Cloak and Dollar : A History of American Secret Intelligence

This lively book traces the history of American secret intelligence from the founding of the nation through the present day. Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones argues that while the intelligence community has had some successes, it has also played a confidence trick on the American people, inventing threats instead of analyzing them and demanding too many dollars for its services. The Preface to this new edition shows how intelligence boosters have taken advantage of 9/11.

Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones is professor of American history at the University of Edinburgh.