As violence in Iraq reaches unnerving levels in 2006, a second front in the war rages at the highest levels of the Bush administration. In his fourth book on President George W. Bush, Bob Woodward takes readers deep inside the tensions, secret debates, unofficial backchannels, distrust and determination within the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department, the intelligence agencies and the U.S. military headquarters in Iraq. With unparalleled intimacy and detail, this gripping account of a president at war describes a period of distress and uncertainty within the U.S. government from 2006 through mid-2008.
The White House launches a secret strategy review that excludes the military. General George Casey, the commander in Iraq, believes that President Bush does not understand the war and eventually concludes he has lost the president's confidence. The Joint Chiefs of Staff also conduct a secret strategy review that goes nowhere. On the verge of revolt, they worry that the military will be blamed for a failure in Iraq.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice strongly opposes a surge of additional U.S. forces and confronts the president, who replies that her suggestions would lead to failure. The president keeps his decision to fire Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld from Vice President Dick Cheney until two days before he announces it. A retired Army general uses his high-level contacts to shape decisions about the war, as Bush and Cheney use him to deliver sensitive messages outside the chain of command.For months, the administration's strategy reviews continue in secret, with no deadline and no hurry, in part because public disclosure would harm Republicans in the November 2006 elections. National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley tells Rice, "We've got to do it under the radar screen because the electoral season is so hot.""The War Within" provides an exhaustive account of the struggles of General David Petraeus, who takes over in Iraq during one of the bleakest and most violent periods of the war. It reveals how breakthroughs in military operations and surveillance account for much of the progress as violence in Iraq plummets in the middle of 2007.Woodward interviewed key players, obtained dozens of never-before-published documents, and had nearly three hours of exclusive interviews with President Bush. The result is a stunning, firsthand history of the years from mid-2006, when
ISBN:2147483647
Author:Bob Woodward
MaryG Waithaka –
Fantastic book. I started it this morning at 6.30am in the salon and was glued to every single word! The first section brought out so many emotions, I was tearing up. Came home and continued reading. It is safe to say, I had a very unproductive work day, lol! By 4om. I was on the last page and actually felt sad that it was finished. A fantastic story. So very well told. Definitely worth your while. Fair warning though. Be prepared for no sleep if you start it in the evening 😁😁 Well done Ciru!
MaryG Waithaka –
I started this book at 6.30am this morning in the salon. I was glued to every. Single. Page. Came home and continued reading. I was so happy that today was a light day so. That I could focus on it fully! By 4pm, I was on the last page and so disappointed that it was finished. Thrilling read. Awesome story and so very well told. Definitely worth your time. Fair warning though.. If you start it in the evening, you can say goodbye to your beauty sleep 😁😁 Well done Ciru!
Wangui –
A must read. A well told story that speaks to many issues in our society today.
Abby Lati –
I loved every page I turned. Wanjiru never disappoints! Can’t wait for her next book