The Targeter

My dissatisfaction with this book began on page 21 where Ms. Bakos tells us that the Agency's Memorial Wall is on the right side of the main lobby (as you walk in the door, and head toward the ID scanners). I've passed through that entrance (literally) thousands of times, and, as I recollect it, the Memorial Wall was always on my LEFT. I can't help but wonder whether they have moved those chiseled stars?I applaud the author for her three months in Iraq (May - August, 2003); but beyond that, I quickly tired of her switching back-and-forth between descriptions of utterly superficial aspects of her tour (mostly anecdotal), and the tsunami of personal, biographical information. I bought this book (after reading a review in the WaPo) in order to learn something about D.O. Ops in Iraq. Instead, I was doused with information about the author's grandfather, her childhood in Montana; her education, and a long-ago automobile accident.After that, we are told about her on-line dating experiences ("When it wasn't blatantly ridiculous or demeaning, the whole thing felt like a slog, especially when I was clicking through photos of men who spent way too much time in the bathroom" - p. 79); her relationship with her new boyfriend (and eventual husband); as well as her problems relieving herself aboard a C-130 (p.88), and her diarrhea in Iraq (p. 163). But make no mistake: all this personal detail made for scintillating reading - but it was not why I purchased the book.Finally, I am well aware of the restrictions of the CIA's "Publication Review Board" … but I'm not sure that I understand why one writes a book that consists mainly of personal antidotes, and information that has been largely available in the press for at least 10 years. Perhaps … ??p.s. al-Zarqawi was successfully "targeted" and killed by an air strike in June, 2006 - well after the author had stopped being his "Targeter". On pages 5 & 284 the author tells us that she "retired" from the Agency (after roughly 8 years of service: viz., 2000-2007?). Back in my day, one had to serve a lot more than 8 years in order to "retire".But then … I'm just an Old Goat.

Nada Bakos tells the tale of her time inside the CIA, hunting one of the most dangerous terrorists in history, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who unleashed massive violence in Iraq as part of the al Qaeda network and inspired an even more horrific successor organization, ISIS. Bakos' account is harrowing and revealing, both for its granular view of how the CIA really works, and its insights on terrorism and extremism, which have much to teach about our current problems. Perhaps this book's greatest asset is its candor -- about the job, the politics that complicated the job, and the author herself. This is an extraordinarily frank memoir, and its sincerity is a refreshing change for an often self-serving genre.

I heard an interview with Ms. Bakos prior to the release of the book, and immediately pre-ordered it. I then had to stop listening to several episodes of other podcasts, since I wanted to finish the book. I read it in about three sessions, and that’s only because work and other responsibilities kept me from finishing it in one sitting.Ostensibly it’s the story of the hunt for Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born terrorist probably best known to the average American as the head of Al Qaeda In Iraq, the group that would later become the kernel of ISIL. But as the reader follows Zarqawi, we’re also following Ms. Bakos as she enters into the secretive, exciting, and exhausting work of intelligence analysis. One of the things that really stands out with The Targeter is how accessible it is for readers whose only frame of reference to the DI side of CIA might be Zero Dark Thirty or the TV series Homeland. Ms. Bakos succinctly and efficiently steps in and explains the unique terminology and culture of working in the Intelligence Community, providing the reader with useful background and explanations that they’ll “need to know” in order to follow her narrative. As the Bush White House’s demands for a smoking gun linking Saddam Hussein’s regime with the terror attacks of 9/11 take its toll on a group of incredibly patriotic and dedicated professionals who can’t find what simply doesn’t exist, the reader is shown that CIA is both incredibly powerful and yet susceptible to the same kinds of office politics and unreasonable demands from higher ups that any workplace has. While they can’t find what doesn’t exists, what they do discover is Zarqawi- a street level thug radicalized in prison who became one of the most blood thirsty architects of sectarian violence and terrorism in Iraq.In a broader sense, Ms. Bakos’ book is something that frequent readers of non-fiction concerning intelligence matters needs- an analyst’s point of view. Many books are written by former DO or SIS guys (and they’re almost always guys) and they’re either a “boots on the ground” POV or the 30,000 foot view of these issues. Ms. Bakos’ unique position as an analyst, as part of the team that took the raw intelligence from disparate sources on the ground and coalesced it into product for consumption at the 8 mile high level, provides a valuable and informative insight that provides the reader a window into one of the most secretive “desk jobs” in the world.Plus she’s got funny stories in there about her St. Bernard doggo.

a straight forward narrative on the U.S.'s war on terror and the CIA's role in that war. I think this book will serve future historians well but due to the very nature of the book, clandestine operations, much was left unsaid and as a result fails to put the reader in the moment. That being said it is still an interesting read.

This book is great. The previous reviewer who found the terminology complex and unexplained must have been reading another book. This book is very well written and fascinating!

This book is a great read. It provides a rare perspective--from the women who played a huge role in the intelligence side of the "forever wars". Bakos's story is inherently interesting--how does one chase down a leader of an al Qaeda branch in Iraq and also manage to be successful in a male-dominated enterprise. I just got the book and flew through it.