Weiner argues the CIA has consistently failed its primary mission: informing the President about the world. He highlights major intelligence misses, including the Soviet atomic bomb (1949), the invasion of South Korea (1950), and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union (1989).
The book posits that the agency became obsessed with "secret warfare" (coups, assassinations, and sabotage) at the expense of patient espionage and analysis. Legacy of ashes : the history of the CIA
The book received a polarized reception depending on the audience: Weiner argues the CIA has consistently failed its
Weiner describes the organization as "dangerously incompetent," citing instances where agents were sent into denied areas only to be immediately captured or killed. Critical Reception including the Soviet atomic bomb (1949)