The Secret Services Handbook
"The real world of international espionage is a mysterious realm where complex covert operations and behind-the-scenes manipulation of world events are every bit as intriguing as their depiction in popular fiction and film. This remarkable book provides an insider's guide to the shadowy, often misunderstood world of global intelligence and the special agencies that control it. It investigates the origins and history of more than a dozen secret service organizations and special operations combat units that have been among the most notorious or influential in conducting espionage activities throughout the world. It also examines the motivations, structure, and strategies that have made them such a formidable force in modern times. In addition, the book describes hair-raising covert surveillance operations involving double-agents and defections, assassinations both successful and attempted, and secret missions that came to light only after official declassification. From international conflicts that began before the Cold War, and extending through the ongoing battle against international terrorism, The Secret Services Handbook gives readers all the information they need to look behind the headlines and explore the impact of these shadowy organizations on our world."--Cover flaps