Discover the groundbreaking insights of Joseph Trento in his authoritative work, *Prelude to Terror*. With decades of research and writing on American intelligence, Trento provides a compelling and detailed indictment of CIA splinter groups, the Bush family's involvement in illegal financial networks across two generations, and the covert funding of terror agents. This book uncovers the hidden histories behind some of the most controversial aspects of U.S. intelligence and foreign policy.
*Prelude to Terror* traces the story of a corrupt group of spymasters led by Ted Shackley. After being dismissed when Jimmy Carter became president, these operatives maintained their influence by creating a private intelligence network. This rogue faction played a pivotal role in engineering Carter’s defeat in 1980 and later allied with George H.W. Bush. The book reveals how these former CIA officials orchestrated the Iran-Contra scandal and, through connections with Saudi Arabia, aligned the United States with extreme elements within Islam.
The narrative also explores the manipulation of the CIA by this clandestine network, including the framing of CIA front man Edwin P. Wilson by Shackley and his associates, allowing them to take over Wilson’s operations. For the first time, the book details how CIA director George H. W. Bush was recruited into this covert network and how he brought it into the fold of the Saudi royal family. Additionally, it examines how this group's influence over the CIA bureaucracy facilitated the fundraising efforts of Osama bin Laden, enabling al Qaeda to flourish under the protection of both Saudi Arabia and the CIA.
*Prelude to Terror* offers a comprehensive and revealing account of the complex web of covert operations, political manipulation, and international alliances that have shaped modern history. It is an essential read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the hidden forces behind global terrorism and U.S. intelligence activities.