The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'Clear and Present Danger':
Reviewer amazon.com wrote:At the end of the prologue to Clear and Present Danger, Clancy writes, "And so began something that had not quite begun and
would not soon end, with many people in many places moving off in directions and on missions which they all mistakenly thought they
understood. That was just as well. The future was too fearful for contemplation, and beyond the expected, illusory finish lines were
things fated by the decisions made this morning--and, once decided, best unseen." In Clear and Present Danger nothing is as clear
as it may seem.
The president, unsatisfied with the success of his "war on drugs," decides that he wants some immediate success. But after John
Clark's covert strike team is deployed to Colombia for Operation Showboat, the drug lords strike back taking several civilian
casualties. The chief executive's polls plummet. He orders Ritter to terminate their unofficial plan and leave no traces. Jack Ryan, who
has just been named CIA deputy director of intelligence is enraged when he discovers that has been left out of the loop of Colombian
operations. Several of America's most highly trained soldiers are stranded in an unfinished mission that, according to all records, never
existed. Ryan decides to get the men out.
Ultimately, Clear and Present Danger is about good conscience, law, and politics, with Jack Ryan and CIA agent John Clark as its
dual heroes. Ryan relentlessly pursues what he knows is right and legal, even if it means confronting the president of the United
States. Clark is the perfect soldier, but a man who finally holds his men higher than the orders of any careless commander.
Along with the usual, stunning array of military hardware and the latest techno-gadgets, Clear and Present Danger further develops
the relationships and characters that Clancy fans have grown to love. Admiral James Greer passes the CIA torch to his pupil, Ryan.
Mr. Clark and Chavez meet for the first time. Other recurring characters like Robert Ritter and "the President" add continuity to
Clancy's believable, alternate reality. This is Clancy at his best.
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