A Pretext For War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of Americas Intelligence Agencies Audiobook, by James Bamford Play Audiobook Sample

A Pretext For War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of America's Intelligence Agencies Audiobook

A Pretext For War: 9/11, Iraq, and the Abuse of Americas Intelligence Agencies Audiobook, by James Bamford Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Robertson Dean Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 7.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.88 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2004 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781415904848

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

14

Longest Chapter Length:

97:25 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

20:41 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

50:48 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

6

Other Audiobooks Written by James Bamford: > View All...

Publisher Description

In A Pretext for War, acclaimed author James Bamford–whose classic book The Puzzle Palace first revealed the existence of the National Security Agency–draws on his unparalleled access to top intelligence sources to produce a devastating expos? of the intelligence community and the Bush administration. A Pretext for War reveals the systematic weaknesses behind the failure to detect or prevent the 9/11 attacks, and details the Bush administration’s subsequent misuse of intelligence to sell preemptive war to the American people. Filled with unprecedented new revelations, from the sites of “undisclosed locations” to the actual sources of America’s Middle East policy, A Pretext for War is essential reading for anyone concerned about the security of the United States.

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"The first half of the book is OK, if a little too obsessed with Pentagon gadgetry. But the second half is A MUST READ for anyone who wants to understand where this Iraq quagmire came from. James Bamford doesn't pull any punches. And he has done his homework. Very convincing. "

— Aram (5 out of 5 stars)

A Pretext For War Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.72222222222222 out of 53.72222222222222 out of 53.72222222222222 out of 53.72222222222222 out of 53.72222222222222 out of 5 (3.72)
5 Stars: 6
4 Stars: 5
3 Stars: 3
2 Stars: 4
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " If you think you knew about the lead up to the Iraq War, this book gives you so much more information, I just couldn't believe it! So well-researched, well-written and well-read, I can not recommend this book more highly! "

    — Nancy, 6/25/2023
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " An interesting account of the Bush administration's gross negligence in committing the grave act of taking the nation into a "war of choice", twisting intelligence information at every step along the way to fabricate the rationale for what to date appears to have been a massive strategic blunder. "

    — M, 11/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " good audio book...had learned a lot of this already in other books...still interesting. "

    — Jose, 4/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This book is an interesting look at the problems of our intelligence system, and why it has been such a problem lately. It is also full of conspiracy theories, and lot of unconnected dots that Bamford tries to pull together. Interesting, if nothing else. "

    — Jordan, 12/19/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the best book on pre-Iraq war Washington. Gives you the personalities and the currents of thought in a fast, exciting format. Sort of the anti-Woodward. "

    — Alice, 11/9/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Important for people to read. "

    — Martha, 6/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Intel expert Bamford (Body of Secrets)connects the evasive dots of the pliable CIA to alter and retrofit intelligence to justify Iraqi invasion under G W Bush "

    — columbialion, 6/12/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Pretext for War gives an overview of what the American military, intelligence, and White house were doing in the space between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq. "

    — Scott, 3/26/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " you think you know about the Iraq War, you have no idea. "

    — Mike, 8/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Worth reading for the inside look at the U.S. Intelligence Community, but sub-par foreign policy analysis... "

    — Stephen, 10/10/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The first half of the book is OK, if a little too obsessed with Pentagon gadgetry. But the second half is A MUST READ for anyone who wants to understand where this Iraq quagmire came from. James Bamford doesn't pull any punches. And he has done his homework. Very convincing. "

    — Aram, 9/19/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Should be required reading for all future presidents and their advisors "

    — Susan, 8/15/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Intel expert Bamford (Body of Secrets)connects the evasive dots of the pliable CIA to alter and retrofit intelligence to justify Iraqi invasion under G W Bush "

    — columbialion, 1/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Worth reading for the inside look at the U.S. Intelligence Community, but sub-par foreign policy analysis... "

    — Stephen, 6/9/2009
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Should be required reading for all future presidents and their advisors "

    — Susan, 5/30/2009
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This is the best book on pre-Iraq war Washington. Gives you the personalities and the currents of thought in a fast, exciting format. Sort of the anti-Woodward. "

    — Alice, 2/3/2008
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " This book is an interesting look at the problems of our intelligence system, and why it has been such a problem lately. It is also full of conspiracy theories, and lot of unconnected dots that Bamford tries to pull together. Interesting, if nothing else. "

    — Jordan, 7/8/2007
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Pretext for War gives an overview of what the American military, intelligence, and White house were doing in the space between 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq. "

    — Scott, 4/28/2007

About James Bamford

James Bamford is a bestselling author, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker for PBS, award-winning investigative producer for ABC News, and winner of the National Magazine Award for Reporting for his writing in Rolling Stone on the war in Iraq. He has written four bestselling nonfiction books about the spy world, Body of Secrets, The Puzzle Palace, A Pretext for War, and SpyFail, among other books. He has written on national security for the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.

About Robertson Dean

Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.