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Good Hunting: An American Spymaster's Story, by Jack Devine, Vernon Loeb
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A MASTER CLASS IN SPYCRAFT FROM ONE OF ITS GREATEST PRACTITIONERS
Jack Devine is one of the legendary spymasters of our time. He was in Chile when Allende fell; he ran Charlie Wilson's war in Afghanistan; he had too much to do with Iran-Contra for his own taste, though he tried to stop it; he oversaw the effort to run down Pablo Escobar in Colombia. Devine served America's interests for more than thirty years in a wide range of covert operations, ultimately overseeing the Directorate of Operations, a CIA component that watches over thousands of American covert operatives worldwide.
Good Hunting is his guide to the art of spycraft, told with great wit, candor, and commonsense wisdom. Caricatured by Hollywood, lionized by the right, and pilloried by the left, the CIA remains one of the least understood instruments of the United States government. Devine knows more than almost anyone about the CIA's vital importance as a tool of American statecraft. In wonderfully readable prose, Good Hunting aims to set the record straight. This is a revelatory inside look at an organization whose history has not been given its real due.
- Sales Rank: #108240 in Books
- Published on: 2015-04-28
- Released on: 2015-04-28
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.18" h x 1.05" w x 5.54" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 336 pages
Amazon.com Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Month, June 2014: Meet Jack Devine. Something of a real-life George Smiley, he is a 30-year veteran of the CIA who, among a lot of things, ran Charlie Wilson's war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, knew a thing or two about the Iran-Contra affair long before the rest of us did (including the president?), and tangled with some of the agency's most notorious double-agents. In Good Hunting: An American Spymaster’s Story, Devine has written a fascinating memoir of his time overseeing the agency’s spying operations, while also critiquing its policies and direction--arguing that covert ops (i.e. actual undercover operatives on the ground) is the best, most effective use of the CIA’s talents, rather than its increasingly paramilitaristic role during a decade of war. Devine has managed an unlikely accomplishment: enhancing the aura of the agency while stripping away some of its myths, in the process producing a clear-eyed and forthright account from an intelligence insider. --Jon Foro
From Booklist
Now-retired CIA officer Devine built a career (1967–98) in which he ascended from entry-level employee to the top echelon of the organization’s clandestine service. Amid candid reflections on his experiences, Devine advances opinions about the worth of covert operations, which he supports in general. Commenting on them specifically via his own involvement, Devine defends the CIA’s 1973 role in Chile and its 1980s arming of anti-Soviet Afghan rebels. But he critiques the CIA’s entanglement in the Iran-Contra scandal of the mid-1980s. Devine’s colorful anecdotes convey a lively sense of how a CIA officer works as a street-level case officer, a chief of station, and an executive managing the entire Directorate of Operations, all roles that Devine fulfilled and in which he takes palpable pride. The exception to success that Devine confronts is Aldrich Ames, the Russian mole whose betrayal cost many CIA agents their lives. An occasional supervisor of Ames, Devine puzzles over Ames’ motivations as he describes how the case dealt a blow to CIA morale. A vivid insider’s view, Devine’s is an engaging account for the espionage set. --Gilbert Taylor
Review
“An entertaining chronicle of [Devine's] decades at the agency and a persuasive case for its continued relevance.” ―The Washington Post
“Well written and engaging, studded with insights and opinions that are thoughtful.” ―The Boston Globe
“A refresher course on the breadth of America's covert campaigns against the spread of Soviet influence and ideology . . . Mr. Devine's remarkable thirty-two-year career is a microcosm of the secret thrust and counterthrust that defined those years.” ―The Wall Street Journal
“A spine-tingling, utterly compelling book.” ―Houston Chronicle
Most helpful customer reviews
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful.
In the Service of the CIA
By Richard Trogdon
THIS IS NOT A NOVEL! After reading the book and all the reviews, I think the most important thing that any potential reader needs to know is that this is not, and was obviously not intended to compete with spy novels. I say this because several of the negative reviews that I have read complain about the book being boring and having no intrigue or drama. If you are looking for a story that is full of suspense, this is not a book that you will enjoy. If, on the other hand, you are interested in how our nation collects information and influences events in other countries, this is an excellent choice. I think you will find this an easy read. The coauthor, Vernon Loeb, is a professional writer and the book is well written and polished. While some discussions of this book may make it sound dry, I did not find the first part of this book that way. The second part of the book, covering his time in private business after he left the CIA, might be more appropriate in a separate book.
