Book SummaryLegacy of Ashes, by Tim Weiner

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Legacy of Ashes

As it strove to evolve into an effective intelligence entity, the agency responsible for central intelligence encountered numerous obstacles and difficulties.

The establishment of the CIA, as depicted in Tim Weiner's "Legacy of Ashes," occurred rapidly and without a clear plan, shaped by political dynamics and varying conceptions of its purpose. The agency's establishment was hasty, marked by unclear command, inadequate resources, and a lack of clear direction, setting the stage for enduring problems that would repeatedly confront the organization as time went on. Weiner highlights the early deficiencies of the CIA, attributing them to a lack of professional expertise, a deep-seated tradition of secrecy and deceit, and a slow adaptation to the rapidly changing global landscape.

The establishment of the CIA was the result of intense political debates and power struggles, leading to the organization having vaguely defined powers and a lack of clear direction.

During its early years, the CIA was marked by intense rivalry among different US government agencies, all vying to dominate the realm of intelligence operations. J. Edgar Hoover, the head of the FBI, sought to extend his monitoring operations on an international scale, while the military was intent on asserting control over the emerging intelligence agency. President Truman, despite his significant doubts about secret operations, saw the CIA's main role as gathering global event summaries to inform his daily briefings, while also acknowledging the agency's internal power struggles. The emerging agency struggled with ambiguity in its goals and jurisdiction, stemming from conflicting viewpoints, a lack of a robust legal framework, and inadequate funding.

President Truman's perspective on the CIA as an entity focused on worldwide intelligence gathering, rather than a group of undercover agents, resulted in the dissolution of the OSS, raising questions regarding its subsequent role.

The book describes how General William J. Donovan, at the helm of the Office of Strategic Services during wartime, endeavored to establish a permanent intelligence organization dedicated to clandestine activities and gathering information during peacetime. The commander-in-chief, influenced by a critical evaluation highlighting the deficiencies of the Office of Strategic Services and his own doubts about secret operations, decided to dissolve the agency. The establishment of the CIA occurred in 1949, granting it significant power to gather intelligence and conduct covert activities. The original vision President Truman had for the CIA was to concentrate exclusively on intelligence gathering, but this vision conflicted with the views of those advocating for its direct involvement in combating communism. The early overreliance of the CIA on fabricated intelligence and its substantial reliance on foreign intelligence sources were due to unclear instructions from the White House, as well as the agency's limited abilities and understanding.

Context

• Truman was wary of creating an agency that could operate without oversight, fearing it might become a "Gestapo-like" organization. His emphasis on intelligence gathering was partly to ensure the agency remained accountable and transparent.
• The OSS was established during World War II as the United States' first centralized intelligence agency, responsible for espionage, sabotage, and other covert operations against the Axis powers.
• Donovan's efforts laid the groundwork for modern intelligence practices, emphasizing the importance of both human intelligence (HUMINT) and technological methods in gathering information.
• The OSS faced criticism for its lack of coordination and effectiveness, as well as for some of its operations that were seen as reckless or poorly managed.
• This act was crucial in establishing the CIA, aiming to centralize intelligence efforts and prevent the kind of surprise attacks experienced at Pearl Harbor.
• Allen Dulles, who became the CIA Director in 1953, and his brother John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State, were strong proponents of using the CIA for covert operations to combat communism.
• Many of the CIA's early staff were new to intelligence work, lacking the experience necessary to critically evaluate the reliability of sources, which sometimes led to the acceptance of fabricated information.

In its early stages, the Central Intelligence Agency faced challenges stemming from a lack of adequate resources, expertise, and a strong legal framework, leading to a reliance on frequently untrustworthy intelligence and a heavy reliance on foreign intelligence services.

