Senseless Secrets: The Failures of U.S. Military Intelligence from the Revolution to Afghanistan

American military intelligence has often failed, costing needless casualties, money, and materiel. Senseless Secrets covers 200 years of intelligence breakdowns in every American war, including Benedict Arnolds turn in the Revolution, George McClellans reliance on the Pinkertons, Custers flawed intelligence, Pearl Harbor, the German attack, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi strength, and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2023
Publisher: Stackpole Books

From the War for Independence to the War on Terror, American military intelligence has often failed, resulting in needless casualties, wasted resources, and tarnished prestige. Regrettably, it has frequently failed to learn from its mistakes.

Senseless Secrets delves into over 200 years of intelligence breakdowns in every American war, encompassing not only instances of intelligence errors but also instances where valuable intelligence failed to reach battlefield commanders. It sheds light on the infiltration of spies and traitors within the military intelligence community, as well as other crucial aspects.

The book offers a captivating collection of stories, including the pivotal role of Benedict Arnold during the Revolutionary War, George McClellan's reliance on exaggerated enemy estimates during the Civil War, Custer's flawed intelligence leading up to the Little Bighorn, the controversy surrounding Pearl Harbor, the surprise German attack that initiated the Battle of the Bulge, the failure to provide useful intelligence to small-unit commanders in Vietnam, overestimations of Iraqi strength during Operation Desert Storm, the misinformation about Saddam Hussein's purported nuclear arsenal in 2002-03, and the challenges encountered during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Senseless Secrets is a must-read for anyone interested in military history, particularly within the United States military. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of intelligence operations and the consequences of intelligence failures. By examining these historical events, Senseless Secrets serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of rigorous intelligence analysis, effective communication, and learning from past mistakes to ensure better outcomes in future conflicts.

Weight: 621g
Dimension: 232 x 160 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780811771931