It has been suggested that this is not a book for the average reader. While I cannot be the judge of that, I do think it is a good book for the average voter. Many comments that I have read about this book express emotion and a political opinion. When a citizen chooses to vote, they vote not only for an individual but for the policies, that individual supports. Understanding how the CIA functions helps us understand how these policies are carried out. While it was not discussed in this book, a reader might, for instance, come away from reading it contemplating how different the outcome would have been for the interest of the United States if the CIA had carried out the operations in Benghazi, Libya in place of Ambassador Stevens, who was killed. The ambassador was a high profile and high value target and his killing was a major success for our enemies. It also had huge political implications in this country. I think that reading this book will help the average person better understand our involvement in other countries.
WARNING! This book does have an agenda. I find it to be an excellent example of CIA tradecraft. As Mr. Devine explains in his book, much of the work of a covert agent is to sell others, individuals and whole populations, on a worldview that enhances the interest of the United States. He also worked in covert operations and supports the use of covert actions to bring about regime change in foreign countries. Mr. Devine was stationed in Chile when Allende was overthrown. When he states that “we did not promote the military coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende in 1973” he is apparently choosing his words carefully and referring specifically to the CIA. He was good at his job and he still is. This book markets Mr. Devine, the CIA, and covert actions well. That said, it is both a fascinating and informative volume.
67 of 77 people found the following review helpful.
Modern Bible for Covert Operations -- Joins Dulles, Helms, Colby as a Classic
By Robert David STEELE Vivas
I strongly recommend this book! I happily disclose that I received the book from the publisher at my request and that I have worked for Jack directly. I have also reviewed hundreds of books on Intelligence. This is easily the most insightful and sophisticated look at the important covert action aspect of the intelligence business. This critical tool of statecraft was established in the charter that created the CIA during the Truman administration. It gave CIA the mandate to carry out "special activities as directed by the President." Over his 32-year career, Jack was uniquely involved in a wide range of these covert activities, including the ousting of Allende in Chile, the Iran Contra affair, the successful defeat of the Russians in Afghanistan, the hunt for drug Kingpin Pablo Escobar and the reinstatement of Aristide in Haiti.
He also weaves in his direct experiences with Rick Ames, the Soviet mole inside CIA as well as the hunt for Robert Hanssen, the mole inside the FBI. Moreover, he shares important insights about his tenure as the chief of all CIA worldwide operations in the mid 90"s. That said, his main contribution is setting out the good and bad characteristics of covert action. He does it with candor , wit and wisdom.
He articulates the characteristics of smart Covert Action (CA), one I might call the "Devine Doctrine," for successful covert operations. The seven principles are:
01 Viable partners in place
02 Real-time accurate information
03 Adequate resources
04 Bipartisan political support
05 A direct threat to US security
06 Proportionality
07 A reasonable prospect for success
While I don't share his view about the priority of CA and would rather emphasize decision-support (creating ethical evidence-based tailored intelligence for Whole of Government so that the public interest is served across every mission area), I must emphasize that CA is a major part of intelligence and this book is a necessary read for followers of intelligence. If and when covert action and clandestine operations are necessary, this is the Bible, or in military terms, "REF A." This book is valuable to multiple audiences. For the professional audience -- young case officers and rising managers -- this is the new bible, a bit thin on some important topics of interest to me, but deep where it matters most.
It is also noteworthy that Good Hunting has an added benefit in his describing his post-CIA work in the private sector where he along with prominent NYC financial crimes attorney Stanley Arkin have created a very successful private sector intelligence business. There is very little written on the subject at the high end of the industry. The conclusion of the book is a mix of success stories from commercial intelligence that should open many reader's eyes -- Jack has raised the bar on what can be done in emerging marketplaces particularly, at Wall Street levels of speed and value -- and I totally embrace his prescriptions for modest reform in how the US Government makes decisions, goes to war, and wages peace and commerce. All this from an individual that could arguably be called the most successful US spy in modern history, and also one of the most successful commercial intelligence pioneers in modern history.
