I would like to acknowledge the significant help from several sources: First, Dr. Ralph Weber of Marquette University, who was responsible not only for my entry into academia, but who also urged me to do my memoirs while my memory was still fresh; second, Dr. John Krugler, also of Marquette University, who was one of the first professors to recognize what we as CIA officers had to offer, and whose critical look at intelligence issues contributed greatly to my doing the same thing; and Dr. Terry Roehrig, of Cardinal Stritch University, who also saw the value of a practitioner’s point of view to his political science and history department and whose counsel was also of great assistance.
I also wish to thank the Center for the Study of Intelligence, whose director at the time, Dr. Brian Latell, was very enthusiastic about my participating in the Officer in Residence program and without whose support I could not have participated in this most important program. I also wish to thank the Center’s History Department, in particular Dr. Michael Warner and Dr. Kevin Ruffner, both of whom took extra time to provide me with valuable materials for my teaching.
I could not have maneuvered through the book publishing process without MBI Publishing Company. Working with Steve Gansen, one of their premier editors, was a pleasure. Richard Kane’s encouragement kept me going as well. Richard was patient with all my status notes and worked hard to bring this book to publication. These gentlemen made the process easy and enjoyable. They are true professionals.
Lastly, I would like to thank Dr. Scott Koch and Mr. Bruce Wells of the CIA Publication Review Board, without whose help I would have been unable to navigate the incredibly arcane twists laid out by my own Directorate of Operations.
In the end, any errors are of my own making. However, as they used to say in the television drama Dragnet, “The story you are about to hear is true.” All of it.