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Summary: A Must Read
Review: Anyone who says that this is just another biased book does not know the author and has not read the book. This is by far one of the most informative books about the Bush White House, it's very balanced and fair, if someone has a problem with some of the content then the problem lies with the administration not the messenger. Overall a good book, fair and balanced.
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Summary: Bravo to Bob Woodward!
Review: We finally get an inside story of the conversations that took place behind White House doors---all to the detriment of the American people! An incredible read on the ongoing power struggles of our political elite, specifically Bush and Cheney against Colin Powell, who (incredibly) was told about the decision to go to war after it was decided by Cheney and Bush alone! A must read to understand the current Iraq situation.
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Summary: this book recommended by president bush
Review: The Bush supporters who are writing bad reviews should check out the official Bush re-election web site at http://www.georgewbush.com/ Check the "suggested reading list" and you will find this book recommended. It is odd to hear Bush supporters ridicule the book while Bush recommends it. Wonder why that is??
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Summary: GARBAGE!! They wouldn't let me give it 0 stars!!
Review: Woodward is yet another to try and make a fast buck by writing garbage that he knows the liberal pawns will eat up and run with. If you believe everything this man writes you are yourself a pawn. I love how a previous reviewer described this as an "unbiased" look at Bush...WRONG!!! Woodward is anything but unbiased towards President Bush. Thank goodness it is mostly just the vocal minority that believes this crap. Have fun with your money Bob because your credibility is shot!!!
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Summary: A transparent attempt to smear Bush...
Review: Woodward himself states that only one of his multiple sources was willing to go "on the record" for this book. That in itself should cast serious doubt on the veracity of the allegations therein. Of course, the liberal press, just as with Richard Clarke's book, cannot wait to trumpet this highly suspect work as containing "explosive revelations." This is not a serious investigative report on the Bush administration. It is hearsay, probably largely fabrication, and until more than one source agrees to to be attributed, should be regarded with the highest suspicion. But not amongst the Bush-haters. For them, truth doesn't matter - it's "the seriousness of the charges". Woodward and his ilk despise Bush because they view him as hugely inferior to them in intellect, and are incensed that such a cretin, a "dirt farmer from Texas" should occupy the White House. They regard him with contempt because he is not one of the "intellectual elite" and has no desire to associate with or listen to them, let alone be counted amongst their ranks. They are the ones who are frighteningly divorced from reality - not George W. Bush. This is a transparent attempt by Woodward to smear Bush and his administration for political purposes. I believe it will not only fail in that regard, but will have the exact opposite effect. Average Americans view Woodward and the elitist intellectuals he considers his peers with contempt, but neither he nor the rest of his condescending bunch will ever understand this fact.
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Summary: Not Accurate - No Attibution
Review: This book places Woodwards credibility in the dumper with Richard Clarke's. The quotes are not attributed and therefore lure the typical intellectual lightweight into believing all that is written here. Unfortuanetly, this is just another partisan attempt to nitpick the fine details involved in the decision to remove Saddam from power after UN sanctions did not work. This book lacks important context such as: Years of violated sanctions
We were attacked on 911
Bush went to congress - passed
Bush went to the U.N. - passed
Saddam has WMD - Ask a Kurd about these
Saddam was developing a nuke Unfortunately, Woodward focuses on simple details out of context, reducing him to another partisan policy weenie. Those of you on the left will, as usual, ignore these facts and not think for yourselves anyway and use this book to reinforce your points.
Rating: 
Summary: good construction
Review: I have not finished the book yet. However, I do have to say that the construction of the book and the authority given to it by the detailed information from so many people inside the administration itself makes it a stirring read. I find it increadible that so many people prejudge the book as a "Slam the President" book. I saw Woodward on an interview and the the interviewer was definitely trying to get Woodward to make judgemental statements regarding the President, but he would not do it. He stated (which is clear in his book) that he is a reporter and simply is presenting the facts as told to him and let the reader decide. Sure, what is in the book looks bad for Bush, but it is his own words, and those close to him. If history will judge him harshly, so be it. I think most Presidents are judged harshly by history. So far, I would guess that very few in Bush's administration agreed with his decision about Iraq, but he was the boss. So they are trying to implement his descision the best they can and try to minimize the political damage he has done to himself and harm he has brought on the whole world. People like Powell, Rice, Tenet, and Rumsfeld know they will be judged by history also. And I believe this is why they spoke so frankly with Woodward. And he has to keep his sorces safe, because Bush has shown himself to be severely vindictive.
