Its at this point a definitive history of the secret organization and its so thick i want to start with this one because if you are a normal reader you might think that its easier to get information and get you say i want to quote you here because it is pretty succinct that i began the project that research and writing a book that the secret organization that controlled other secret organizations was going to be a challenge and so it proved several people who figure prominently in the events described in this book to requests to be interviewed. So how hard is it or how hard was it and how long did it take . Guest it took three years of research and writing. Thats not counting my two decades plus as a reporter on the Security Issues prior to that in the previous books and just by osmosis its also not counting the time spent in the editing process after the three years were up. It was very difficult but obviously not impossible to find the people and the other published words or unpublis
So how hard was it to do this book, how long did it take . Guest it took three years of fulltime research and writing, obviously thats not counting my two decades plus as a reporter on military and National Security issues prior to that, you know, gaining a lot of that information of previous articles, previous books and its also not counting the time spent in the editing process after those three years were up. It was very difficult but, you know, obviously not impossible to find the people and, you know, in some cases the other publish works or unpublished works that could power the story of this organization from its roots in 1980 all the way to the fight of Islamic State. Joint special Operations Command is the command United States military secret special Operations Missions. It was formed in 1980 as a result of the failure of operation eagle claw which was the at the same time to rescue the american hostages in iran. The pentagon put together a Blue Chip Board of half a dozen ret
Terrific. I had so many question is didnt get to answer. Id like to ask you one question, which is, these are the kids of the elite, but youre watching booktv on cspan2, with top nonfiction books and authors every weekend. Booktv. Television for serious readers. Heres a look at some books being published this week. Former director of the cias counterterrorism senator center breaks down Clandestine Operations in kandahar. And n ghetto side looking at the american legal system. George freedman points to regions in europe where he believes geopolitical tensions are mounting. In the tragedyics bartholomew spare row traces the life of brent scowcroft. Special Army Special Operations remembers his combat experiences in the reaper, and in one nation under god a look at the history of americas religious plurality. Watch for the authors in the near future on booktv. Next on booktv front the bill of rights day book festival hosted by the National Constitutional center in philadelphia, a discussi
Conditioned on this question the incoming secretary needs to have the courage to speak truth to power to congress, yes but also to his commander in chief. Half. Mr. Durbin mr. President . Speaking in morning business, i rise to express my support for the president s nominee dr. Ashton carter to serve as our nations 25th secretary of defense. A few words of thanks first for chuck hagel our former colleague in the senate who served as secretary of defense. Hes a friend. Hes had a long career in public service. Hes a veteran from vietnam and the people of nebraska rewarded him by asking him to represent them in the United States senate. As our nations first person 6 enlisted rank he had a unique ground level view on matters of war and peace and a strong, strong commitment to our troops. I thank chuck hagel for his service. Dr. Ashton carter has an impressive distinguished record of service as well in government. An advisor scholar. He has what it takes to be a great secretary of defense.
It was either with you are chairman smith asking about working with faithbased organizations. We do work with that. In fact, we visited with the archbishop in kurdistan when we were there to talk about the work they are doing. I know the king and jordan has been very open in meeting with different religious leaders both sort of from an islamic perspective to reduce the lore of isil, but also how do we work with the various religious groups. Syria was one of the most tolerant countries in the entire middle east before all this took place. It is important but there are many groups we work with to try and reduce the tension that is going on. Is there a way to hold those areas that you have the refugees in going to school and being abused with whatever type of abuse that is. Gender abuse, we will say how do you go about making you said you are helping those countries deal with that and trying to make sure they are protected, but how do you go about holding that country or that government a