How accurate are Tom Clancy books compared to the real US intelligence, army, etc.?

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

The biggest fear the US has of sensitive material being leaked out thru these works of FICTION.

"
How accurate are Tom Clancy books compared to the real US intelligence, army, etc.?


David Ecale, I've read a whole bunch of books, but my library has deleted the list!
Answered Jul 18 · Upvoted by Eric Monzon, former United States Army Infantryman at U.S. Army (2002-2008) and Andy Price, Satellite Communications Systems Operator at U.S. Army (2012-present)



Well, when “The Hunt for Red October” came out as a book, the Intelligence Community took notice. Big notice! Clancy’s book had a huge amount of “classified” information in it. However, upon reviewing Clancy’s notes & sources, they reluctantly went home shaking their heads.

You see, Clancy had obtained everything that he used through open & unclassified documents!

Here’s a fun example:

Once upon a time, I was in Tech School & tasked to give a briefing (as in, pick a topic & present it to senior staff to see how well you present stuff under pressure).

I chose to give a talk on EMP (Electromagnetic pulse - Wikipedia). This was in November ‘74. After my talk, a LtC came up & asked, “Lieutenant, just where did you get your data? Your lecture is basically Top Secret.”

I pulled out my source book & showed him. He just plain sat there with his mouth open. You see, I had purchased it for 10 cents at a book sale from the Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Library.

Here’s a link to a 1977 release of the book: https://www.dtra.mil/Portals/61/...

I had a copy of the 1950 edition, which had been publicly released before I was born!

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https://www.quora.com/#

 

[zulu]

@Khafee Remember The bear and the dragon

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

The biggest fear the US intel agy's have is of actual material leaking out thru these books---and they cannot control it--.

Over 10 years ago---I read that china was the largest buyer of these types of works of fiction---.

I wrote that info on the pakdef.info forum----I used to be a member of pakdef.info ---- and there was this fool H Khan---him and some of his cronies bashed me real hard---.

I hear he is a big time defense analyst somewhere---.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Hi,

The biggest fear the US has of sensitive material being leaked out thru these works of FICTION.

"
How accurate are Tom Clancy books compared to the real US intelligence, army, etc.?


David Ecale, I've read a whole bunch of books, but my library has deleted the list!
Answered Jul 18 · Upvoted by Eric Monzon, former United States Army Infantryman at U.S. Army (2002-2008) and Andy Price, Satellite Communications Systems Operator at U.S. Army (2012-present)



Well, when “The Hunt for Red October” came out as a book, the Intelligence Community took notice. Big notice! Clancy’s book had a huge amount of “classified” information in it. However, upon reviewing Clancy’s notes & sources, they reluctantly went home shaking their heads.

You see, Clancy had obtained everything that he used through open & unclassified documents!

Here’s a fun example:

Once upon a time, I was in Tech School & tasked to give a briefing (as in, pick a topic & present it to senior staff to see how well you present stuff under pressure).

I chose to give a talk on EMP (Electromagnetic pulse - Wikipedia). This was in November ‘74. After my talk, a LtC came up & asked, “Lieutenant, just where did you get your data? Your lecture is basically Top Secret.”

I pulled out my source book & showed him. He just plain sat there with his mouth open. You see, I had purchased it for 10 cents at a book sale from the Saint Paul (Minnesota) Public Library.

Here’s a link to a 1977 release of the book: https://www.dtra.mil/Portals/61/...

I had a copy of the 1950 edition, which had been publicly released before I was born!

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Tom Clancy was an exceptional writer. great thing is that he didnt use any classified information in all his books his knowledge was based on exceptional research and his story telling was amazing. his war gaming has been adapted in games as well and even got the acknowledge by the military.
indeed there was a lot of spice added for the reader's excitement and interest but he has been pretty much on the ball
he described the Samugli airbase near Quetta very well as an example and spiced up the technical detail of Anza 2 missile in another book too. describing Abbotabad, Aabpara ISI and the Musa company of SSG as a passing reference in one of the later books had a bit of fact and fiction

 

[cloud4000]

I’ve read all of Tom Clancy’s books and even talked to the man a few times. Clancy was not only a great writer but also a very patriotic guy. He would never compromise US national security by publishing classified material in his books.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Off course he leaked the classified information---not intentionally---but what was available on the public sector---.

The US intel agy's could not admit that the information leaked was true---.

It is not the first time that it has happened and it is not the last time---.

If one reads the article further and clicks on some of the responces---it becomes clear that there is a ton of information out there in the public sector that neither the military knows it is there nor the intel agy's know it is there---.

And when the agy's know the information is out there---like books---they don't confiscate the books because now you are legitimizing the claim and not all books maybe recovered---.

Clancy knew how to manipulate that " FINE LINE " to the max and he enjoyed doing it---.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Hi,

Off course he leaked the classified information---not intentionally---but what was available on the public sector---.

The US intel agy's could not admit that the information leaked was true---.

It is not the first time that it has happened and it is not the last time---.