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Summary: A Gripping Unbiased Stellar Account of The Plan of Attack
Review: Bob Woodward brings you true, unbiased details of Bush's plans, doubts, questions, maneuverings, and money spent to win the war with Iraq and bring Hussein down. A couple of the most gripping paragraphs from the book shows exactly "how" this was done:
"...I want Hussein's military penetrated. I want the intel service penetrated. I want the security apparatus penetrated. I want tribal networks inside Iraq who will do things for us -- paramilitary, sabotage, ground intelligence. Work the relationship with the Kurds. See if it is feasible to train and arm them so they can tie down Hussein's forces in the north." "...a team of CIA operatives made the 10-hour overland drive from Turkey into Iraq in a convoy of Land Cruisers, Jeeps and a truck to set up base in Sulaymaniyah in the mountainous Kurdish-controlled region of northern Iraq. In October, they returned to the same area carrying tens of millions of dollars in $100 bills stored in heavy cardboard boxes. They set up base in a lime-green building that they christened "Pistachio."" As for the integrity of the author, Bob Woodward is outstanding. His reporting is incredibly detailed, and he brings you tremendous insider information about how this war began, and why. If you want to know the true ins and outs of this war, this is the most compelling and unbiased approach I have ever seen. Outstanding Work!
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Summary: Its about time...
Review: I think it's about time that people realize the scandals and deceit that occurred for the Iraq war. Bob Woodward did an excellent job showing America how low the president can go in his unjustified, ruthless, and cowardly attack. The book showed how the president of our country is nothing more than a puppet being played by Cheney. I hope everyone has the opportunity to read this book and realize how much trouble a few greedy men have gotten this country into. Thanks Mr. Woodward for a great book.
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Summary: Iraqgate!
Review: Woodward's reportage triggered the Watergate scandal three decades ago and forced Nixon to resign. Will this book force Bush to resign? Probably not, but it will hurt his reelection campaign. The book describes in detail the Administration most secretive "Plan of Attack" against Iraq first started in November 2001, while the U.S. was still at war with Afghanistan. It also reveals how this plan was financed in unauthorized and unconstitutional ways reminding one of the Iran-Contra scandal. Woodward's portrays Dick Cheney as a maniac hell bent on ousting Saddam Hussein since the beginning of the Bush Administration. He was obsessed after September 11 in linking Saddam Hussein to Al Quaeda whether any reliable evidence could be uncovered or not. Colin Powell felt all along that we should not invade Iraq. He felt Cheney had an "unhealthy fixation" with Saddam Hussein, and that it was blurring his judgment across the board. The differences between them became so grave that all communications between the two broke down. Unfortunately, it is the moderate Powell who became isolated from internal debates on foreign affairs. This is an unprecedented situation for a Secretary of State, especially for one as respected and popular as Powell. Woodward suggests the President is a forceful and informed insider. In November 2001, while the Afghan war against the Taliban was still in full swing, Bush ordered Rumsfeld to develop a plan to invade Iraq. The communication between Bush and Rumsfeld was totally confidential. Powell and Rice were kept out of the loop. Bush shared with Rumsfeld that the need for confidentiality was crucial otherwise any knowledge on our plan of attacking Iraq would cause a furor in the international diplomatic community and among the American public. General Tommy Franks, in charge of the Afghan war was furious when informed he became responsible for coming up with the plan to invade Iraq. How can he develop such a plan while still fully engaged in another conflict (Afghanistan). This multi conflict situation led Rumsfeld and Franks to come up with the "Rumsfeld" doctrine. It consists in fighting wars with the minimum level of troops using high technology including GPS high precision portable missiles to compensate for the low numbers of soldiers. It worked beautifully in the Iraq war. But, it has been a disaster in the follow up peacekeeping effort. We just never had enough soldiers to control a population of 25 million. Later in the book, Woodward comes up with a bombshell. In July 2002, the Administration needed $700 million to finance the "Plan of Attack." It was funded in a clandestine fashion approved by the President, but unknown to Congress by shifting funds approved for the Afghan War. This resembles the Iran-Contra deal during the Reagan-Bush Sr. Administration. Given that many of the advisors were the same (Cheney and Rumsfeld among others) we should not be surprised. Obviously, this shifting of funds by the Administration away from their authorized purpose raises serious constitutional and governance issues. CIA director George Tenet does not fare well in this book. On December 21, 2002, he and his top deputy John McLaughlin made a presentation to the President and VP (Powell and Rice conspicuously absent) assuring them that Saddam Hussein definitely possessed weapons of mass destruction. The President was not convinced, and stated that the information presented was not adequate to persuade the American public. But, Tenet answered "don't worry, it's a slam dunk case." This statement gave Bush undue confidence regarding Hussein having developed WMDs. Per Woodward, Tenet's statement was a grave mistake that possibly changed the course of history. A more integer CIA director rendering an objective lack of evidence of WMDs could have dissuaded the President to move forward on this ill fated preemptive war. Here are other excellent books I recommend. They confirm or supplement Woodward's. Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" and Wesley Clark "Winning Modern Wars" both describe how the Bush Administration's obsession with Iraq proved a waste of resources regarding the real objective of fighting Islamic terrorism. They also describe how our intelligence effort needs improvement. Also, Ivo H. Daalder's "America Unbound" and John Newhouse's "Imperial America" both confirm the personality profiles depicted by Woodward. They both admire the intellect and integrity of Powell, but are saddened by his isolation. They are also concerned about Dick Cheney's excessive influence. Ron Suskingl's "The Price of Loyalty" relying on lengthy testimonials by former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill is also fascinating.
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