Bush at War

Although this is not Woodward's intention, I feel that he has gathered more evidence that something approaching a due process and the best of intentions existed in the decision to conduct warfare. In these post-Constitutional days, this may be the best we can hope for. As the behemoth lurches towards war on the other side of the world, Bush focused the intentions of the principals to direct their ire against American enemies. While we would have hoped for the strikeout blow that would have taken Al Qaeda out, the various American agencies, Pentagon, CIA, White House et. al. pounded back as quickly as can be expected. A less decisive President would have allowed America open to additional attacks and would have lowered the view of the show more U.S. in the remainder of the world by not striking back at its enemies. show less

3.2 Quick read. A look at Bush and his administration across a period of roughly 13 months after 9/11 and the discussions that led to military action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not the best of Woodward’s writing, but still an informative look back.

Even with my reservations about Woodward the journalist, I found his Bush at War offered a valuable insight into how the NSC and the Bush Administration operated between September 11th and late 2002. Surprisingly, I found myself agreeing with some of the comments from principles whose policies toward Iraq I find deplorable, yet they got the immediate response correct. The means employed in Afghanistan seemed correct and proper given the reality of the country at the time (regardless of how things are continuing to deteriorate as attention continues to concentrate elsewhere).

Nonetheless, much of the time I found myself wondering why Gary's advice--CIA operative on the ground--did not travel up the chain of command? It seemed like, as show more many NSC committees apparently do, this NSC group spent a lot of time arguing the same points continuously rather than seeking new information from the ground proactively in an effort to move the process forward. The more I read about the working of the NSC, the more I understand where the bureaucratic political theorists come from. This is just a group of people working with varied tools and beliefs to solve complex problems--something duplicated in numerous organizations everywhere. Understanding this process and how to game it correctly seems to contain a piece of the puzzle to understanding foreign policy formation in the U.S. show less

Woodward's account of the Bush White House in the moments after 9/11. Typical Woodward: insidery, not particularly poetic, and entirely too dependent on his sources, but an interesting look at what was going on in the aftermath of the attacks.

"Objective journalism" is a non sequitor, at least in this decade of what passes for journalism. I think it's not only foolish but also dangerous to believe that any journalist writes about his or her subject in an unbiased way, yet I have read reviews of this book which praise this book for exactly that: "conscienciously fair" is one of my particular favorites.

Bob Woodward is no fan of the right, no fan of Bush or his administration, and no fan of the Iraq war. No references for Woodward's "facts" or assertions are included in the book. You make the call.

I would add that Woodward's newest book, Obama's Wars, has pages of chapter notes and references at the end. Why the difference in the two books? And will anyone even notice.

Woodward did what he does best...
...Woodward documented the days/weeks/months following the September 11th attacks and how the White House handled the situation in a very even handed and exposed way.
There was little room for question in this book as Woodward gave you every angle from the people who were there.

An interesting look at the personalities and interactions in the highest government levels dealing with the 9/11 attack and the buildup and invasion of Afghanistan. It is interesting after living through the events to be able to take a step back from the images in ones head and look at what was going on in the government and other countries around the world.