Woodward's new book:

We have heard the early news about Woodward's latest book on the inner workings of the White House, and while some of the stories are interesting, we are wary. It seems suspiciously pro-Bush. For instance, there is the story about the CIA/Tenet briefing of Bush about Iraqi WMD. We are supposed to believe that after the presentation that Bush was skeptical and therefore said "nice try". Allegedly, Tenet then says the case is a "slam dunk" and somehow this wins over Bush (or begins the process of winning over Bush).

That's incredible. Bush has - in public - displayed an extremely limited ability to process details (most visibly in his failure to recall details). If Bush was so on the ball with Tenet, how come we never see that skeptical, mature judgement outside the hidden confines of the Oval Office? And if Bush was unpersuaded then, how does one explain his acceptance of the mobile weather-balloon facility as a bio-lab? And how does it explain his claim that one reason for going to war in 2003 was because Saddam wouldn't let the inspectors in? (when in fact he did let them in, and they were all over the place)

That said, the other theme - besides 'Bush is an okay guy' - is that of Cheney exerting significant control over the policy apparatus. That sounds both accurate and the sorf of thing that Colin Powell and his supporters would eagerly tell Woodward.

So the book is probably a mixed bag, containing both insights and puffery. It may not be a fair assessment of what took place, but it may - as with the last book - be the basis for follow-up inquiries. That will be useful in extablishing the historical record.

posted by Quiddity at 4/17/2004 12:50:00 AM