UteStar's book review: Bush at War - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

UteStar · 11-13-2006, 03:11 AM

I put it in this category as a book. This is the first of Bob Woodward's Bush war books and it is simply title 'Bush at War.' I know that Woodward has been bashed by the right as someone out to get George Bush. I really think that the people that make that accusation have not read these books. It comes off as, in a way, a documentary on what led the US to go after Afghanistan, the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It goes into the high level meetings...Woodward spent hours interviewing Pres. Bush himself, as well as with Rumsfeld, Powell, Cheney, etc.

There were a couple of things that surprised me and didn't surprise me. First, Bush comes off much sharper than he is actually given credit for. Though I don't always agree with his reasoning, he had a strong voice within his administration and he used it. He would tell them what he wanted and his staff (Rummy, etc.) would get it done.

Second, it was interesting to see how dire it appeared with Afghanistan. The administration was frustrated, little was being accomplished and winter was about to set in...and then all of a sudden, one of the air raids along with the troops (northern alliance, CIA) moving forward, the Taliban went on the run. It seemed to surprise the administration how quickly it changed.

Third, the administration knew what it wanted to do...but you can see that there was little big picture planning going on. Woodward had a great line when he said "The president, untested and untrained in national security, was about to start on the complicated and prolonged road to war without much of a map." As we have seen, this has dogged Bush for years...we come out with guns blaring and not quite sure where to go when we have done something.

Fourth, you can see how alienated Powell was for almost the entire presidency. Neither Rumsfeld nor Cheney seemed to want his input much and the President appeared to be more than ready to listen to those two with Powell often being the scapegoat or the one out on his own little island (even though Rice often tried to bring him back in).

It was a good read. Worth the time and a nice look into an administration. 4 out of 5 stars.

MikeWaters · 11-13-2006, 03:14 AM

Powell turns out to be a prophet. Crying out in the wilderness.

Detroitdad · 11-13-2006, 05:26 AM

So, Mr. Air Supply are you planning on reading the other Woodwardian tomes? I'd be interested to hear about those as well. Hell, in a month or so I might actually have time to read them myself.

11-13-2006, 03:11 AM	#1
UteStar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,817	UteStar's book review: Bush at War I put it in this category as a book. This is the first of Bob Woodward's Bush war books and it is simply title 'Bush at War.' I know that Woodward has been bashed by the right as someone out to get George Bush. I really think that the people that make that accusation have not read these books. It comes off as, in a way, a documentary on what led the US to go after Afghanistan, the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It goes into the high level meetings...Woodward spent hours interviewing Pres. Bush himself, as well as with Rumsfeld, Powell, Cheney, etc. There were a couple of things that surprised me and didn't surprise me. First, Bush comes off much sharper than he is actually given credit for. Though I don't always agree with his reasoning, he had a strong voice within his administration and he used it. He would tell them what he wanted and his staff (Rummy, etc.) would get it done. Second, it was interesting to see how dire it appeared with Afghanistan. The administration was frustrated, little was being accomplished and winter was about to set in...and then all of a sudden, one of the air raids along with the troops (northern alliance, CIA) moving forward, the Taliban went on the run. It seemed to surprise the administration how quickly it changed. Third, the administration knew what it wanted to do...but you can see that there was little big picture planning going on. Woodward had a great line when he said "The president, untested and untrained in national security, was about to start on the complicated and prolonged road to war without much of a map." As we have seen, this has dogged Bush for years...we come out with guns blaring and not quite sure where to go when we have done something. Fourth, you can see how alienated Powell was for almost the entire presidency. Neither Rumsfeld nor Cheney seemed to want his input much and the President appeared to be more than ready to listen to those two with Powell often being the scapegoat or the one out on his own little island (even though Rice often tried to bring him back in). It was a good read. Worth the time and a nice look into an administration. 4 out of 5 stars.

11-13-2006, 03:14 AM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	Powell turns out to be a prophet. Crying out in the wilderness.

11-13-2006, 05:26 AM	#3
Detroitdad Resident Jackass Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Roswell, New Mexico Posts: 1,846	So, Mr. Air Supply are you planning on reading the other Woodwardian tomes? I'd be interested to hear about those as well. Hell, in a month or so I might actually have time to read them myself.