Read The Plot to Destroy Democracy How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West Malcolm Nance Rob Reiner 9780316484831 Books
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Download As PDF : The Plot to Destroy Democracy How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West Malcolm Nance Rob Reiner 9780316484831 Books
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author provides a provocative, comprehensive analysis of Vladimir Putin and Russia's master plan to destroy democracy in the age of Donald Trump, with a foreword by Rob Reiner.Read The Plot to Destroy Democracy How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West Malcolm Nance Rob Reiner 9780316484831 Books
"This is the book I was hoping for when I bought "The Plot to Hack America". Of course, at the time, Nance had much the same thesis he does here--and he was speaking out when no one else (at least not in the media) was saying it. But then, in 2016, he didn't have that much to go on--some history, the U.S. intelligence statement in October, the various news reports and events showing Putin and WikiLeaks acting in ways that helped Trump and hurt Clinton, and his own instincts and analysis as a long-time intelligence officer. "The Plot to Hack America" was a book unlike anyone else's in the fall of 2016, but now he knows so much more, and can put the details and patterns together.
And, unlike so many others writing on this subject (some currently on the best seller lists), Nance is not hesitant to say what he thinks the connection is between Putin and Trump and how it changed the 2016 election.
The material is complicated--so many people, places and events to keep straight--but Nance writes well and lays it all out clearly--including the motivations he believes exist for the main actors. Agree or disagree with him, any reader should appreciate how Nance doesn't mince words. Here, for example, are the opening two sentences of Chapter One: "On November 8, 2016, Vladimir Putin became the first Russian President of the United States. What could arguably be called the greatest intelligence operation in the history of the world had been executed and the result was that the candidate Moscow had supported had won."
That's pretty bold. What follows includes explanations of cyber warfare, Putin's efforts to undermine democracy in other countries as well as the U.S., Trump's leadership and character failings, Nance's view that the central idea of the Steele dossier (that Putin "has" something on Trump and is using it) is true, the many threads indicating conspiracy between Trump and Putin in 2016, and Putin's long range goals. For me, Nance filled in many things I wanted to know about, including what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union--and how it's led to the rise of Putin, the former head of the KGB, as the autocratic president of non-socialist, non-democratic new Russia.
Despite Russia's weakened economy (Russia really shouldn't be part of the G7, for example), Putin is making every effort to make it a major player on the world stage again (now, per Nance, succeeding more than ever with Trump's apparent cooperation). In two decades, he has consolidated his power and is now dealing with his 4th U.S. president although with a distinctly different relationship with Trump than anyone before him. When Putin told Trump to "meet in the Oval office with Labrov and Kislyac" last year, Trump did it. It was the first time they were allowed in the Oval Office since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. Trump did it in secret, and made sure no U.S. reporters were present. Americans learned about it from the Russian photographer (spy?) who was allowed in.
Trump admitted last month after the North Korea summit, that it was Putin who had told him to cancel the U.S. military exercises in Korea. Trump even told Kim Jung Un he would do it before he told U.S. officials, including the Secretary of Defense. He and Putin have met alone before, without even a U.S. translator present, only a Russian one. Trump and Putin have private talks frequently by phone, per Trump, that are undocumented. They plan to meet alone again at the summit in Helsinki. Presidents don't do things like that, so Americans should really wonder, "Why?".
Reading "The Plot to Destroy Democracy" makes you wonder if there's a larger agenda here. In Nance's view, Trump often pushes Putin's doctrine and goals, whether it's an overly friendly and trusting message to North Korea's dictator or a hostile one to our NATO allies. It's something to think about, as the news unfolds before us. Was there--is there still--a relationship between Putin and Trump that is not healthy for our democracy?
A less ambitious book might be easier to follow in parts, but Nance brings you up to speed on both the details and the "big picture". The Mueller investigation (here, hardly a "witch hunt" or hoax) is likely to add more indictments this summer--and trials are beginning soon. Americans need to understand what Russia did in 2016 and look at what this administration is doing now. In 2016, Russia attacked a United States election over months, in a number of ways, including hacking and weaponizing stolen information; attacks on databases and voting systems; and massive disinformation campaigns through social media. They haven't gone anywhere, and it makes sense they'll work to get Republicans in office again using these and whatever new tactics they've developed in the last two years, with greater access to government.
