Facts and fears

Clapper, who often came across as a curmudgeonly gaffe machine during his time as Director of National Intelligence, seems very candid here. He recounts a long and winding career in intelligence, ending with a tour as DNI going into the 2016 election. He's honest about the (publicly acknowledged) things he did right and gives a straight answer for the things he screwed up.

I removed one star simply because I wish he had given some more details for the controversial programs that he commented on during his time as DNI. It's very interesting when he takes the time to explain what the purpose or utility of a program was, but on more than one occasion, he seems to simply gloss over something with a, "This was actually okay" and doesn't fill in any blanks.

Still though, an informing read for anyone who is a student of the IC.

It was great to read the views of a lifelong intelligence professional, as he watched and helped shepherd the improvements and changes over the decades. I can't claim anywhere near Clapper's breadth of knowledge, but my experience in my nearly 30 years in the intelligence community fits with his very well. We see most IC folks as being more accepting of change, whether societal or institutional, than many might assume for such an inherently conservative (not politically, structurally) group. And, nearly every IC professional is devoted, as Clapper says, to speaking truth to power, to always providing the best facts while knowing that we are not in charge of policy.

Great look at a lifetime of work in the shadows, and the need for a small amount of transparency today.