The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity: A Diplomat's Memoir

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Summary: The Poster Boy for Overhauling the State Department
Review: A few reviewers are citing how Joe Wilson, a spoiled elitist was considered to be a hero in "standing up" to Saddam Hussein back in 1990-91. The truth, of course, is more complex.

For while Wilson talks a good talk about the grovelling Senators who fawned upon Saddam (true), he and his predecessor, Miss Glaspie, were diehard Arabists who aided and abetted that kind of mindset.

Yes, Wilson did behave courageously in standing up to Saddam's thugs and in shielding those who sought refuge in the U.S. Embassy after Saddam invaded Kuwait. But even a critic of U.S. Middle East policy like John Simpson of the BBC is considered Wilson personally to be a disaster. He was arrogant and a bully, according to Simpson. And this self-serving book proves it.

Wilson, like many other Arabists and those in the hypocritical Left dismisses the need to take action against Iraq. He is also upset because someone - and who knows, he might even turn out to be one of his Liberal friends yet - blew the cover on his wife. The other main point of the book is Wilson's assertion that Saddam was NOT seeking enriched uranium in Africa. That, of all things, has been proven wrong by the 9/11 Commisssion, not exactly a fanclub of President Bush!

Furthermore, American forces in Baghdad during the early days of the Liberation came across a heavily radioactive area not far from the Tigris river - something "our" press only briefly reported on, and both U.S. and Polish forces have found small amounts of WMDs - maybe not as much as the administration claimed that would be found, but hey, Saddam had three months, thanks to France, Russia, Germany and the U.N., to smuggle what he had across the Syrian (or Iranian) border, something that the ostriches in the sand, i.e., the Democrats and their French friends refuse to acknowledge. And neither does the VERY discredited Joe Wilson.


Wilson's book is worth one thing though - it is a compelling reason to overhaul the State Department and the Foreign Service. We need more hard-headed realists, and yes, Neo-Cons, and much less self-serving types like Joe Wilson, Richard Clarke, and Randy Beers.

Rating:
Summary: "Truth teller award"? Irony abounds
Review: It would seem that many reviewers of this book are unaware that the bipartisan 9/11 commission found that Wilson lied over 3 different times: he lied about his wife's role in sending him, lied about his findings (they actual strengthened the case that Saddam tried to get Yellow cake, as did other nations) claimed knowledge of documents that he never saw...

Yet, the man is a "hero"? I can't believe that he is still peddling this self-serving trash. And lets remember that this book started the absurd notion that those crazy neo-cons were so cleaver that they fooled every government in the world about Saddam's WMDs--Even his own generals (they were given orders to use them).

For those of you unaware, WMDs were found in Iraq by one of our "useless" allies. Polish forces were able to buy 16 shells filled with chemical and biological agents that were being bided to terrorists. Is it really so hard for those of you who hate George Bush to see that maybe, just maybe, that a man who tried to build a Nuke before (read "Raid on the Sun") and had a messianic complex just might try to get a bomb?

Before you buy this book, you should consider this; are you interested in discovering truth or talking points?


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Summary: Joseph Wilson and The Politics of Truth
Review:
"The Politics of Truth," is a major contribution to literature on the conduct of American foreign policy. This landmark effort by Ambassador Joseph Wilson represents an inspired and courageous personal journey. It is an important and original book. It is written with an elegance and lucidity that are not mere properties of style but which reflect the qualities of a first-rate mind that contends for and constantly seeks out the deeper truth with a sustained and determined effort coupled with copious documentation.

With this book, Ambassador Joseph Wilson may have already won an important victory in the battle for the minds and hearts of the younger generation of practitioners of American foreign policy. The nobility of this book makes reading it an unusual experience and is destined to become a classic which must be read and reread.

" O candle of Ithaka, why does the moth love you? Why does he sacrifice his restless life for thee?"




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Summary: An incredible career in Diplomacy
Review: This book is not just about Ambassador Wilson's wife and George W. Bush's administration's disclosure of her to the public as a CIA operative. The Politics of Truth is about American Foreign Policy and the human element of that mission showcased through the combined efforts of talented people who have dedicated their entire careers, sacraficed their lives and their families to secure and promote our democracy.

Sadly, his experience in Washington politics is not unique. But his career as a diplomat is fascinating and well worth the read.
From supporting fragile democracies in Africa to working with the US Military in Europe in the build up to the Bosnian War and to planning the President's historic trip to Africa, Joseph Wilson's career is one of the best memoirs I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: truly enjoyable memoir
Review: Bought this book after seeing Wilson's spring appearance on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" as I was intrigued to hear more about the story that I had only been casually following in the news during the past year. I expected his book to focus more on recent events, rather than recounting most of his career, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed reading the tales of his entire career. Even for someone who is fairly unfamiliar with African politics, the stories of Wilson's early career in sub-Saharan Africa are just as engaging and entertaining as his account of encounters with more familiar faces. I was particularly interested by Wilson's fond memories of the first Bush and how his respect and admiration for him hasn't faded over the years.

I won't lie, I'm a proud liberal and so it's hardly a surprise that I'm much more in tune to Wilson's views and sympathetic to what he's been through than a lot of the angrier reviewers here. I think it's a travesty that the injustice done to Plame is being ignored. Feel how you want to Wilson's statements toward the war in Iraq and the Bush administration in general, but there's no denying that leaking the identity of an undercover operative is an appalling betrayal and disservice to the intelligence community. Such irresponsibility is ghastly, in that it compromises the personal safety of the agent and his/her contacts and the success of his/her missions.

But politics aside, this book was incredibly enjoyable. If read with an open mind, the chapters covering Wilson's career in the foreign service would be entertaining to anyone with an interest in political history, regardless of their own leanings. Wilson speaks favorably toward politicians of both parties and gives an entertaining inside look on world conflicts he was involved in during his career. The writing style flows easily and is thoroughly unpretentious so it's a fairly relaxing read as well. Great book overall!