Bamford, James. Body of Secrets: Anatomy of the Ultra-Secret National Security Agency from the Cold War through the Dawn of a New Century. New York: Doubleday, 2001. 721 pages.

When James Bamford wrote the world's first book on the National Security Agency in 1982, everyone was nervous if not furious. The NSA reclassified some declassified documents he used, and even Newsweek liberals were critical. The book itself was great, but unlike many media pundits, Bamford forgot to take his cues from the Cold War intelligence establishment. Nineteen years later, this new book is the toast of the town. Bamford didn't change; everyone and everything else did.

Two topics are very well done -- the chapter on the USS Liberty, which was attacked by Israel in 1967, and the information on NSA's computer systems and Echelon eavesdropping efforts. Less fascinating are the "little picture" chapters, based on interviews with former NSA globetrotters that make them seem more like adventurers than compulsive snoops. There's also a major scoop in this book about a 1962 plan called Operation Northwoods, which was approved by the Joint Chiefs but never implemented. The Chiefs wanted to launch a terrorism war against Americans themselves, so that it could be blamed on Cuba, thereby justifying retaliation. The phrase "conspiracy to commit treason against the American people" comes to mind, but for the Pentagon this was just business as usual.
ISBN 0-385-49907-8

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