Book Review: Tom Clancy Support and Defend by Mark Greaney

This is a story resembling the Edward Snowden case describing a young whistle blower thinking he’s doing it for altruistic reasons, working with press. The story line is focused on what happens when he leaks information and when he flees. It doesn’t lay an in-depth foundation for his reasons, except to liken it to the Snowden case, describing him as a young ideologue with a world-view born out of common liberal beliefs and distrust for US power. It characterizes him as egotistical and selfish.

What I find interesting is how international espionage elements work together and apart to confuse and manipulate events. Everyone’s got a reason to manipulate the situation, some multiple reasons. The Snowden character, operating out of ego and self-righteous beliefs is manipulated by press with similar beliefs but aided by nation-states that clearly don’t share their beliefs. I like the fiction describing what could have happened to Snowden when he made his run to Hong Kong and Russia. The story even cites a source for the vulnerability coming from an expert from Booz Allen, Snowden’s employer at the time of his departure. 

This story is clearly on the side of maintaining secrecy and the risk of inappropriate disclosure. It casts the Snowden character as reckless and manipulated by foreign powers. To me, the story rings true. I think there is a place for maintaining privacy of nation-state information. While the disclosure didn’t cast the US government is a good light, the information disclosed it out of context and is one-sided. To think other nations don’t and wouldn’t is naive. This story tells a *possible* story behind the story elements of which are believable. What isn’t believable is the rapid response from multiple international players. Real-time responses to live events is possible but unlikely.