With an election coming again this November--and, reportedly, no more protection against Russia's attacks on American democracy than existed the last time--this book could not be timed better in sounding an alarm."
Product details - Paperback 352 pages
- Publisher Hachette Books; Reprint edition (April 16, 2019)
- Language English
- ISBN-10 0316484830
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The Plot to Destroy Democracy How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West Malcolm Nance Rob Reiner 9780316484831 Books Reviews :
The Plot to Destroy Democracy How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West Malcolm Nance Rob Reiner 9780316484831 Books Reviews
- This is the book I was hoping for when I bought "The Plot to Hack America". Of course, at the time, Nance had much the same thesis he does here--and he was speaking out when no one else (at least not in the media) was saying it. But then, in 2016, he didn't have that much to go on--some history, the U.S. intelligence statement in October, the various news reports and events showing Putin and WikiLeaks acting in ways that helped Trump and hurt Clinton, and his own instincts and analysis as a long-time intelligence officer. "The Plot to Hack America" was a book unlike anyone else's in the fall of 2016, but now he knows so much more, and can put the details and patterns together.
And, unlike so many others writing on this subject (some currently on the best seller lists), Nance is not hesitant to say what he thinks the connection is between Putin and Trump and how it changed the 2016 election.
The material is complicated--so many people, places and events to keep straight--but Nance writes well and lays it all out clearly--including the motivations he believes exist for the main actors. Agree or disagree with him, any reader should appreciate how Nance doesn't mince words. Here, for example, are the opening two sentences of Chapter One "On November 8, 2016, Vladimir Putin became the first Russian President of the United States. What could arguably be called the greatest intelligence operation in the history of the world had been executed and the result was that the candidate Moscow had supported had won."
That's pretty bold. What follows includes explanations of cyber warfare, Putin's efforts to undermine democracy in other countries as well as the U.S., Trump's leadership and character failings, Nance's view that the central idea of the Steele dossier (that Putin "has" something on Trump and is using it) is true, the many threads indicating conspiracy between Trump and Putin in 2016, and Putin's long range goals. For me, Nance filled in many things I wanted to know about, including what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union--and how it's led to the rise of Putin, the former head of the KGB, as the autocratic president of non-socialist, non-democratic new Russia.
Despite Russia's weakened economy (Russia really shouldn't be part of the G7, for example), Putin is making every effort to make it a major player on the world stage again (now, per Nance, succeeding more than ever with Trump's apparent cooperation). In two decades, he has consolidated his power and is now dealing with his 4th U.S. president although with a distinctly different relationship with Trump than anyone before him. When Putin told Trump to "meet in the Oval office with Labrov and Kislyac" last year, Trump did it. It was the first time they were allowed in the Oval Office since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. Trump did it in secret, and made sure no U.S. reporters were present. Americans learned about it from the Russian photographer (spy?) who was allowed in.
Trump admitted last month after the North Korea summit, that it was Putin who had told him to cancel the U.S. military exercises in Korea. Trump even told Kim Jung Un he would do it before he told U.S. officials, including the Secretary of Defense. He and Putin have met alone before, without even a U.S. translator present, only a Russian one. Trump and Putin have private talks frequently by phone, per Trump, that are undocumented. They plan to meet alone again at the summit in Helsinki. Presidents don't do things like that, so Americans should really wonder, "Why?".
Reading "The Plot to Destroy Democracy" makes you wonder if there's a larger agenda here. In Nance's view, Trump often pushes Putin's doctrine and goals, whether it's an overly friendly and trusting message to North Korea's dictator or a hostile one to our NATO allies. It's something to think about, as the news unfolds before us. Was there--is there still--a relationship between Putin and Trump that is not healthy for our democracy?
