National Security Books

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the books of Amy Zegart and John Prados and their views on national security organizations in the United States. The joint chiefs of staff, the national security council, and the central intelligence agency are all discussed within the paper. The general consensus of the authors is that each of these organizations was formed to be temporary forms within the government, and they have lasted since 1947 as political machines that answer to no one.

From the Paper:

"Flawed by design: The evolution of the CIA, JCS, and NSC, a book by author Amy Zegart (1999), takes a detailed look at both the structure and the historical perspective of matters that deal with the country's national interests. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency are the main topics of Zegart's book. John Prados (1992), author of Keeper of the keys: A history of the national security council from Truman to Bush, also discusses issues of national interest from the perspective of a man who has been part of the United States government for many years. Both of these authors attempt to explore those elements of our nation's government that have seen at least a decade of close scrutiny because of lapses in judgment, the protection of our country, and the impact that these organizations have had on our lives as American citizens."

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