Melvin A. Goodman, author of National Insecurity: The Cost of American Millitarism, comes to light in CounterPunch.

Melvin A. Goodman, author of National Insecurity, wrote an op-ed on "A new cold war" for CounterPunch.

Melvin Goodman's interview on his book "National Insecurity: the Cost of American Militarism"

National Insecurity, written by Mel Goodman, is among the best books of 2013.

Mel Goodman discusses National Insecurity.

Mel Goodman, author of National Insecurity, wrote an op-ed on military spending for Counterpunch. 

Melvin A. Goodman  discusses his book National Insecurity, military spending, and his opinions on the NSA and Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning with Meria Heller on "Talk Radio with Meria Heller."

"And now we have an Obama administration that has encouraged the creation of its own informant network among millions of federal employees and contractors to watch for "high-risk persons or behaviors" among co-workers. . . . "

"A major problem in the United States is not that there are too many whistle-blowers. Rather, there are too few. . . . "

"When congressional Republicans complete manipulating the Benghazi tragedy, it will be time for the virtually silent Senate intelligence committee to take up three major issues that have been largely ignored.  The committee must investigate the fact that the U.S. presence in Benghazi was an intelligence platform and only nominally a consulate . . . "

"With a focus on the most recent such 'adventures' in Iraq and Afghanistan, Goodman summarizes much of what any impartial informed view of these wars, especially the Iraq disaster, must conclude--they have been a 'monumental blunder,' as former New York Times editor Bill Keller, a former supporter, had to conclude from the evidence a decade into the war."

In 2011, the US defense budget was the highest it has been since World War II, higher than during the peak of the Korean War and Vietnam War -- in constant dollars. Goodman argues that in spite of this monumental spending, we are not safer as a country, and we suffer economically for it. So what would it take to re-calibrate our military spending and put the focus back on priorities at home?

Mel Goodman discusses how the military budget can be reduced.

With push coming to shove in the defense budget, Goodman takes a critical look at the weapons systems and the Pentagon policies that consume so much of our tax dollars; and the history of how we came to be the most militarized nation on Earth.

Interview on Concord, NH's "The Attitude" with Arnie Arneson.

Interview on Jeffersonville, NY's (The Catskills) WJFF's "Connections with Dick Riesling."

Interview on Santa Fe New Mexico's KSFR "Journey Home."

Armstrong Williams interviews Mel Goodman.

KPFK's Wally James at "The Progressive Forum" (Houston, TX) interviewed Mel Goodman about National Insecurity.

KGNU's "The Economy" (Boulder, CO) interviewed Mel Goodman about National Insecurity.

Truthout talked with Melvin Goodman about the military and intelligence network machine that maintains America's empire.

The FDL Book Salon invited Mel Goodman to discuss his new book National Insecurity. Goodman took part in a 2 hour on-line salon, discussing why he wrote the book, and his career in the CIA, and answered many other questions submitted from participants around the world.

What exactly is national security? If it entails the safety and well-being of Americans and American land, could national security mean a protected environment with clean water and air? Could it mean that sick people can afford timely treatment? Or that personal income will be protected from unfair taxation or pressures that facilitate irresponsible spending? These concepts may not be considered "national security" in the usual sense, but as Melvin Goodman writes in National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism, those issues currently present more imminent threats than any from overseas. Yet, he says, they sit on the back burner as defense spending has gone up and the economy has suffered.

Mel Goodman says, "By reducing our military budget, we will better position the U.S. globally, and enhance prosperity and security at home." Here he offers nine specific ways to cut defense spending.

Read the introduction to National Insecurity as featured on Truthout.org

Mel Goodman discusses why cutting the military budget will make us safer on MSNBC's "The Cycle".

A conversation on our political disconnect with the Pentagon and the resulting crisis in national security with $3 trillion to private contractors, with ex-CIA analyst Professor Melvin Goodman.

