:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::

:: 4.22.2004 ::

:: Woodward.com ::

Books: Plan of Attack
Bob Woodward
Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor
Tuesday, April 20, 2004; 1:00 PM

"Plan of Attack," the newest book from Washington Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward, chronicles a turning point in history as President George W. Bush, his war council, and allies launch a preemptive attack on Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein and taking over the country. From in-depth interviews and documents, Woodward provides an authoritative narrative of the administration's actions over two years and examines the causes and consequences of the most controversial war since Vietnam. What emerges is an astonishingly intimate portrait of the President, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, CIA Director George Tenet, General Tommy Franks, other members of the war council and the White House staff, as well as key foreign leaders ranging from British Prime Minister Blair to Russian President Putin.

Woodward was online Tuesday, April 20 at 1 p.m. ET, to discuss his book and the behind-the-scenes maneuvering leading up to the war in Iraq.

Here are a couple of excerpts:

London, U.K.: Hi Bob

Many people in Britain view Bush as a great danger to world peace. The doctrine of preemptive strikes, the support of Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory, the wanton destruction of dozens of international agreements... it's very frightening.

To what extent do you believe Bush has made the world a safer place?

Bob Woodward: I don't know. And that's an interesting question and only going to be settled in the months and years ahead. At the end of 3-1/2 hours of interviews with him, I asked him how he thought history would judge his Iraq war and he smiled and said, "History, we won't know. We'll all be dead."

I've had some calls and e-mails asking did he somehow mean that we're not all going to survive. What he meant in the context of the question which was stated was and he said, the judgment of history is way off, 10 years or more and when that judgment is finally made it will be so long that we will all be departed.

_______________________

Kansas City, Mo.: Does President Bush believe he has made no mistakes regarding war in Iraq, or is he too afriad to admit to any? Assess his character on this, please.

Bob Woodward: Of course the President, like all of us, has made mistakes. I was surprised he couldn't come up with some at his recent press conference. It is always better, I think, as people know from their own personal lives and from history to acknowledge mistakes. The acknowledgment can show strength and understanding, rather than a weakness.

Read more here.

posted by me

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