Rating: 
Summary: Worth Reading
Review: I love Washington insider books. Books like BUSH AT WAR are interesting on a couple of levels. Not only is the text informative but the subtext of who was cooperative and who wasn't so cooperative is fascinating.Mr. Woodward, in this and other recent books as well as in TV appearances, comes across as much more moderate an individual than one would imagine, given his Watergate roots. As a result, BUSH AT WAR is a mostly fair sketch of the Bush administration's post-9/11 efforts, focused on the Afghanistan campaign to root out al Qaeda terrorists and topple their Taliban allies. Many members of the administration were interviewed by and/or shared notes with Woodward, he interviewed President Bush for the book. This access makes the book more valuable and informative. Nevertheless, I have three minor gripes with the book. First is the seeming connection between the level of access and favorable portrayal. I don't know if Mr. Woodward knows where he leans before he starts on a book and simply pushes harder for sources on that side or if he conducts his interviews, stacks them up side-by-side, hawk vs. dove, and goes with the larger pile. Whichever, it seems like he got a lot of information from people close to CIA Director Tenet and Secretary of State Powell and not much from people close to Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz, and Woodward parks himself squarely in the Powell "dove" camp. Second gripe, this is not an all-encompassing look at the administration's post-9/11 reaction. BUSH AT WAR focuses on the War Council and pays scant attention to homefront security issues and that cast of characters (Attorney General Ashcroft, FBI Director Mueller, and Pennsylvania Governor turned Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge). Since the War on Terror is a two-front war, home and abroad, homeland security is also a big part of the story, but a part of the story Mr. Woodward did not tell. Perhaps that's for the best, however, since my third and final gripe with BUSH AT WAR is that it gets really difficult to read, boring even, in its second half. I don't know how Woodward was able to make the details of cloak-and-dagger CIA operatives and brave, creative military special forces seem tedious, but he did it. Although it gets bogged down in details conveyed in an amazingly dull way at times, BUSH AT WAR is still a really important and informative book that is well worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: A chronicle of War
Review: This book, as its title suggests, is a collection of various events and decisions involving Bush and his cohorts, which lends a framework for the retaliatory strike on UBL and the Taliban.
There is an apparent disconnect when the War on Iraq is being discussed. The subject is introduced abruplty, and the flow of the book is totally disrupted. This prompts the reader to question the motives behind the War on Iraq.
The author does a good job on revealing Bush's emotions.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book on the War on Afghanistan
Review: An excellent day to day reporting post 9-11. Bob Woodward shows how the planning as well as the unexpected took place as America prepared and executed its war against Al Queda and Taliban in Afghanistan. The author draws from personal conversations he has had with the President and his war cabinet. However he doesnot dwell on any of Foreign Policy implications of the different decisions or the lapses of intelligence that led to 9-11. The author clearly brings out the different opinions of the different personalities involved mainly between the Sec of Defense Don Rumsfeld and Sec of State Colin Powell with Condi Rice being a moderating influence and reality check. Overall a good book which I would recommend to understand how the US military and intelligence agency plans and executes one of the strangest and unorthodox wars that US has ever fought.
Rating: 
Summary: Bush at War, America at War
Review: Terrific writing, as has always been the case with Bob Woodward. Fascinating inside account of the mental struggles taking place in the executive branch of our government over terrorism after 911. Great effort by Woodward at getting inside information. (How did he do that?) The mental struggles inside the "war room" inevitably boil down to a practical application of our founding fathers' (especially Thomas Jefferson's) and now, America's, basic philosophy of "who we are and how we got here". Woodward leaves the subtle message that, whatever they do on terrorism, all members of the war room recognise that they must be on firm moral grounds, philosophically. ...
Rating:
Summary: Makes one appreciate how hard it is to run the country...
Review: I didn't vote for this administration, and I'm not sure I'd vote for them if there is a next chance, but this account of how the Bush team handled the first 100 days after the 9/11 attacks is fascinating. Whether one agrees with the way the war in Afghanistan was handled or not, this explanation for what happened is essential to understanding why the Iraq war has happened and what might come next. Woodward reports, but does not opine, and that is the right tone to take. As for this moderate Democrat, the book does support my own gut feeling that the Administration members are neither dumb nor reckless and are not operating out of impulse or base motives. They faced a grim task in figuring out how best to prevent another 9/11 disaster. The jury is still out on whether their solutions will do the trick or not. I'm glad I read it, and I did develop increased respect for this group. Even if Al Gore had won, the U.S. might
have had to handle the terrorism/Iraq problems in pretty much the same way.I think every adult citizen ought to read this before either condemning the Administration or blindly supporting every proposal that comes from it.
