Bill Harlow

Circle William

Circle William is a novel about two brothers. One brother, Jim, is the White House Press Secretary and his younger brother, Bill, is the captain of the USS Winston Churchill. When the United States' Government learns of Libya's plan to drop chemical weapons on the Israeli Knesset, they must work together. Their first step is to prepare for a chemical, nuclear, or germ attack otherwise known as to set a "Circle William." What complicates their mission is Washington Post journalist, Sue O'Dell, who plants to write a feature on Bill. Harlow uses his service in the navy and his work within the White House as assistant press secretary to write a novel that is a mixture of political thriller and international terrorism.

Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives

Harlow co-authored this text with Jose A. Rodriguez, Jr. This text is an argument for enhanced interrogation techniques. For twenty-five years, Rodriguez was an undercover officer before he joined the CIA's Counterterrorism Center. This book goes in-depth into Rodriquez's experience with measures used against terrorism and the American lives it saved. Rodriquez and Harlow argue against the political correctness that occurred after the shock of 9/11 wore off and the support that the CIA had from both the government and the public was no longer. Rodriguez and Harlow argue that the lack of support has forced CIA agents to second guess and become weakened. They believed that it is necessary to take a hard stance and measures against terrorism.

At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA

This text was co-authored with George Tenet. This book is the narration of Tenet's time at the CIA particularly the time surrounding 9/11. This text demonstrates the CIA's attempts to prepare the United States against numerous threats, understand the events that led to 9/11, and explain and offer information that led to the invasion of Iraq. In 1997, Tenet was appointed Director of Central Intelligence and this text explores events that led to 9/11 and the aftermath as he saw them. Tenet and Harlow go into depth on the W. Bush's "sixteen words" in his 2003 State of the Union Address and Tenet's true context of his "slam dunk" comment. This text demonstrates that the truth is far more complex than other versions have previously offered.

The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism: From al Qa'ida to ISIS

Harlow co-authored this book with Michael Morell, a former acting director and deputy director of the CIA.

Professional Life

After twenty-five years of service, Harlow retired from the United States Navy with the rank of Captain in 1997. He then became the chief of public affairs for the CIA. Additionally, Harlow has been the Navy's depute spokesperson in Europe, special assistant to the secretary of the Navy, and as an assistant White House Press secretary for national security and foreign affairs.

Personal life

Harlow's parents are both U.S. Navy veterans. Currently, he lives in northern Virginia.