What do you think?
Rate this book
Bush's War for Reelection: Iraq, the White House and the People
A news-breaking expose of the Bush administration's rush to war, from the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Bush's Brain
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes account, veteran journalist James Moore reveals how the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was a key goal of the Bush administration from the very beginning-and a critical component of the president's reelection strategy. Drawing on high-level sources inside the administration and the military, Moore weaves together a multifaceted narrative that probes the political underpinnings of the administration's push for an Iraq war, exposes efforts during the war (and after) to manipulate perceptions of U.S. military success, and contrasts it all to the ultimate price paid by soldiers duped into believing they were fighting for a just cause, not for political gain.
Moore takes us inside strategy meetings at the White House and the Pentagon, revealing the political calculus behind critical military decisions. He examines the administration's unprecedented efforts to control an d withhold information, including in-depth discussions with Joseph C. Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame, the CIA operative allegedly exposed by Karl Rove. Moore also gives us an uncensored view of combat in Iraq, reporting opinions of a senior Air Force source and troops on the ground; he shows how the war's first American casualty actually died, and reveals what really happened to Jessica Lynch's unit.
Finally, Moore uncovers what might be in store if Bush wins reelection: the use of Iraq as a forward base in the fight against terrorism, and where the war may go next. Publishing at the height of the presidential election season next spring, Bush's War for Reelection is sure to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes account, veteran journalist James Moore reveals how the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was a key goal of the Bush administration from the very beginning-and a critical component of the president's reelection strategy. Drawing on high-level sources inside the administration and the military, Moore weaves together a multifaceted narrative that probes the political underpinnings of the administration's push for an Iraq war, exposes efforts during the war (and after) to manipulate perceptions of U.S. military success, and contrasts it all to the ultimate price paid by soldiers duped into believing they were fighting for a just cause, not for political gain.
Moore takes us inside strategy meetings at the White House and the Pentagon, revealing the political calculus behind critical military decisions. He examines the administration's unprecedented efforts to control an d withhold information, including in-depth discussions with Joseph C. Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame, the CIA operative allegedly exposed by Karl Rove. Moore also gives us an uncensored view of combat in Iraq, reporting opinions of a senior Air Force source and troops on the ground; he shows how the war's first American casualty actually died, and reveals what really happened to Jessica Lynch's unit.
Finally, Moore uncovers what might be in store if Bush wins reelection: the use of Iraq as a forward base in the fight against terrorism, and where the war may go next. Publishing at the height of the presidential election season next spring, Bush's War for Reelection is sure to be one of the most talked about books of the year.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2004
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 31, 2024
This is an effective and important account of the second Iraq war published in 2004. Some of it we know but with the passage of time have forgotten and some of it was new. We know that President Bush lied about the reasons for war and that the intelligence was twisted and faked, the dodgy dossier in the UK et al but the murky connections between big buisness, Vice President Cheney , oil , voting systems and the alleged removal of embarrassing material from Bush's National Guard file display the utter hypocrisy at the heart of politics (the allegation in this book is that Bush avoided service in Vietnam as he was given preferential treatment to join the national guard, effectively then went absent with no sanction and the records tampered with then a Lt.Col who raised concerns intimidated and denied medical treatment.
The account of the wider politics and alleged cover ups in the Bush administration are interspersed with the stories of soldiers who did serve in Vietnam and Iraq and the impact on the families of those killed in action, probably intentionally these accounts of heroism and sacrifice contrast with the President avoiding service allegedly due to his fathers influence.
Whether President Bush was any worse than than other Presidents in these respects is debatable, by it's nature US politics is a murky and dishonourable affair, Presidents Clinton and Trump have faced accusations of avoiding the draft but still this is a book that confirms a cynicism about politics and politicians.
Recommended
The account of the wider politics and alleged cover ups in the Bush administration are interspersed with the stories of soldiers who did serve in Vietnam and Iraq and the impact on the families of those killed in action, probably intentionally these accounts of heroism and sacrifice contrast with the President avoiding service allegedly due to his fathers influence.
Whether President Bush was any worse than than other Presidents in these respects is debatable, by it's nature US politics is a murky and dishonourable affair, Presidents Clinton and Trump have faced accusations of avoiding the draft but still this is a book that confirms a cynicism about politics and politicians.
Recommended
Displaying 1 of 1 review