A look into the extraordinary rise of defense spending during the last decade, increases not seen since the Korean War, and whether this can be slowed or reversed.  Mel Goodman discusses whether the Republicans have changed their minds on defense cuts and if cuts could be targeted against useless weapons systems like the most expensive defense contract in history, the F-35 aircraft that is now grounded.

Mel Goodman discusses the sequester and defense spending.

"Beyond his prescriptions for finally curbing the money that feeds the military-industrial complex, Goodman also recommends a national recognition that the United States must finally see itself realistically as part of the community of nations, not as a self-directed policeman."

CIA Director-designate John Brennan stumbled through less-than-challenging questions at his Senate confirmation hearing, struggling to square the circle of his past ties to abuses in the "war on terror" with his future promises to be a force for openness and reform, as ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman notes.

CIA nominee John Brennan was repeatedly questioned about torture at his CIA confirmation hearing, including the use of waterboarding and enhanced interrogation techniques. He refused to say waterboarding was a form of torture, but said he has come to oppose the technique. Under George W. Bush, Brennan served as deputy executive director of the CIA and director of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center. "Remember, he was the cheerleader for some of these onerous policies, particularly renditions and extraordinary renditions. So, for John Brennan today to say he read the Senate committee intelligence report on torture and he learned things he never knew before and that he was shocked with what he learned, this is a case of incredible willful ignorance," says Melvin Goodman, former CIA and State Department analyst.

Mel Goodman discusses his new book National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism.

The myth that bad intelligence led to the Iraq War won't die, but the evidence is clear that President George W. Bush decided to invade after 9/11, though Iraq had nothing to do with the attack, and intel was assembled to sell the invasion to a scared U.S. public, as ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman explains.

Discussing the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA, what questions the Senate Intelligence Committee should ask him during his confirmation hearings, and what kind of leadership Goodman thinks the  CIA needs.  Interview begins around 9 minute mark.

Mel Goodman discusses his new book National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism.

As George Bush and his national security team marched the U.S. off to war in Iraq, they were aided by key news outlets, especially the neocon-dominated Washington Post. Now a decade later, the Post still won't take a hard, honest look at what was done, writes ex-CIA analyst Melvin A. Goodman.

Mel Goodman discusses his new book, National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism, and the nomination of Chuck Hagel to Secretary of Defense.  Interview begins at 17 minute mark.

Mel Goodman discusses his new book, offers an historical analysis of Obama's first term, presents a critique of the film "Zero Dark 30," considers Chuck Hagel's nomination as Secretary of Defense, and offers ways to cut military spending.

"'We have hundreds of military bases all over the world,' Melvin A. Goodman observes in National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism (City Lights). 'Few countries have any.' Goodman, a former Army cryptographer and a longtime C.I.A. analyst who taught at the National War College for eighteen years, is one of a growing number of critics of U.S. military spending, policy, and culture who are veterans of earlier wars."

"Goodman's value added is his focus on the role of the militarization of intelligence. . . . crucial to establishing that mortal threats to America perennially loom--out there--demanding bloated military budgets and frequent wars. . . . With a convincing accumulation of examples, Goodman reveals how our political leadership's occasional impulse to arms-control accords or defense budget cuts have come to be thwarted by an ever more powerful Pentagon."

"Goodman, currently director of the National Security Project at the Center for International Policy and an adjunct professor of government at Johns Hopkins University, has firsthand experience with war planners and intelligence strategists, and critiques the military economy from President Eisenhower through President Obama."

Mitch Jeserich of KPFA Berkeley's "Letters and Politics" interviews Mel Goodman. Interview begins at 26 minute marker.

Mel Goodman spoke about his new book at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on January 22, 2013.

Melvin Goodman talked about his book, National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism, in which he argues that our current level of spending on defense is excessive and is making us less secure. Goodman spoke at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco in January 2013.

The "Boston Globe's" Jan Gardner highlights Mel Goodman's "National Insecurity" in her latest column.

Mel Goodman, a former CIA agent who rallied support against John Brennan for his previous nomination to head the CIA, discusses his new nomination on KPFA, Berkeley (begins @ 28 min.)

