Researching National Security and Intelligence Policy by Bert Chapman. CQ Press (http://www.cqpress.com), 1255 22d Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20037, 2004, 400 pages, $130.00 (hardcover).
Anyone who has ever had to write a research paper of any type has wondered, "Where do I start?" Well, if your subject is even slightly related to national security or intelligence, both here and abroad, you no longer have to wonder! Researching National Security and Intelligence Policy is a veritable cornucopia of sources and ratings of their effectiveness. What may prove even more useful is the extent of each chapter’s documentation. These endnotes, which attest to the author’s thoroughness, include Web sites and e-mail addresses where appropriate. The book’s user-friendliness also helps a great deal.
Chapman has included five chapters on government agencies as well as chapters on independent and intelligence agencies; congressional agencies; commissions’ advisory organizations; legal and regulatory resources; research institutions and think tanks inside and outside Washington, DC; and foreign-government organizations and research institutions. He concludes with a chapter on selected indexes, journals, series, and scholars, together with an extensive guide to acronyms as well as a 30-page index.
The author has done yeoman’s service to writers within the defense and national-security arena. The perishable nature of material contained in source works such as Researching National Security and Intelligence Policy requires periodic updates. One can only hope that such plans are already in the works. For now, this work is current and highly recommended.
Lt Col Dave Howard, USAF, Retired
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Disclaimer
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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