If one reads the article further and clicks on some of the responces---it becomes clear that there is a ton of information out there in the public sector that neither the military knows it is there nor the intel agy's know it is there---.

And when the agy's know the information is out there---like books---they don't confiscate the books because now you are legitimizing the claim and not all books maybe recovered---.

Clancy knew how to manipulate that " FINE LINE " to the max and he enjoyed doing it---.

Oldman,

Chinese intelligence used to relly on the open sourced info... and work to put together a picture.. but that was in the days of closed doors..

Now it is Artificial Intelligence and Bots putting together the Picture!

Mangus

 

[insight-out]

Why does US law require that some information be declassified anyway? What is the purpose behind it?

 

[MastanKhan]

Oldman,

Chinese intelligence used to relly on the open sourced info... and work to put together a picture.. but that was in the days of closed doors..

Now it is Artificial Intelligence and Bots putting together the Picture!

Mangus

Hi,

I agree with you---but there are certain aspects of training---operational use---utilization of abilities and capabilities---operational tactics and mindset that artificial intel cannot fathom---.

Someone has to tell you---someone has to show you---you have to listen you have to observe you have to see how it would come thru in operational use---.

 

[Mangus Ortus Novem]

Hi,

I agree with you---but there are certain aspects of training---operational use---utilization of abilities and capabilities---operational tactics and mindset that artificial intel cannot fathom---.

Someone has to tell you---someone has to show you---you have to listen you have to observe you have to see how it would come thru in operational use---.

How could I disagree with that... we are not transhumans yet! Even then we would be needing the above mentioned...

The point on my part was an input to your open source intel ...providing a historical actual usage by a state.

Frankly, we on the home front also need more to fight the Hybridwar... we are overwhlemed at the moment... Fazool is trying his ReligionHateCard.

It worries me, oldman!

 

[Zarvan]

In my opinion if you read good non fiction books that they are more shocking than fiction

 

[MastanKhan]

How could I disagree with that... we are not transhumans yet! Even then we would be needing the above mentioned...

The point on my part was an input to your open source intel ...providing a historical actual usage by a state.

Frankly, we on the home front also need more to fight the Hybridwar... we are overwhlemed at the moment... Fazool is trying his ReligionHateCard.

It worries me, oldman!

Hi Mangus,

I will give it another twist---. I believe that Tom Clancy was planted by the agency---and all that info in the book " The Hunt For Red October " was pretty much truthful---the sensors---the weapons---the tracking of russian subs---the operational procedures---.

The americans just put them out in the open in a book for everyone in the world to read---.

There were many skeptics---and only those who knew the truth on the otherside---their beliefs and convictions were shook right down to their very roots---.

Their belief and faith in their equipment and their procedures was shattered by that book---. It made those operators indecisive---uncertain---clueless---lost---in whatever direction they were looking---they were seeing the lurking american subs---it just destroyed the psyche of the russian naval fleet---thus rendering it useless---.

There are a million and one ways to fight a war---. You destroy the enemy's will to fight---you have fought and won that war---.

The book comes out in 1984---the soviet union is done in 1991---.

 

[Khafee]

Hi Mangus,

I will give it another twist---. I believe that Tom Clancy was panted by the agency---and all that info in the book " The Hunt For Red October " was pretty much truthfull---the sensors---the weapons---the tracking of russian subs---the operational procedures---.

The americans just put them out in the open in a book for everyone in the world to read---.

There were many skeptics---and only those who knew the truth on the otherside---their beliefs and convictions were shook right down to their very roots---.

Their belief and faith in their equipment and their procedures was shattered by that book---. It made those operators indecisive---uncertain---clueless---lost---in whatever direction they were looking---they were seeing the lurking american subs---it just destroyed the psyche of the russian naval fleet---thus rendering it useless---.

There are a million and one ways to fight a war---. You destroy the enemy's will to fight---you have fought and won that war---.

The book comes out in 1984---the soviet union is done in 1991---.

Psychological Warfare 101

 

[Humble Analyst]

Psychological Warfare 101

Hollywood was a weapon during the Cold War so good point @MastanKhan Sahib

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Hi Mangus,

I will give it another twist---. I believe that Tom Clancy was panted by the agency---and all that info in the book " The Hunt For Red October " was pretty much truthfull---the sensors---the weapons---the tracking of russian subs---the operational procedures---.

The americans just put them out in the open in a book for everyone in the world to read---.

There were many skeptics---and only those who knew the truth on the otherside---their beliefs and convictions were shook right down to their very roots---.

Their belief and faith in their equipment and their procedures was shattered by that book---. It made those operators indecisive---uncertain---clueless---lost---in whatever direction they were looking---they were seeing the lurking american subs---it just destroyed the psyche of the russian naval fleet---thus rendering it useless---.

There are a million and one ways to fight a war---. You destroy the enemy's will to fight---you have fought and won that war---.

The book comes out in 1984---the soviet union is done in 1991---.

Who knows 02-27 might have done this to the Indians too!!! I know you’re not at all satisfied with the low intensity of that day....