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 27
... wanted to discuss the possibility of her becoming secretary of state. “Think about it,” Podesta said to Clinton's staff. “Talk to her. This is serious.” Clinton assumed Obama had no choice but to sit down Obama's Wars 27.
... wanted to discuss the possibility of her becoming secretary of state. “Think about it,” Podesta said to Clinton's staff. “Talk to her. This is serious.” Clinton assumed Obama had no choice but to sit down Obama's Wars 27.
Page 33
... talk about anything really. Mullen believed the calls were designed to build a personal connection. The admiral could not have been more responsive, eager, gentlemanly or deferential. In one of the presidential debates, Obama even used ...
... talk about anything really. Mullen believed the calls were designed to build a personal connection. The admiral could not have been more responsive, eager, gentlemanly or deferential. In one of the presidential debates, Obama even used ...
Page 35
... talking, saber-rattling Bush administration had not prepared for some of the worst-case scenarios the country might face. Obama later said he would neither confirm nor deny any specifics about contingency plans, but he acknowledged that ...
... talking, saber-rattling Bush administration had not prepared for some of the worst-case scenarios the country might face. Obama later said he would neither confirm nor deny any specifics about contingency plans, but he acknowledged that ...
Page 36
... fact that he found the Bush administration woefully disorganized and embarrassingly unserious about Middle East peace. In the Richmond hotel, Obama told Jones, “It looks like I might win this.” He wanted to talk to him about being.
... fact that he found the Bush administration woefully disorganized and embarrassingly unserious about Middle East peace. In the Richmond hotel, Obama told Jones, “It looks like I might win this.” He wanted to talk to him about being.
Page 37
Bob Woodward. win this.” He wanted to talk to him about being secretary of state or national security adviser. Jones said he would be a better fit as secretary of state than as a presidential aide. “What I can do is set up an ...
Bob Woodward. win this.” He wanted to talk to him about being secretary of state or national security adviser. Jones said he would be a better fit as secretary of state than as a presidential aide. “What I can do is set up an ...
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