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The Secret History of the Five Eyes
The untold story of the international spy network
By Richard Kerbaj
Published by Bonnier Books (Allen and Unwin)
ISBN: 9781789465556
To say this gripping and sometimes alarming book is interesting is putting it mildly.
Richard Kerbaj, interviewed world leaders, both past and present for telling these stories of the Western world's most powerful and least known intelligence alliances between five countries, the USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The Secret History of the Five Eyes is a page turning fascinating substantial read, while the author's writing style allows you to easily slip right into the heart of each story.
Beginning with the history and the formation of the Five Eyes, from the 1930's, enigma, Nazi Germany and Bletchley Park, each chapter covers a different period in history with accounts of vital security to present day.
The stories in each chapter unfold through the interviews of over one hundred intelligence officials as we read about their complex personalities in the spy networks and how the Five Eyes were formed. It is quite surprising to read about the large number of spy networks, which ones talk to one another, who trusts whom and the thousands of spies employed, many who have seemingly ordinary lives. These include Scotland Yard, MI5, MI6, GCHQ, the FBI, the CIA, NSA, ASIO and secret services in all these counties.
People interviewed included former GCHQ director Sir Iain Lobban, CIA director General David Petraeus, MI5 director-general Eliza Manningham-Buller, NSA director Admiral Mike Rogers, British National Security Advisor Kim Darroch, ASIO chief Mike Burgess, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service's chief Richard Fadden, former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Ciaran Martin, the official who oversaw Britain's assessments on whether the Chinese telecommunications firm, Huawei, should have had a role in the creation of the UK's 5G network. This story and the amount of money wasted will shock will you!
Another interesting aspect is the number of high ranking officials in these agencies who willingly defect to the other side whether that's because they are disillusioned or they do it for the money and prestige. There are others such as Edward Snowden who through his actions made the spy networks more transparent. Then there is the American home economics teacher who helped create one of the most effective programs to counter Soviet espionage. The Australian eye specialist who was instrumental in helping the Petrovs defect.
Particularly interesting is reading the misinformation that sparked the "weapons of mass destruction" and the detaining of people subsequently found to be innocent suspects, held for years at Guantanoma Bay as well as the Australian politician turned diplomat who tipped off the FBI and started the enquiry into Russia's meddling in the USA presidential contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016. Also the CIA's lone officer in Budapest during the Hungarian Revolution.
This is a well worth reading, even if you have never had an interest in espionage or world security. Some aspects will surprise you. The Secret History of the Five Eyes will make an ideal birthday or holiday present.
The author, Richard Kerbaj has won BAFTA awards, and is a twice Emmy nominated filmmaker and writer who has specialised in investigating crime and national security related stories for more than fifteen years.
He is a multi award winning journalist who was the security correspondent for the Sunday Times from 2010 to 2020. He was a foreign correspondent for The Times and for the Australian newspaper. He has also written and produced award winning documentaries.
This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee
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