they appeared would have added a sizable number of pages to the book, expense to the purchaser, and a different set of problems.  But nothing I have said in the preceding sentences should ever be considered justification for not reading the book.  If you love America, American Democracy, and world peace, you should definitely read it.  

There is a common misconception about this book that it is intended as an indictment of the crimes of Donald Trump just as there was a similar misconception about James Comey's book, "A Higher Loyalty...".  Nothing could be farther from the truth in both cases.  These are books about the lives of loyal, patriotic, American public servants and heroes and not remotely about the TRAITOR who is illegally occupying the White House due to his TREASON. Any and all references to the TRAITOR Trump are necessary as a part of the story being told and support the greater threads of discussion in the book.  This is a book about patriotism, heroism, and honorable government service by a man who will someday be clearly and universally honored as the hero his is, always has been, and will always be.  James Clapper would much rather have been allowed to end his government service quietly and peacefully in the company of his family and friends instead of finding it necessary to continue to serve his country as a retiree in order to further the defenses of America, American Democracy, and a peaceful world in the face of a Russian originated and directed plot to destroy all the aforementioned.  James Clapper is an American hero.  Read this book and you will understand to just how great a degree his heroism has grown as his country has been faced with the worst constitutional crisis in our history.  

"A Higher Loyalty Truth, Lies, And Leadership" by James Comey---Book Review

Comey, James. A Higher Loyalty Truth, Lies, And Leadership (New York, Flatiron Books 2018)

If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book you should read!  

Once in a while a book comes along that is the most important book in print at that time.  For the year 2018, this is that book.  At this time (May 29, 2018), this book is ranked #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List and has spent five weeks on the list.  I pre-ordered it, read it immediately, and should have written about it on this blog on the same day I finished it.  I apologize for that delay.  But "A Higher Loyalty..." is not the most important book of the year because it is a best seller.  The reverse is true.  It is a best seller because, Thank God, a major portion of the readers in America realize that is an incredibly important work.  This book is an autobiographical and historical work by one of the two most important men in the world, James Comey, who is literally standing in the breach protecting this country and the world from a would be dictator, TRAITOR Trump. 

Photo of Robert Mueller and James Comey by The Washington Times

Now let me put at least one of the major misunderstandings about this book to rest for you.  This book is not, in any major way, about TRAITOR Trump.  It is about James Comey, his life and career, and the important values and people who shaped him into the patriot, hero, attorney, public servant, and practicing Christian he is today.  In fact, TRAITOR Trump is mentioned only two or three times in the first one hundred pages of the book and only then to place James Comey, his life's work, and his incredibly unjust firing in their proper perspective.  The book is a masterfully written piece of work which is a fast read, enlightening in many areas, and very well constructed and fluid in its progress from opening to conclusion.  James Comey grew up in a devoutly religious home and was raised to be respectful, ambitious, hard working, and honest.  That is exactly who he turned out to be. The book progresses from his early childhood when he was heavily influenced by being a victim of a violent burglary to the day he was unjustly and criminally fired by TRAITOR Trump.  Mr. Comey discusses and explains the values he was exposed to by his parents, his long and loving relationship with wife and children, his exemplary career as a US Attorney and Director of the FBI, his successful career working for two duly elected presidents each from a different political party, and his deep commitment to the country. 

Photo Of James Comey & His Family by ABC News

Without much discussion of TRAITOR Trump at all, James Comey is able to skillfully elucidate the general public about the inherent differences between an American Patriot and a traitor, a committed Christian and a man who is irreligious at best, an absolutely honest man and a career criminal, a bastion of truth and a pathological liar, and an outstanding citizen and a self-serving representative of all that is evil in the world.  James Comey is a man who should be hailed as the hero he is and he will be as the full load of evidence mounts against TRAITOR Trump.  Buy this book as soon as you can get a copy in your hands.  Read it from cover to cover as soon as you have it in your hands.  Then pass it on to someone else with the stipulation that they must read it and pass it on ad infinitum.

If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book you should read! 

"Collusion Secret Meetings Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win" by Luke Harding: Book Review

Harding, Luke. Collusion, Secret Meetings, Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win (New York, Vintage Books, 2017)

As our ever growing, ever worsening constitutional crisis has continued and grown much like Topsy, I have devoted much of my reading and writing time to books related to the crimes of the TRAITOR and International Terrorist Donald Trump, studies of dystopian literature, constitutional issues, and the history of Fascism.  The latest book of that nature which I have read is "Collusion..." by Luke Harding, a staff writer for The Guardian, one of the best, most honest, and most incisive political websites.  Harding is also the author of the prior best seller, "The Snowden Files".  In "Collusion...", Harding examines the connections between the TRAITOR and International Terrorist Donald Trump, his staff people, others around him and Russia.  Specifically, the book addresses the timeline of those Russian connections of Paul Manafort, Carter Page, Jared Kushner, Michael Flynn along with those of the head traitor himself.  

The book does an excellent job of uncovering and illuminating potential criminal actions between the principles and Vladimir Putin, the KGB, the FSB, Alfa Bank, and numerous Russian oligarchs close to Putin.  Harding's connections in the sleazy and dangerous world of Russian money laundering have to be the envy of many full time undercover operatives of most of the major democratic governments in the world.  He was able to personally meet with and interview Christopher Steele, the retired British intelligence agent who authored the so-called Russian Dossier which first brought to public light the potential treason of Trump.  He does an excellent job of tracing the actions, travels, and nefarious meetings of figures as diverse as Steele, Carter Page, and Russian Ambassador Kislyak.  His research, much of which had to be done at risk of his personal safety, was meticulous.  His ability to piece together the complex and ever-growing connections between the Russian Owned Criminal Syndicate which currently illegitimately occupies the White House and the actual Russian government is impressive and approaches the level of work supervisors would expect from a member of the CIA, FBI, or NSC.  

It is a work well worth reading although it can be a cumbersome read at times.  But rest assured that it is worth the cover price.  After reading this book, along with others I have read and reviewed here, you will be much better informed about the greatest treason ever committed against the United States.  You will have a fuller understanding of the heinous nature of the crimes of TRAITOR and International Terrorist Trump and his Russian Owned Criminal Syndicate.  Buy the book or check it out at your local library. If your local library does not own a copy, demand that they order one and place it on their shelves.  Study the book and the timeline of collusion, espionage, and treason it presents.  Then speak out about the truths it contains.  Stand up for America and American Democracy and demand that the country and the world be purged of the illegitimate gang of conspirators and traitors which is occupying the White House.