A less ambitious book might be easier to follow in parts, but Nance brings you up to speed on both the details and the "big picture". The Mueller investigation (here, hardly a "witch hunt" or hoax) is likely to add more indictments this summer--and trials are beginning soon. Americans need to understand what Russia did in 2016 and look at what this administration is doing now. In 2016, Russia attacked a United States election over months, in a number of ways, including hacking and weaponizing stolen information; attacks on databases and voting systems; and massive disinformation campaigns through social media. They haven't gone anywhere, and it makes sense they'll work to get Republicans in office again using these and whatever new tactics they've developed in the last two years, with greater access to government.
With an election coming again this November--and, reportedly, no more protection against Russia's attacks on American democracy than existed the last time--this book could not be timed better in sounding an alarm. - It is well worth reading or listening to his sober assessment of what is at stake. The breadth of knowledge in historical context and current intelligence illuminates with startling clarity the nature of the hybrid warfare by the Vladimir Putin’s Russian Federation on our democracy and other liberal democracies to overturn the current world order.
Some complain his use of news articles as sources and that his conclusions are merely conjecture. First, he is referencing information sources you are able to review, but has behind it corroborating confidential and classified sources. You can also easily research his historical references and cross reference them with various credible sources as they are accurate. Also, do you really think he would have a distinguished thirty year career and then depart into fantastical hyperbole? As a retired military officer, I don't think he would depart from his oath to protect and serve with misinformation and he would be shunned and publically condemned by our intelligence community with who he is closely affiliated.
These intelligence assessments aren’t just his musings and suppositions through information he read in the Steele dossier or op-ed pieces. Again, we’re talking about his connection to a large intelligence apparatus with vast amounts of intelligence procured and analyzed by career agents and international partners with analysts reviewing the intelligence at several layers. They must follow department procedure of review and certification to discard unsupported information to get the most accurate and actionable intelligence. The security of their operations abroad, the lives of their agents, and the very future of our country depend on this careful scrutiny and evaluation. It think their lack of transparency and dearth of information regarding their methods and operations will naturally foster distrust, and I have my own feelings we can't entirely trust them regarding our privacy.
That said, their tireless duty in maintaining our national security is not in doubt and in that domain they have our best interest. Putin interfered with our election process, who is a menace to our democracy and the remaining true democracies in the world. I fear that his social engineering through misinformation and our lack of discernment to separate fact from various counter-narratives to sow confusion and animus has been successful. I know people who have gone back to their home towns who suddenly find themselves dealing with animosity instead of the hard-won common ground of time and understanding. It is disturbing to see the resurgence of the naked hatred of the other displayed so prominently. The United States as a divided nation and the dismantling of post World War II international liberal democracies will usher in a new and truly hideous world order. It is on the order of many countries losing their freedoms, many people being imprisoned and tortured, and the untold deaths in the world conflicts of the future. There is hope, but we must first listen dispassionately and attentively to the warnings and what we can do to counter it. It starts by reading and analyzing the information expertly detailed in this most important book by Malcolm Nance. - I am a horror fan and this book is more frightening than any other book I have read. AND IT"S TRUE and happening right before our eyes. I use to think trump was a dotard, but after reading this book I can see how he is working purposely to destroy America. His tariffs, immigration policies, the way he treats our allies and the UN--it all leads to destroying democracy. What makes this even more disturbing is the only reason trump is doing all this is to enrich himself and his family. We already know trump is a man without morals, but this is as low as a person can go. You can see how and why the republican party is complicit in his plot. According to polls, only 27% of Americans identify with the republican party, yet they are ruling our country. They are doing anything to make sure they stay in power and trump with his Russian allies are what they are using. Malcolm shows what I had suspected- that the NRA and evangelicals are a big part of this plot. This is a must read for every American that loves America. This is a must read for every person who claims to be a patriot.
One point I would like to add trump seems to be really bothered by the fact that the only way he won the election was to cheat. That's why he keeps bringing it up. Same way he says he never pays for sex. He seems to be bothered that people don't actually like him and find him disgusting--hence all the rallies. It's a weakness that is easily exploited by the Russians. - Confirmation bias, but done well. I can't recommend any book when it is clearly a work of propaganda. I am not a Pro-Trumper but a real patriot. I am disgusted by Hollywood and the fake media you are clearly part of as evidence in this book. As a member of the Daughter's of the American Revolution, I find this book lacking historical significance or true patriotism.
