SYNOPSIS: A CIA agent becomes a hero in England which in turn makes him the new enemy of a terrorist organization. Faced with a substantial and effective enemy, he tries to live a normal life but finds himself increasingly involved in the CIA and the personal protection of his wife and child.
PROS: Clancy is exceptional at developing the suspense that made the best parts of this book. The characters are believable and enjoyable. You like and love the ones you’re supposed to and hate the ones you’re supposed to, as well. Written in the 80’s, there’s interesting subtle commentary on terrorism that I, as I read this in Afghanistan, find ironic and insightful even today nearly 20 years later.
Look, I know its the desert but I spent all day yesterday walking around Kandahar in what I felt was … well Hell. I’m truckin’ along with a quickly-emptied water bottle in one hand, weapon slung on my back saying to myself, “I’m a Texan dad-gummit! This ain’t nuthin’.” Then about a 1/2 mile later, I was stopped in my tracks. Looked around at the environment I was in and said to myself, “Man,… it is just too damned hot out here. I mean really?” Thankfully there was a sad-looking but adequate enough tree that I stood under. The 10 degree difference in the shade combined with the slight hair-dryer-like wind that was blowing on my face somewhat cooled me down. Or, just gave me the illusion that I was getting cooled down.
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I will rejoice and be glad in it, because I buttoned the top button of my medium-waist pants this morning for the first time since 2005.
Amen.
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