American Counterterrorism Efforts
March 26, 2008 | 2034 GMT
• For the first time, the lead investigator into the death of President Zia of Pakistan reveals that the plane crash that killed him was not an accident, but an assassination executed by the KGB. Ghost reveals this sinister reality in a larger context: the hit on Zia was the Soviet Union’s farewell kiss to the mujahiden’s key regional ally as the Red Army withdrew from Afghanistan in defeat.
• During the crisis following Zia’s death, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. Pakistan, not knowing if Zia’s death was the first step in an Indian attack, put their recently deployed nuclear forces on high alert. The Indians did the same, and for a few days, both countries stood on the brink of war.
• Fred Burton played the key role in capturing Ramzi Yousef, the first World Trade Center bomber and Al Qaida’s first master of terror. Ghost takes the reader into the heart of America’s first battle with Osama Bin Laden’s true believers.
• Ghost brings us the first inside account of the American side of the Beirut Hostage Crisis. Fred Burton’s unique position in the search for hostages William Francis Buckley, David Jacobson, and Father Martin Jenco, led him to discover the truth of how some of them were killed, and who was behind their murder.
• Ghost reveals how the DSS turned terrorists into double agents, sending them back into the fight as key spies in America’s battle with Hezbollah and other radical Muslim groups.
• Ghost reveals that as the wave of Islamic terror attacks struck American targets overseas, only three counter-terrorism agents were working for the lead investigative agency. Ghost highlights how that lack of manpower affected our ability to react and protect our citizens overseas.
• Fred Burton devised and deployed the first true counter-surveillance program employed by the DSS. Intended to uncover terror attacks or assassination attempts before they actually take place, it has saved countless lives since its adoption in the mid-1990s. He explains how it works and what it accomplished, and how it can be used to protect high profile celebrities, CEO’s and other leaders.
• As a member of the State Department’s detail protecting international dignitaries, Burton found himself escorting foreign leaders suspected of mafia ties, terrorism, and other criminal activity.
• Burton also reveals the surprising gaps in America’s ability to protect key leaders from the President and his cabinet members to visiting dignitaries such as Princess Diana and Yassar Arafat. Burton’s Protective Security and Protective Intelligence tactics are now in wide-spread use around the globe and are used by major security services and by internationally known CEO’s and other corporate leaders.
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Great Work
Wow, what a great read. My hat is off to you Mr. Burton.
Eye opening!
Thank you Fred for writing Ghost, and thanks to all of you at Stratfor for publishing your insights. I read Ghost in one sitting, completely engrossed by all aspects - the action-adventure agent lifestyle, your thought processes in uncovering the truth, and most of all the dawning realization that I have been blind to the dangers of the world simply because I have no resources to assess them.
I was introduced to Stratfor when a friend forwarded Net Assessment: United States. My head was turned on end. Now I am a devotee. This is real brain food! I am a solo player in the world - no manager's job or decisions the affect millions. But the little choices I do make are sounder now. Thank you!
More questions
Wonderfully written book that gives a very humanistic element to the world of spooks. What bothers me most is even after all the horrible things that have happened to US in the name of fanatic and zealots we have yet to develop a first rate intelligence service. There have been many brave Americans and foreign assets alike that have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Many dedicated and men and women who are trying to make a difference; and for that I am grateful.
However we are still unable to due what we set out to do in the beginning; build an agency capable of informing the President of "sneak attacks" and thus protect American people and interests both at home and abroad. Fred hit it on the head when he said the alphabet soup of turf wars and multiple levels bureaucracy make it impossible to be effective. Hell, the C.I.A. has become nothing more than a paramilitary arm of the Pentagon. Throw the politics of Washington into the fray and our intelligence agents are forced to tell the "leadership" only what it wants to hear rather what it needs to hear. Seems to the United States version of the "Emperor and his new clothes."
Fred may not have come out and said it like that, but that is what I took from this book. As a result we will be faced with the same problems time and again. Not only are we a nation suffering from Bipolar disorder, but we are clinically insane. What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!" From Truman to G.W. Bush it fits the bill. Where are the forward thinkers?? Well they seem to be enjoying Texas weather, selling books, writing Blogs for forecasting/intelligence website and helping to make those of us who want to use critical thought a little better informed. I just pray one day Washington will once again find use for critical thought. Until that day thank you Fred, George and all the other hard working folks at Strategic Forecasting.
Follow Up
Thank you for the very kind words about Stratfor.
Fred, Are you Fred Burton
Fred,
Are you Fred Burton formerly of the Montgomery County Police Dept. in Maryland? I retired from MCP in '03 and have been working in alphabet soup ever since. Your book is very good and as a member of Stratfor I want to tell you how valuable Stratfor resources have been for me at work.
If you are the former MCP officer send me a note when it's convenient. I'd like to speak with you.
Thanks, Steve Filyo
stephen.filyo@ngc.com
ghost may know
Who killed Dr David Kelly in 2003?
Dr.David Kelly
Who stood the most to benifit from Dr.Kelly's unfortunate demise? Who were his enemies? Amhed Chalabi and company, U.S. Intellegence who fed the President the W.M.D. stories? "Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!"