This is a superbly-crafted book that took me seven hours to appreciate, and another hour to organize my notes and develop this review. While it can and should be read on the train to and from NYC, it is more properly appreciated as the tip of the iceberg, an invitation to get serious about the evolving craft of intelligence. Each chapter in this book covers an extraordinary aspect of clandestine operations; I have been directly involved in some of these. I give the book high marks for communicating important lessons, and for avoiding disclosure of details that would detract from their intended narrative.
There are so many details in this book that are valuable (e.g. $1000 as standard monthly salary for an asset) and so much that I agree with (e.g. torture does not work, exiles are generally impotent problem children) this is absolutely a book that merits careful reading -- this is not just a spy story, this is a management, leadership, and practical handbook. I would rate it as the modern equivalent of the books by Dulles, Helms, and Colby.
The Craft of Intelligence: America's Legendary Spy Master on the Fundamentals of Intelligence Gathering for a Free World
A Look Over My Shoulder: A Life in the Central Intelligence Agency
Honorable Men: My Life in the CIA
The entire book is a study in incremental innovation within the constraints of a very grid-locked system.
There are of course matters not addressed in this book. Below I link to seven books that in my view complement this book and the three books listed above, along with the 300+ books in my master list, Worth a Look: Books on Secret Government Intelligence:
Informing Statecraft: Intelligence for a New Century
The Secret Team: The CIA and Its Allies in Control of the United States and the World
Who the Hell Are We Fighting?: The Story of Sam Adams and the Vietnam Intelligence Wars
Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw
Gold Warriors: America's Secret Recovery of Yamashita's Gold
Someone Would Have Talked
A Pretext for War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America's Intelligence Agencies
Best wishes to all,
Robert David STEELE Vivas
ON INTELLIGENCE: Spies and Secrecy in an Open World
29 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
A Flawed Jewel
By Retired Reader
This book is not an autobiography, but a memoir of the highlights of Jack Devine’s 32 year career as a CIA intelligence officer and his subsequent career as a successful director of a private sector commercial intelligence firm. Also Devine was, for much of his service with CIA, a covert action officer rather than a conventional intelligence officer. Covert action is clearly where his interest was directed throughout his CIA career. As a result this book contains some excellent guidance on the necessary ingredients for successful covert action as well as some uniquely useful pointers in the execution of such action.
That said his book provides no real insights on CIA activities during Devine’s tenure at CIA. His accounts of his first covet action tour in Chile and CIA’s involvement in the overthrow of Salvador Allende are simply based on publicly available information and CIA’s stock public denial of any involvement in the coup. This can be said for his accounts of CIA gun running to the Mujahedeen Insurgency against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Indeed in his account of this operation he makes an astonishing mistake about Osama bin Laden. He categorically declares, “there is no evidence [he] ever received weapons or other material support from the CIA” and by referring to him as “a minor blip on our screen and his support came directly from the Arab States.” As with many of Devine’s declarations in this book his claims do not square with the evidence. Osama bin Laden actually joined the Mujahedin Insurgency in 1979 and proceeded to assist its operations by providing the Mujahedin fighters with money, arms, fighters from the Arab States. It makes no sense to categorically declare that no CIA sponsored arms ever reached bin Laden.
In short this is a very flawed book in many ways. Devine is undoubtedly a good covert action officer and manager, but he is also a good “company man” he is clearly at pains to avoid offending any past or present CIA colleagues. He apparently never met a CIA Director that he didn’t like and rather gingerly mentions that James Schlesinger (CIA Director 1973) was disliked for his purging of the clandestine service, but conflates him with Admiral Stansfield Turner (USN ret.) (CIA Director 1977-1981). Signicantly he makes no mention of the fact that President Nixon also dismantled CIA’s ability to produce strategic intelligence by dissolving CIA’s Office of National Estimates (ONE) and replacing it with the politically more pliable National Intelligence Council. I would not recommend this book to the general public, but would say that intelligence aficionados would find it quite interesting.
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