Obama's WarsIn Obama’s Wars, Bob Woodward provides the most intimate and sweeping portrait yet of the young president as commander in chief. Drawing on internal memos, classified documents, meeting notes and hundreds of hours of interviews with most of the key players, including the president, Woodward tells the inside story of Obama making the critical decisions on the Afghanistan War, the secret campaign in Pakistan and the worldwide fight against terrorism. At the core of Obama’s Wars is the unsettled division between the civilian leadership in the White House and the United States military as the president is thwarted in his efforts to craft an exit plan for the Afghanistan War. “So what’s my option?” the president asked his war cabinet, seeking alternatives to the Afghanistan commander’s request for 40,000 more troops in late 2009. “You have essentially given me one option. ...It’s unacceptable.” “Well,” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates finally said, “Mr. President, I think we owe you that option.” It never came. An untamed Vice President Joe Biden pushes relentlessly to limit the military mission and avoid another Vietnam. The vice president frantically sent half a dozen handwritten memos by secure fax to Obama on the eve of the final troop decision. President Obama’s ordering a surge of 30,000 troops and pledging to start withdrawing U.S. forces by July 2011 did not end the skirmishing. General David Petraeus, the new Afghanistan commander, thinks time can be added to the clock if he shows progress. “I don’t think you win this war,” Petraeus said privately. “This is the kind of fight we’re in for the rest of our lives and probably our kids’ lives.” Hovering over this debate is the possibility of another terrorist attack in the United States. The White House led a secret exercise showing how unprepared the government is if terrorists set off a nuclear bomb in an American city—which Obama told Woodward is at the top of the list of what he worries about all the time. Verbatim quotes from secret debates and White House strategy sessions—and firsthand accounts of the thoughts and concerns of the president, his war council and his generals—reveal a government in conflict, often consumed with nasty infighting and fundamental disputes. Woodward has discovered how the Obama White House really works, showing that even more tough decisions lie ahead for the cerebral and engaged president. Obama’s Wars offers the reader a stunning, you-are-there account of the president, his White House aides, military leaders, diplomats and intelligence chiefs in this time of turmoil and danger. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 24
Page xiv
... person was obtained directly from that person, from notes or from a colleague whom the person told. Occasionally, a source said mid-conversation that something was “off-the-record,” meaning it could not be used unless the information ...
... person was obtained directly from that person, from notes or from a colleague whom the person told. Occasionally, a source said mid-conversation that something was “off-the-record,” meaning it could not be used unless the information ...
Page 12
... the world's problems were seen as his responsibility. “People are saying, you're the most powerful person in the world. Why aren't you doing something about it?” 2 J ohn Podesta had been quietly heading Obama's transition Bob Woodward 12.
... the world's problems were seen as his responsibility. “People are saying, you're the most powerful person in the world. Why aren't you doing something about it?” 2 J ohn Podesta had been quietly heading Obama's transition Bob Woodward 12.
Page 13
... person in mind: Representative Rahm Emanuel, 48, a three-term congressman from Chicago and also a former aide in the Clinton White House. One of the most combustible operatives in Washington, known for his profanity-laced diatribes, the ...
... person in mind: Representative Rahm Emanuel, 48, a three-term congressman from Chicago and also a former aide in the Clinton White House. One of the most combustible operatives in Washington, known for his profanity-laced diatribes, the ...
Page 18
... person or persons— a lot of speculation tonight. Maybe it had something to do with first responders, since it was in the firehouse. Maybe it was a meeting with a potential secretary of homeland security. But I have been e-mailing Obama ...
... person or persons— a lot of speculation tonight. Maybe it had something to do with first responders, since it was in the firehouse. Maybe it was a meeting with a potential secretary of homeland security. But I have been e-mailing Obama ...
Page 27
... person and could put past grievances aside. But there had been some raw, ugly moments on the trail, with Clinton accusing Obama of not telling the truth. After a February rally in Ohio that year, she had scolded him with a line that ...
... person and could put past grievances aside. But there had been some raw, ugly moments on the trail, with Clinton accusing Obama of not telling the truth. After a February rally in Ohio that year, she had scolded him with a line that ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
added adviser Afghan Afghanistan agreed al Qaeda American answer Army asked assessment attacks believed Biden Blair briefing build Bush called campaign chapter chief clear Clinton comes commander commitment continued counterinsurgency decision defeat defense director don’t Donilon forces Gates give goal going Graham ground guys Hayden Holbrooke insurgency intelligence interviews Iraq Jones July Karzai killed later leaders look Lute McChrystal McConnell meeting military mission months Mullen national security noted November Obama operations option Pakistan Pentagon person Petraeus political president presidential problem Qaeda questions request Riedel secretary seemed Senate September showed sources speech staff strategy Taliban talk tell terrorist things thought tion told troops trying United vice wanted Washington Post White House York