Blank Check: The Pentagon's Black Budget

This is a good and useful book. The author appears in first person in the early chapters and then lets his research do the talking, but whether backed by findings or not, the author too often makes remarks or conclusions that (in my view) reveal personal opinions. Almost every paragraph in his final chapter summarizes those opinions. In my own opinion, this is a revealing and informative book, despite whatever opinions or biases the author might have.

Eye-opening, TW does and admirable job of shedding light on a very little known aspect of the governments " accounting". Blank Check is a great read, but will give you heart-burn. I'm sure this only the tip of the iceberg in the bait-and-switch financial shell game.

Fantastic book and interesting how useful reading an "older" investigation of the defense department black budget and associated misappropriations/abuses can be in easily tying the very same ethical/strategic defense issues to the more recent "Spies for Hire" by Tim Shorrock (also a fantastic read).The similarities regarding decades long ethical issues with regard to the lack of oversight within black budget is almost overwhelming while simultaneously intriguing and disheartening: no concrete evidence, whatsoever, that Congressional or other government oversight of black budget operations or DoD contracting, in general, has improved. In fact, following 9/11 the situation, if anything, financial and ethical accountability has actually degraded.This timeless, still-compelling book provides that much-needed historical perspective yet also begs the question: over the next 10 or 20 years is there any reason to believe money will be spent, appropriately, to truly and measurable advance US National Security with concrete accountability for those instances where projects and leaders fail to act responsibly...at great expense to the American taxpayers actually undermining US defense and war fighter readiness?

This excellent book should be read by every USA taxpayer, civilian and military. Mr. Weiner, with an excellent bibliography, tells it like it is. Without barriers, he gives historical, verifiable--if you desire--facts on the irresposible mechanisms used by USA presidents to advance an empire through the throats of many countries--beginning with the USA itself, and justify murders, lies, frauds, thefts, violations of the USA Constitution, through the military and paramilitar civil agencies such as the CIA, based on the very doubtful and euphemistic principle that almost anything is a threat to USA national security. Excellent book. Written almost 20 years ago it is as updated as if it had been written yesterday.

A well written piece of history on how this system of ours works, operates, and eventually leading to our eventual decline due to inept politicians Hell bent on their own agenda rather than taking care of our nation, citizen's, continued prosperity. Don't expect this book to be a novel written for enjoyment. It is a historical presentation.

What i love about this guy is that he digs up real dirt without getting into conspiracy theories. I wish he would do an update of this book as I'm sure the black budget has gotten way more intense in the past 10 years. I also strongly recommend legacy of ashes. Don't just read this book, pass it on to someone else when you're done.

Interesting book on pentagon secret budgets

Good read!!

I think 'Blank Check' is a rather unfortunate title for this must-read book: it's a title that doesn't really encourage the reader to get stuck in which, dear reader, is something you really ought to do in this case.It's now twenty years since Weiner published this book, and although that obviously means it is now more history than current affairs, you just sort of know that it's every bit as fresh and relevant today as it was when he wrote it.The first part of the book explains the extraordinary story behind the creation of the 'Stealth' bomber - the lies, the deceit, the obscene waste of taxpayers' money... the utter uselessness of it all... and all that.... waste. If one reflects for just a brief moment on how much real good could have been done instead: the schools, clinics and hospitals that could have been built, the improvements to public transport that could have been made, the investment in worthwhile jobs that could have been made... if anyone thinks about that stuff for just a moment without something of a red mist descending well, they must have ice in their veins.There are several other revelations in this excellent, worthy book which, by the way, is an easy joy-to-read of a book crafted by an expert wordsmith. However, what is possibly the most alarming tale occurs towards the end where Mr Weiner tells the incredible story of William Richardson, a forty nine year old insurance claims examiner who has achieved immortality in what will forever be recorded in a series of rulings that started life as William B Richardson v. United States of America. If anyone can read this story without feeling a very deep concern for the state of world 'democracy', they not only have ice in their veins, but rocks in their head.

A real eye opener into the secret world of the CIA . Everyone should read this book or share again and again

very helpful book for a few scripts i'm researching.

thanks a lot