Clear and Present Danger essays

Clear and Present Danger essays Clear And Present Danger This novel begins with the murder of a man and his family aboard a yacht. The murdered man was a long time friend of the United States President. The President orders an investigation into the death of his friend and is disturbed to find that his friend is involved with organized crime in Columbia. In an effort to protect himself, the President takes the law into his hands and orders a private strike against the drug cartels in Medellin, Columbia. The president, upset with the success of his "war on drugs," decides that he wants some immediate success and recruits John Clark to conduct a covert mission to eliminate the Columbian cartel. But after John Clark's covert strike team is sent to Columbia for Operation Showboat, the drug lords strike back, killing several civilians both American and Columbian. The chief executive orders Ritter, the advisor to the President, to end their unlawful plan and leave no traces. Jack Ryan, who has just been named CIA deputy director of intelli gence, is enraged when he discovers that has been left out of the circle of Columbian operations. Several of America's most highly trained soldiers are stranded in an unfinished mission that, according to all records, never existed. This enrages Jack Ryan and he decides to get the men out. After a very exciting mission, Jack Ryan is successful in his mission both in ending the Columbian drug ring and freeing his men. Clear and Present Danger is about the balance of power and politics, with Jack Ryan and CIA agent John Clark as the heroes. Ryan persistently follows what he knows is right and legal, even if it means confronting the president of the United States. This is all about the use and abuse of power. How it can affect the people who wield it. Power in fact is an evil weapon when used in a cruel way. Clancy provides insight about how things work, both political and practical ...