Bob Woodward - The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008

Praise for

The War Within

It is impossible not to be impressed by Woodwards reporting.... More than mere anecdotal detail, this is the stuff of history.... The fine detail is wonderfully illuminating, and cumulatively these books may be the best record we will ever get of the events they cover.... They stand as the fullest story yet of the Bush presidency and of the war that is likely to be its most important legacy.

Jill Abramson, The New York Times Book Review

Compelling reading.

Chicago Sun Times

... recalls David Halberstams iconic The Best and the Brightest .... The War Within s controversial revelations and contentions are numerous.... But, mainly, it is a study of what happens when men and women, charged with leading the country in wartime or with counseling those who lead, do not tell each other what they really think.

Josiah Bunting III, The Washington Post

If the previous one, State of Denial , might have been called Iraq: The Lost Years, the latest is all about rehab. Again and again, officials, diplomats, and military men stage interventions to make the President address the impending collapse of his war.... Woodward finds scant evidence that the Administration has a plan to exploit the recent fall in violence to achieve a political settlement or victora term that, when pressed, the President is unable to define.

The New Yorker

In his latest insider account of the Bush administration, The War Within , Bob Woodward provides a window into the cluelessness of the chiefs and their seeming disinterest in victory that will fascinate and appall students of civil-military relations for decades to come.

Rich Lowry, National Review Online

Woodward specializes in reporting how the sausage gets made in the nation's capital, and as you might guess, it's not a pretty picture.

Fritz Lanham, The Miami Herald

Woodward got extraordinary access.... The War Within takes a hard line both with Bush, pictured as a man who refuses to listen to anyone telling him what he doesn't want to hear, and with those in Washington who dragged their feet on the surge but kept their lips zipped around Bush.

Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A firsthand account of one of the most controversial issues of our time.

Carole Goldberg, The Hartford Courant

The War Within is a testament to Woodward's ability to secure inside information and present a very interesting narrative.

China Post / Financial Times

The War Within tells the behind-the-scenes story of how the White House and Pentagon changed military policy in Iraq in an effort to stem the violence.

Stephen T. Watson, Buffalo News

Engaging and fast-paced.... A fascinating, almost blow-by-blow account.

Claude R. Marx, The Washington Times

As with watching a magnificent athlete, such as Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps, one sits in marvel at Bob Woodward and his craft.... This is astonishing reporting and Woodward is the master.

Bruce Wolpe, Sydney Morning Herald

A stunning, firsthand history.

Small Wars Journal

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To Elsa

T wo extraordinary people helped me with the conception, reporting, writing, and editing of this book:

Brady Dennis, a 2000 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a veteran reporter for the St. Petersburg Times, agreed in early 2007 to work for me full-time. He is that rare combination of gifted writer and great newshound, an exceptional journalist with both narrative and investigative skills. Furiously independent, wise and resourceful in every way, he is an engine of good sense and sound judgment, a tireless worker who insists on fairness and accuracy. He is a tough and tenacious reporter, and a decent and genuine soul. His generosity, calm nature and constant good humor have made the longest days seem shorter, the largest obstacles surmountable. As we worked together, I came to rely on him heavily and trust him completely. Always positive, he reminds me of what Ben Bradlee, my mentor at The Washington Post, must have been like in his youth. I can think of no higher compliment to either of them. Brady has been a partner and a confidant, and there would be no book without him. I hope he realizes that.

Evelyn M. Duffy, a 2007 English and Creative Writing graduate of George Washington University, is a young wizard of old and new media. She can track down anything and anyone. In the space of a year, she gained an extensive understanding of the U.S. government and the Iraq War. She has transcribed hundreds of hours of recorded interviews with people from President Bush to cabinet officers, from White House aides to military and intelligence officials. Diligent, caring, and learned, she added value to every page of every draft. Anyone who thinks the younger generation doesnt appreciate literature, history, and current events has not met Evelyn. At 23, she already has written and produced a one-act play called Nighthawks, based on Edward Hoppers famous painting of four lonely souls in a late-night diner. It is raw and modern and wonderfully mysterious. I know that much more fine writing lies ahead for her. Evelyn is a terrific editor, full of stamina and intellectual curiosity. I consider her my friend for life. You get only a handful of those.