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
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Page 13
... Washington, known for his profanity-laced diatribes, the 5-foot-8, 147-pound Emanuel delivered a giant political punch, having risen to the No. 3 House leadership position. Obama first raised the chief of staff job with Emanuel.
... Washington, known for his profanity-laced diatribes, the 5-foot-8, 147-pound Emanuel delivered a giant political punch, having risen to the No. 3 House leadership position. Obama first raised the chief of staff job with Emanuel.
Page 25
... leaders with drones had a debilitating impact on al Qaeda's ability to plan, prepare and train. That counted as a big counterterrorism win. But each strike was tactical and would not change the big picture. As an Air Force officer ...
... leaders with drones had a debilitating impact on al Qaeda's ability to plan, prepare and train. That counted as a big counterterrorism win. But each strike was tactical and would not change the big picture. As an Air Force officer ...
Page 26
... leaders had been killed this year alone. Al Qaeda was struggling to replace those leaders. After an hour of conversation, the Pakistani president met oneon-one with Hayden. Zardari wanted to clear the air about the controversy over ...
... leaders had been killed this year alone. Al Qaeda was struggling to replace those leaders. After an hour of conversation, the Pakistani president met oneon-one with Hayden. Zardari wanted to clear the air about the controversy over ...
Page 28
... leadership opportunities for her there. “Bush fucked up the world,” Podesta said, “and fucked up America's place in the world, and digging out of that would be very tough.” No one else came close to having her clout and visibility ...
... leadership opportunities for her there. “Bush fucked up the world,” Podesta said, “and fucked up America's place in the world, and digging out of that would be very tough.” No one else came close to having her clout and visibility ...
Page 30
... leaders had turned on her during the presidential contest. No matter what her future, the top cabinet post would give her an unmatched record of public service. Also, Penn believed the people in the country, especially Democrats, wanted ...
... leaders had turned on her during the presidential contest. No matter what her future, the top cabinet post would give her an unmatched record of public service. Also, Penn believed the people in the country, especially Democrats, wanted ...
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