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Left of Boom: How a Young CIA Case Officer Penetrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda 1
I. Introduction
Douglas Laux served as a case officer (CO) in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2005 until February 2013.2 In Left of Boom, Laux tells the story of how he came to join the CIA and discuses his roles as a CO in Afghanistan and in Syria. His background is one that will be familiar to military audiences. He initially attended the University of Indiana intending to become an eye doctor.3 The events of September II, 2001 changed his trajectory and led him to the CIA.4
Left of Boom follows a formula similar to other autobiographical accounts written by young men who have served in the Global War on Terror: (1) initial training; (2) deployment; (3) disillusionment; and (4) departure from the service. 5 It is an entertaining read and offers the audience a look into how the CIA recruits personnel, how its COs conduct operations, and how the stress of a clandestine career affects personal relationships. What Left of Boom lacks is an in-depth analysis of the events in the book, though this may be by design. Laux intend Left of Boom to be his account of his career at the CIA and not about the CIA as a whole.6 Consequently, Left of Boom provides a unique view into the world of a young CIA CO but does not provide more for those who seek a deeper understanding of the CIA's inner workings.
II. Recruitment
Laux's description of his recruitment into the CIA provides a brief peek behind the curtain on how the organization selects personnel. After filling out an application online, Laux receives a number of phone calls, phone interviews, and instructions on places to go for follow on interviews.7 Many of the details of what he is specifically asked during these interviews or tests have been either redacted or omitted.8 These redactions are presumably to prevent the disclosure of classified information though it is not clear exactly what could be compromised in certain cases. Many of the redactions surrounding his recruitment process have to do with the time it took for Laux to complete the process itself.9 The recruitment process can take from two months...