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BLINK OF AN EYE
by William S Cohen
Forge Books, November 2011
368 pages
$24.99
ISBN: 0765327643


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Only a Cabinet member, in this case former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, could have written a thriller set at the core of crisis management in the White House. It's likely not too many authors could combine that with an unimaginable scenario, a nuclear bomb taking out a US city. In BLINK OF AN EYE, Cohen manages all that and more, to provide an intriguing insider's look at the fall-out from just such a scenario.

Told from the point of view of National Security Advisor Sean Falcone, the story illustrates the interlocking tentacles of politics, media, and intelligence in the process of governing. When faced with the unthinkable, a nuclear bomb destroying Savannah, Georgia, during an election cycle, fingers are pointed in all directions. How could US intelligence have failed? Is Iran (the suspected perpetrator) the true source of the terrorist disaster? How will the president cope with this national crisis while criticism is launched from every side, disinformation is rampant, and he is in the middle of a reelection bid?

From the global implications of retaliation against a Middle Eastern nation to dealing with national panic after such a horrific event, this novel covers a wide range of questions about power and its implications. Author William Cohen takes his readers deep into the decision-making corridors of the White House, from the Watch Center to the Briefing Room, as well as introducing readers to lesser known, but equally valuable, agencies such as the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Without a clear-cut enemy, Iran becomes the target of first choice. Yet, without solid evidence, should the president launch an attack that could set the world ablaze? Still, the people and Congressional leadership is calling for swift retaliation, applying severe pressure on the president to act quickly.

Cohen paints the scene brilliantly and draws his readers in with each new maneuver, whether by Falcone, the president, opposing political forces, or the true terrorists, who have set this deadly plan in motion for "national security" reasons of their own. This thriller is certain to entertain and enlighten anyone who has wondered just what goes on behind White House doors when a crisis occurs.

§ Christine Zibas is a freelance writer and former director of publications for a Chicago nonprofit.

Reviewed by Christine Zibas, November 2011

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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