This book was made possible by the combined efforts of a dedicated team of researchers, fact checkers, global experts, and friends who gave their time and effort to making it a success. Special thanks to the PDD research team led by my friend and coauthor of Hacking ISIS, Chris Sampson. The principal researchers included Marina Gipps, Nicole Navega, Josh Manning, Robin Brenizer, and Heather Regnault.
To my MSNBC family, I am so proud to know each of you: Joy-Ann Reid, Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Chris Hayes, Lawrence O’Donnell, Katy Tur, Nicolle Wallace, Ali Velshi, Stephanie Ruhle, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Phil Griffin. You are all patriots. Remember, history has its eyes on you. Stand firm. Stand fast. Stand true.
Many international experts and thought leaders gave me great insight about the inner machinations of the Russian Federation and American politics at a level far deeper than the level I have presented to make my points. The most notable were Ian Bremmer of the Eurasian Institute and author Fred Kaplan, who in just one discussion revealed such remarkable a grasp of the Russian situation that the entire direction of the book was changed to better reflect the Kremlin’s insidious need to influence the American elections. My friend David Frum, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, and his lovely wife Danielle hosted roundtable discussions with some of the most noteworthy of Washington’s Trumpologists, which proved invaluable to the insights held within these pages. True experts on Russia and Donald Trump included journalists Julia Ioffe, Anne Applebaum, Tim O’Brien, Roberta Costa, Sarah Kendzior, and Jonathan Alter. Their words and thoughts gave me a new lens through which to comprehend what is happening to this nation. My thanks to former NATO supreme allied commander Admiral James Stavridis in explaining the criticality of maintaining the Atlantic alliance and how we need to support our NATO allies now more than ever. Thank you to my friend ex-FBI double agent Naveed Jamali and the staff of the International Spy Museum for their assistance in clarifying the ways of Russian Intelligence. Special thanks to former CIA directors General Michael Hayden and John Brennan and, in particular, CIA officer Phil Mudd whose colorful, blunt assessments of the risks posed by Donald Trump will show in time to be historic warnings about a national threat.
Let’s raise a glass to my friends in California who have helped me understand that patriotism lies within the hearts of all Americans regardless of profession and geography, in particular Robert and Michele Reiner, actor Ron Perlman, superstar talk show host Bill Maher (whose show Real Time finally got me recognized on the street in Oslo!) and his staff Scott Carter and Susan Bennett, radio diva Stephanie Miller, the comedy duo Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton aka Frangela, and my buddy Jean Scally. In Philadelphia, my crew of originalist revolutionaries known as the “Grown-ups of the Resistance” for their stimulating political discussions during our morning meetings at the Mount Airy High Point Café, they include the notable Philadelphian Todd Bernstein as well as Randy, Doc Saeed, Mark, Peter (the Shah), Steve, Ken, and Bob.
My deepest thanks to my manager, Josanne Lopez, her soon-to-be-spy daughter Seblé, and my daughter Nadia whose assistance has been invaluable to both this book and our sanity.
This book is dedicated to my wife, Maryse. Her guidance, love, companionship, and tough military spousal support helped navigate my career to the point where my opinion is not only valued but might even be called wise. Never thank me for my service, thank her.