Product Description

A brand new edition of this fascinating book on M15 intelligence operations. Updated and expanded with brand new material on the war on Terrorism such as insider reports on the Bali bombing, M15's tragic lack on intelligence on September 11th and how it is now regarded as a 'massive' intelligence failure. Both authors write for the broadsheets, are well-connected and are leading experts in the field. Defending the Realm provides a rare insight into the secret world of M15 and breaks new ground in revealing its covert techniques - from phone-tapping and mail tampering, to the running of agents and surveillance operations. This new edition also provides a profile of M15's new female director, Hon. Eliza Manningham-Buller.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #363275 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 376 pages

About the Author
Nick Fielding is a senior correspondent on the Sunday Times. In recent months he has been reporting and investigating the war against Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and terrorism. Mark Hollingsworth is a freelance journalist and author. He writes primarily for The Guardian, FT, and Mail on Sunday. He was a journalist at Granada TV's World in Action programme from 1988-92 and previous publications include The Ultimate Spin Doctor: Life & Fast Times of Tim Beil (Hodder 1997), Thatcher's Gold: Life & Times of Mark Thatcher (S&S 1995), A Bit on the Side: Politicians, Who Pays Them? (S&S 1994), MPs for Hire: Secret World of Political Lobbying (Bloomsbury 1991), Blacklist: Inside Story of Political Vetting (Chatto 1988) & The Press & Political Dissent (Pluto 1986).

Customer Reviews

the business
This book is a valuable insight into the bullying and intimidation that goes on in the UK's 'Stalinist' (p.52) domestic intelligence services and unearths many of the various hidden agendas therein.
The authors discover something is clearly very wrong with MI5 - the question is what exactly? Why should so much be going on that appears to be against the interests of the country?
These two authors used to work for Punch - Mohammed Al-Fayed's magazine which was forced to close.
All in all a bang up to date exposee of much that's wrong with the UK secret state. All this achieved without compromising national security. All involved deserve a medal for services to the people and against the ruthless abuse of power in the UK.

not bad
I enjoyed this book, some nice insights into the work of MI5. Only one question - this book is about MI5, so why is the cover filled with photographs of MI6 headquarters then??