Rating: 
Summary: MUST READ
Review: Finally somebody who speaks up against deception, disinformation and incompetence in the right-extremist US administration. The consequences are self-evident and one only wonders how it can be that you still find strident defenders of just about anything the white house ideologues come up with. One would think that even a Republican would want to see his family protected. Clarke is a republican working for a republican administration. It turns out he did not want to stand by idly. The rest of the WH response is an attempt at character assassination by a panicked bunch of unrepentant ideologues in the face of devastating criticism originating from someone with utmost credibility.
Rating: 
Summary: suspect
Review: As a reporter who has covered national security issues, many of the accusations made in the book are indeed accurate. However, many of the problems cited in the book existed many years before the Bush staff took office. Because Clarke served 4 administrations, it would seem he should bear more of the responsibility for the secuirty disasters than he allows in his book. During his tenure
two world trade center disasters occured, bombing of the USS Cole, the attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania..the list goes on... It therefore makes some of his accusations curious...while the book is an interesting read....its accuracy is disturbingly suspect..wonder if the book is a prelude to a movie?
Rating:
Summary: Much more than the Media is saying
Review: There is a LOT more in this book than what you are hearing in the media. While the first chapter reads like a Tom Clancy novel, this guy lays out a great (if somewhat abbreviated) history of anti terrorism actions over the past 30 years and explains the shortcomings of the FBI, CIA and NSC in dealing with the problem. Turf wars, ass coverings, bureaucratic bungling, political infighting and all.He reviews the situation we are in, how we got there and the effects of what we have done. Most of it is not political. It is just explaining the facts we can see.It will be extremely hard for someone who actually reads this book to dismiss Clarke as a disgruntled former employee or a political hack. I have to accept the idea that the timing was intended to sell books but that is what publishers do. On the other hand it could be to insure that people listen to testimony that they needed to hear. Overall, a well written, informative book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!!!!
Review: If you want to learn the truth about the Bush administration from a registered Republican who has worked with both Democrats and Republicans, you need to read this book. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Lies from a gold-seeking, self-serving traitor
Review: This pathetic piece of garbage isn't even worthy of daytime soap opera. Really, it's the story of a one time public servant who sold his soul for gold and in the process betrayed the only friends he ever really had. Save your money and wait for the CBS miniseries starring Leslie Nielsen. You're truly sad Benedict Clarke
Rating:
Summary: Must reading
Review: This is the most important book that you can read this year. Not only is it the difinative account of 9/11 and the events leading to it, but it is also the most comprehensive and enlightening account of world wide terrorism and what needs to be done to combat it... I have read this book cover to cover and would defy anyone to point out any factual inaccuracies or distortions. Sure Clarke has an agenda; as he points out in the begining of this work, he wants to see a world that is safer more secure for all of us. Do not disparage his motives unless you have read this book in its entirety.
Rating:
Summary: Pathetic at best
Review: This pathetic piece of garbage isn't even worth of daytime soap opera. Really, it's the story of a one time public servant who sold his soul for gold and in the process betrayed the only friends he ever really had. Save your money and wait for the CBS miniseries starring Leslie Nielsen. You're truly sad Benedict Clarke.
Rating:
Summary: In Context the "facts" are questionable
Review: It would be a dangerous thing for a person reading the book to take the claims of Clarke at face value. While having interacting with Clarke in the past I can attest that he is an intelligent man; however, he also is a man with ambitions that can cloud good judgement.
That said, having read the book from cover to cover and followed up by examining public comments made by Rice, Clarke, Bush, and Powell from 1999 to present it seems that the numbers don't add up. Clarke himself critized the Clinton administration for not being "interested" in Bin Laiden and his ilk; yet now it seems that he is claiming the same of Bush after of course he lauded Bush's proactive stance on the terrorist issues upon entering the office.
As was said during the resent 9/11 commision, Mr. Clarke, your credibility is questionable.
Rating:
Summary: A feel good book , for some.
Review: As I look over the reviews here at Amazon, it is about equally divided between 1 star and 5 star ratings, yet the average Amazon rating is 4 1/2 stars. This is a good way to rate this book, no matter what the actual facts are, just rate or say what you want the truth or in this case, the rating to be, and make it so. It is quite obvious that Clarke has reached out to those people who want to read a negative view of the president's handling of protecting our country, and of course they love it. Problem is, Clarke, in his own words as documented on tape and in writing, told a story in real life that does not match what he chose to write in his book and profit from. It apparently is working quite well from a financial position for Clarke, but at the expense of honesty.
Rating:
Summary: Read this first-person account then decide
Review: I think one must first read this book before making a decision on whether or not Clarke is mounting a personal attack. First of all, Clarke pretty well discredits Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II equally, but for different reasons. For instance, for all the rhetoric, Reagan never retaliated for the Beirut bombing. But Clarke also explains how we were fighting blind and eventually put the pieces together. Clinton is criticized even though you do not get this from the news. As one example, Clarke speaks about wanting to shut down the "secret" Arab form of banking known as "hawala." (He does not explain it, but this comes from the Arab root "to move.") The Clinton FBI reported back to him there was no such thing in America. How incompetent and idiotic can the FBI be? I, along with other Americans, have used "hawalas" in small purchases on Ebay. The only difference is that I have lived in the Middle East and knew what the system was. My last point is that one would not know from watching the news that 911 was avoidable. The news falsely frames the question with Clarke asking if we could have stopped 911 by killing bin Laden. Within that false context the answer is "no." If you read the book, you see how Clarke points out the Millenium Plot was foiled by people working together with daily briefings and exchange. He clearly states--and this is why you should read this book--had this same urgency been shown by Condi Rice as with Sandy Berger we probably could have stopped the attacks. Want further insight about priorities? Read what Clarke says Rumsfeld was doing on 911. How correct Clarke is on his assumptions time will only tell.
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