Description
Book SynopsisFrom the first large-scale Viet Minh offensive against the French in 1950, to the fall of Saigon in 1975, the United States tried desperately to understand the nature of the fierce Communist-led struggle to create a unified, independent Vietnam. American intelligence played a key role in gathering information on the political and military situation in Vietnam and on the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. But as George Allen shows in this eye-popping memoir, intelligence appraisals were consistently ignored or rejected by policymakers in every administration from Eisenhower through Nixon—because these assessments undermined the mistaken assumptions of the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon. From his vantage point as a chief official with the CIA and army intelligence, Mr. Allen reveals specifically how American leaders, unwilling to face up to “bad news” from intelligence sources, largely excluded intelligence from important policy deliberations until it was too late. None So Blind is a remarkable contribution to the history of the Vietnam War.
Trade ReviewHe tells (what seems like) all in this wide-ranging, illuminating memoir. * Publishers Weekly *
Illuminating! * The VVA Veteran *
Valuable...an important piece of the Vietnam puzzle. -- Don Gregory * Providence Journal *
A unique work by a unique author.... Allen had the guts to speak truth to power. -- Harold P. Ford, Former Acting Chairman, National Intelligence Council
The CIA's premier Vietnam intelligence expert reveals the inside story of disputes on the war.... Don't miss this book! -- John Prados
Indispensable.... A must book. -- Lloyd Gardner
If the reader can only read one book about the problems of strategic intelligence in Vietnam, this one is recommended. -- Hayden B. Peake * The Journal Of Intelligence History *
