WAMU 88.5 : The Diane Rehm Show

Ambassador Henry Crumpton: "The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service"

Last week we learned that the CIA and Saudis infiltrated al-Qaida, foiling a bomb against a U.S.-bound plane. The double agent also provided information on a suspect in the 2000 USS Cole attack. The suspect was killed in a U.S. drone strike. Ambassador Henry Crumpton understands the importance of this kind of infiltration. He recruited agents in his 24 years as an operations officer in the CIA’s clandestine service. He also led the organization’s war against al-Qaida before and after Sept. 11, and pioneered programs like the unmanned predator drones. Diane speaks to Ambassador Henry Crumpton about the art of intelligence.

Read An Excerpt

Excerpt from "The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service" by Henry Crumpton. Copyright 2012 by Henry Crumpton. Excerpted here by permission of The Penguin Press HC. All rights reserved

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