2395 The Commanders, by Bob Woodward (read 30 Jun 1991) This tells the inside story of the Panama and Desert Storm/Shield operations. It is a journalistic account, full of things it is hard to believe Woodward could know. But I found it a fascinating account. It is the first book I have read on the Gulf War, and even though I followed that so closely and so recently, I found the account absorbing reading. So nice to read of all the worries, knowing that it all will work out well. The time from August 2, 1990, to Feb 26, 1991, was surely one of the most dramatic times the world has had in this dramatic century. ( )

A history of the first 2 years of the presidency of George Bush, how his military high commanders made their decisions regarding the Persian Gulf War and Panama. George Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, James A. Baker III and Brent Scowcroft are the "Commanders" and decision-makers. Interesting, though limited in scope by its brief time span. ( )