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 phrase "Legacy of Ashes" comes from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who reportedly used it to describe the state of American intelligence near the end of his term. Legacy of ashes : the history of the CIA
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 Weiner argues the CIA has consistently failed its
The book received a polarized reception depending on the audience: Eisenhower, who reportedly used it to describe the
The book posits that the agency became obsessed with "secret warfare" (coups, assassinations, and sabotage) at the expense of patient espionage and analysis.