Mel Goodman weighs in on the future of the CIA's leadership: "A respected civilian leader could correct flawed analytical and operational processes and name an inspector general who is a junkyard dog."

"Mel Goodman responds to the editorial 'David Petraeus' Affair Has Damaged the Nation' by explaining that in choosing national security advisers, Obama has 'ignored the need for an independent civilian voice to counter the influence and worst-case analysis of military intelligence.'"

"Melvin A. Goodman is a damn fine author, and National Insecurity is a damning assessment of U.S. defense spending and covert operations."

Mel Goodman discusses David Petraeus's testimony on Benghazi attack in this radio interview.

"A 25-year CIA veteran examines how recent presidents have handled the military and defense spending. 

As he left office in 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower gave a farewell address in which he warned against the influence of the 'military-industrial complex,' theorizing that overinvestment in defense could compromise other domestic issues. Goodman (Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA, 2008, etc.) claims that in the 50 years since that speech, Eisenhower's warning has gone unheeded, especially by the four most recent presidents: George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The author takes each president to task for his particular failings in foreign policy or his dealings with the military. While the chapter on the second Bush administration and its manipulation of post-9/11 intelligence reports feels slightly rehashed, the chapters on George H.W. Bush (covering the invasion of Panama and Desert Storm and Desert Shield) and Bill Clinton (which addresses 'don't ask; don't tell,' as well as military incursions into Haiti, the Balkans, Somalia and Rwanda) are engrossing and thoughtful. After examining these four presidents, Goodman includes a chapter on the national missile-defense program, calling it 'the most expensive and least effective weapons system in the U.S. arsenal.' This program was introduced during the Ronald Reagan administration (which spent more than $60 billion to develop it), leaving readers to speculate why Reagan was not included as a president guilty of runaway military spending. Goodman waits until nearly the last page before offering 'some good news in the overall picture.' He offers a few words of praise for President Obama, who 'does understand that the United States is far less exceptional than his opponents believe,' before ending with an ominous reminder: 'The age of the superpower is over.' Engaging reading for those interested in foreign policy and military spending."

"In this impassioned exposé of the astronomical costs of America's defense policy, former CIA analyst Goodman (Failure of Intelligence: The Decline and Fall of the CIA) demonstrates how post–cold war neoconservatives, energized by the recent dissolution of the U.S.S.R. and the United States' unrivaled position as the world’s premier superpower, promoted a pugnacious militarism that has led to a string of foreign policy debacles and unprecedented levels of military spending. Kicked into high gear by Reagan, expenditures slowed during the 1990s under Bush and Clinton, but skyrocketed after the 9/11 attacks and during the second Bush’s 'ultra-expensive and un-winnable wars.' Obama, having inherited 'a national security state that violate[s] civil rights at home and human rights abroad,' promised reforms, but has been reluctant (or unable) to actively reduce military expenditures. The military-industrial complex, presciently denounced decades earlier by Eisenhower, rumbles on. The obligatory how-to-fix-it chapter contains much bipartisan, cost-cutting rhetoric, but it’s clear that the majority of both parties in Congress consider the defense budget sacrosanct, or at least immutable. Few will finish this precisely argued polemic without the uneasy feeling that military spending is out of control."

Goodman gives the back story on the Benghazi attack explaining it was not the political cover-up that the Right has pushed, but rather how the U.S. consulate had grown into a CIA base, making it an inviting target for militants. The primary security failure was in not anticipating the danger.

Mitt Romney's three debate performances in October 2012 have exposed his political cynicism, with the Republican candidate abandoning long-term positions in order to adopt more moderate ideas for the run-up to the election.

In this op-ed for The Baltimore Sun, Mel Goodman, a former CIA-analyst and author of the forthcoming National Insecurity: The Cost of American Militarism, explains why now is the time for cuts in defense spending.

Mel Goodman speaks before the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire on how 9/11 could have been prevented.

Ex-CIA analyst Mel Goodman critiques the intelligence reforms put forward by the 9/11 Commission.

A radio interview in which Mel Goodman discusses his CIA career.