Sum Of All Fears - Why isn't Tom Clancy the CIA Director?

Hollywood.com ^ | 4/30/02 | Staff

[stromsfriend]

Synopsis: When the president of Russia suddenly dies, a man whose politics are virtually unknown succeeds him. The change in political leaders sparks paranoia among American CIA officials, so CIA director Bill Cabot recruits a young Russian analyst to supply insight and advice on the situation. Then the unthinkable happens: a nuclear bomb levels the capital of Chechnya, and America is quick to blame the Russians. What they don't realize is terrorists, bent on provoking open war between the two nations, are behind it all.

[stromsfriend]

I saw an advanced screening of "The Sum of All Fears" last night and it was good and entertaining (I will be summararily shot if I give anything away I am told).

THe movie doesn't follow the book very much and that works out fine. Ben Affleck does a fine job and his girlfriend is stunning.

But what got my noodle cooking was that Clancy's "fictions" about terrorist acts in many of his books are quite close to what goes on or what has happened.

Why isn't this guy writing National Security Estimates? Although I am sure the CIA has tapped his imagination by now!

Or...more disturbing/intriguing, maybe those terrorists have a penchant for Cold War fiction...

[TopQuark]

Why isn't this guy writing National Security Estimates?

Because reality is different from fiction, and because working with people is different from typing.

[rellimpank]

--IMHO, he'd do a lot better thatn Clinton-appointee Tenet--

[stromsfriend]

But isn't part of the CIA's job, or any other intelligence outfit, to come up with probable scenarios?

Perhaps imagination gets shot down by "one track" thinking or internal pressures? That happens in any company, sometimes you need new points of view.

[stromsfriend]

But isn't part of the CIA's job, or any other intelligence outfit, to come up with probable scenarios?

Perhaps imagination gets shot down by "one track" thinking or internal pressures? That happens in any company, sometimes you need new points of view.

[maestro]

Why isn't Tom Clancy the CIA Director?

ROTFLOL

[CJ Wolf]

Don't laugh too hard, there buddy. He really is, we just don't know it. You know secrets and all....

/secret sarcasm

[stromsfriend]

Of course this is a sort of off the cuff kind of topic. But See Sum of All Fears or read the book again...I can't remember the name of the book where the Japanese pilot runs the 747 into the Capitol. But that was pretty freaky too.

Movies are for entertainment, but it is scary to think someone could suggle a "dirty bomb" into the US. Hell, with federal agents bringing all sorts of things thru airport security, what about shipping (like in Sum of All Fears) or smuggling?

It's worth some thought anyway.

[TeleStraightShooter]

What I found interesting about what I have read on the internet about his flick is that the a domestic/arab group (CAIR?), pressured the studio (pre 9/11) to warp the original book storyline of arab terrorists, into eruo-nazi terroists. From what I understand, CAIR is on Bush's short list of stateside front groups for middle eastern terror.

The capital of Chehnya is nuked? Didn't Russia do that 2 years ago with 1000 fuel/air explosives?

[ozdragon]

I saw Clancey interviewed on "Book TV" about 2 months ago. He said that the guys at CIA & NSA were way ahead of him with their scenarios. He was asked to participate in "what if " sessions where there were blue & red teams. He said the professionals had already worked trhough anything he came up with. But, he is still a great writer and I enjoy his books.

[discostu]

Wow! Item #1 they shouldn't even use that title for the movie, the only thing that story has in common with the book is the words "terrorist" and "nuclear bomb".

Iten #2 - the reason to not nominate Tom for anything is that he writes fiction, the press would have such a field day with that it would make the Murphy Brown flap look like nothing. While I agree that Clancy is a very bright guy who has (unfortunately) shown a fair ability to predict the future, and among intelligent circles he's a highly respected speaker. Unfortunately the press ISN'T intelligent circles and would spend months mocking Bush for not knowing the difference between reality and make believe saying he was nominating Jack Ryan. It would be terrible. In the end the nomination would probably be withdrawn.

[ntrulock]

I too have only seen the trailers, but I was struck by the political correctness of the movie. In the book, as I recall the bad guys were Iranians and an American Indian. But from the looks of the trailer, the bad guys are neo-nazis and south africans. On second thought, maybe Claney could be director of the CIA.

[stromsfriend]

What I found interesting about what I have read on the internet about his flick is that the a domestic/arab group (CAIR?), pressured the studio (pre 9/11) to warp the original book storyline of arab terrorists, into eruo-nazi terroists. From what I understand, CAIR is on Bush's short list of stateside front groups for middle eastern terror.

The capital of Chehnya is nuked? Didn't Russia do that 2 years ago with 1000 fuel/air explosives?

Yeah the the Arab group (I didn't know who) got the plot changed in January 2001!! How ironic is that? Hollywood probably thought it was in bad taste because we all know that Islam is a "religion of peace." So much for reality!

I guess it would have been nice for the more realistic element of the Arab terrorists from the Sum of All Fears book, but the plot works anyway in the movie. As for Chechnya, somebody blew up 29 people with a bomb yesterday...SEE: ironic.

[TopQuark]

That is very true, I agree: ad hoc help should be sought from time to time.

[stromsfriend]

I saw Clancey interviewed on "Book TV" about 2 months ago. He said that the guys at CIA & NSA were way ahead of him with their scenarios. He was asked to participate in "what if " sessions where there were blue & red teams. He said the professionals had already worked trhough anything he came up with. But, he is still a great writer and I enjoy his books.

I saw that interview as well (must have been CSPAN's highest rated program ever), but isn't it more fun to speculate...? ;)

[maestro]

LOL,.......Sure,......and 'Rick' Ames, is really, "REALLY", running the whole 'show' for Ted Turner's outfit.

:-)
:-(

[another cricket]

I think it was Denver that got nuked in the book so it isn't even close.

I hate it when they do that. Either follow the book or don't but if you don't then don't say "Based on the book" because it isn't.

You wrote another story and that is fine.

a.cricket

[ctdonath2]

I can't remember the name of the book where the Japanese pilot runs the 747 into the Capitol.

"Executive Orders". Cabinet member Jack Ryan is the one guy left behind (standard procedure) during the State Of The Union address when Congress is wiped out, making Ryan the President. This and other terrorist attacks are cover for ... and the ending is remarkably satisfying.