Rating: 
Summary: Propoganda at it's best
Review: I can't believe people are reading this as non fiction. This is fiction at its best. There are much better books out there to get a clearer picture of what's going on in Iraq. And if you're interested in the truth then I earnestly recommed anything by Noam Chomsky, as well as these two books, which will no doubt enlighten you about the Bush administration and the war in Iraq: (1) War Plan Iraq: Ten Reasons Against War with Iraq (Milan Rai); and (2) STUPID WHITE MEN (Michale Moore). And if you love a good laugh, here's a satire on Bush and the media: The little samba boy (Jay Singh). The truth is out there.
Rating:
Summary: Good transcript
Review: I enjoyed the Woodward account of how Bush developed his war on terrorism with his closest advisors. One shortcomming of the book which appeared, but I don't understand, was Woodward's background pro-Bush development. While I don't believe Woodward, a great investigative reporter and the one responsible for bringing out the Watergate scandle, sought to promote Bush in any way, the work seems to convey this. Beyond this, the Woodward account of the war is really a transcript of the war planning. Woodward shows the dynamic between the Vice President and the Secretary of Defense on the one side and Secretary of State on the other with the National Security Advisor as the real sounding board and most influential in the President's war cabinet. According to Woodward, Condi Rice, next to Karen Huges (who has left), appears to be the arbitrator between the factions within the Bush administration's war cabinet. I wouldn't rate this as a great work of art, but a good transcript of how the current White House administration has handled probably one of the most difficult times since Pearl Harbor. The book provides a view of President Bush in action which the news media generally has not portrayed. Woodward, to produce this book, had significant access which confuses me on the unnecessary pro-Bush bent. Even if Woodward presented the information, I think the reader could walk away saying Bush is a leader. Bush, according to Woodward, breaks things down to simple parts to make a decision always keeping in mind he works for the people. Bush, as presented by Woodward, kind-of stikes me as a cross between Truman and Teddy Roosevelt. It is a book worth reading, but don't expect some great wisdom here.
Rating:
Summary: Aftershocks of 9/11
Review: Enthralling portrait of the weeks following September 11 when the world watched and worried how President Bush would react to the most devastating terrorist attack in history. Based on scores of interviews, Bob Woodward manages to convey the drama and concern of further attacks which permeated the American administration.
Rating:
Summary: The Surprising Role of Rice
Review: Who can chronicle a major event in world history better than Bob Woodward? Once again, Woodward is at the center of the storm, sharing minute details of the early stages of President Bush's War on Terror. I was very pleased with Woodward's objective approach. He didn't take a knee-jerk liberal or conservative bent--he just told the story. Obviously, his view of Rumsfeld may be a bit skewed because of limited access and yet pays him the respect he is due. I particularly enjoy Woodward's deep bios of the main characters. I learned information about each member of the cabinet and I feel better informed for having read the book. The biggest surprise of this book: the role of Condi Rice. Bob made it obviously clear how large a role she plays in this administration. I left feeling that she could one day run the country and had a keen sense of responsibility, leadership, and faith. The only flaw is the subtle insistence that Bush is in over his heels. I think every writer is tempted to buy into the conservatives-must-be-dumb theory. For the most part, he gives Bush enormous credit and lets the American people understand that he is a man on a mission. This is an extremely enlightning book and gives a real insider's account. Buy it and put it on your nightstand.
Rating: 
Summary: Woodwards Latest Effort
Review: In his latest book, BUSH AT WAR, Woodward displays his classic liberal bias towards Bush. Woodward casts him unfairly as a bit of a bumpkin. Also, there is his laughable characterization of Rumseld and Wolfowitz as reactionary and almost malevolent figures trying to influence Bush. Yet, somehow Woodward is able to treat superficially and without comment Clinton's contributions to the whole 9-11 mess and the aftermath. Finally, Woodward demonstrates remarkable ESP powers by describing what various people are actually thinking, even when their words suggest something different.
I can't recommend this book as an objective or insightful anaysis of Bush at War.
| 
