Leading military historian, John Hughes-Wilson exposes just how close we have come to genuine nuclear disaster, military and civilian, on many occasions.
John HughesWilson Knihy
A frightening study of intelligence failings - 'blunders' - in warfare from the Second World War to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and their impact on events. Here is the insider's view from a former professional intelligence officer .
The Secret State
- 528 stránek
- 19 hodin čtení
Exploring the evolution of espionage from ancient Greece and Rome through the Elizabethan era to the modern digital age, Colonel John Hughes-Wilson provides a comprehensive analysis of intelligence's role in history. Drawing on diverse sources, he examines undercover operations, reconnaissance, and the complexities of contemporary cyber intelligence. The book critically addresses why vital information is frequently overlooked or manipulated by those in power, offering a thought-provoking perspective on the significance of intelligence in shaping events.
From the premise that gathering information is ‘part of mankind’s basic survival instinct’, John Hughes-Wilson surveys the way in which spying has shaped history. Through topics including the network maintained by the Catholic Church in medieval Europe, George Washington’s prioritizing of military intelligence and subterfuge in 20th-century conflicts, he demonstrates the value of knowledge, concluding with notes on the impact of modern communication.
For sixty years, speculation about the assassination of John F Kennedy has been rife. Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone, or was he part of a wider conspiracy? John Hughes-Wilson, a former British intelligence officer, has painstakingly sifted the evidence from official inquiries, court cases and personal testimonies to determine who had the motive, the means and the opportunity to kill the President, and draws startling conclusions.