In its initial stages, the CIA encountered difficulties stemming from insufficient resources, an unclear legal framework, and a shortage of trained staff. Weiner suggests that the lack of substantial support from the presidential administration greatly impeded the creation of a competent intelligence organization. After World War II ended, there was a marked decrease in the ranks of experienced intelligence personnel. The CIA's reliance on information from foreign agents, some with questionable histories including ties to Nazism or wartime atrocities, frequently resulted in the acquisition of unreliable intelligence, since these informants were often driven by monetary incentives to provide information that could not be acquired through direct human spying efforts. The organization's viewpoint on global issues often contained errors due to dependence on unreliable sources and information obtained from other nations, leading to incorrect evaluations and misguided decisions.

Context

• During its formative years, the CIA had to compete with other government entities, such as the Department of State and the military, for influence and resources, which hindered its ability to establish a clear and independent operational mandate.
• Agencies like the British MI6 and the...

Legacy of Ashes Summary During the period of the Cold War, the scope of the CIA's covert activities grew, influencing political landscapes and strengthening authoritarian regimes.

Driven by the imperative of containing communism, the CIA embraced covert operations as its primary weapon. Weiner argues that the agency's belief in its ability to manipulate global events through covert actions led to increased meddling in the internal affairs of numerous nations. This active interference frequently involved bolstering autocratic regimes while undermining authentic democratic movements that were in harmony with U.S. objectives. The dominant mindset that placed triumph as the utmost goal, coupled with a lack of proper supervision, laid the groundwork for future misconduct and fostered a growing distrust within the CIA itself.

The United States operated under the belief that it could shape global events using secret methods, making covert operations a primary tool in the fight against communism.

Having lost the battle for accurate intelligence gathering behind the Iron Curtain, the CIA, with the blessings of the Eisenhower administration, embraced covert action as its primary weapon against communism. Weiner argues that this shift reflected a belief among American officials in their ability to secretly overthrow governments they found unsatisfactory and...

Legacy of Ashes Summary The inability of the CIA to anticipate major world events, coupled with a growing disconnect from the White House, has attracted considerable scrutiny for its shortcomings in gathering intelligence.

Weiner argues that the CIA has repeatedly failed to achieve its main goal: to anticipate unforeseen events and to inform the President about important global occurrences. Presidents, feeling let down and wary due to the intelligence agency's habit of incorrectly assessing the motives of adversaries and overstating their capabilities, which resulted in unreliable intelligence, looked for ways to bypass or manage the intelligence organization. Weiner contends that the agency's deficiencies stemmed from an overreliance on undependable intelligence sources, an inability to penetrate the upper tiers of power within communist countries, and a propensity to tailor its intelligence assessments to conform with prevailing political currents in Washington.

The CIA has consistently encountered difficulties in foreseeing important developments, illustrating its struggles with accurately assessing and forecasting global patterns.

From its inception, the Central Intelligence Agency has regularly encountered difficulties in providing accurate and timely intelligence on important international developments. Weiner contends that such shortcomings have rendered American presidents...

Legacy of Ashes Summary The agency's credibility with the public diminished following its role in the Vietnam War and ensuing scandals, including the illicit sale of arms to Iran and the unauthorized backing of Nicaraguan rebels, leading to efforts to reform the CIA.

Weiner depicts the Vietnam conflict as a crucial chapter in the CIA's history. The focus of the agency on covert activities and actions that resembled military operations escalated the conflict, resulting in diminished support for the war among the American populace. The CIA's inability to accurately assess the Vietcong's strength and resolve, along with its tendency to minimize intelligence that was not favorable, led to not only defective military strategies but also expanded the "credibility gap" between the U.S. government and the American people, eroding trust in the agency. The repercussions of the Vietnam conflict and other Cold War incidents, including the scandal involving arms sales to Iran and the illegal funding of Nicaraguan rebels, led to calls for reform, culminating in the creation of congressional oversight bodies aimed at reining in the agency's power and redefining its mission. Weiner argues that despite these efforts, the fundamental problems within the CIA persisted, and consistently reconciling clandestine activities with democratic values remained a persistent struggle.

The CIA's focus on covert operations and paramilitary campaigns during the Vietnam...