September 17, 2008
Bob Woodward will join us today, at the Newseum, to talk about his new book, The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006 - 2008. This, the fourth installment in his series of books about the Bush administration, focuses on recent military decisions and political developments in Iraq.
If you have questions for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, perhaps best-known for his coverage of the Watergate burglary (see below — I couldn't resist), leave 'em here.
In a recent interview on CNN, Mr. Woodward mentioned a secret weapon that has been "wiping out" the enemy in Iraq. Does he think the use of this weapon will be made public before November and what effect will it have on the election and even on how we look back at the way the war was fought in the last two or three years ("The Surge", if you will)?
To Mr. Woodward:
Where's the War Czar? What's his role in decision making?
for Mr. Woodward: In your best estimate (after having access to all of the information you used for your book) about when we can realisically expect ground troups to be removed successfully from Iraq.
It should be noted that it wasn't just the increased number of troops that reduced the violence in Iraq but, instead, it was the leadership of general Petreus and the anti-insurgency tactics he employed.
I am old enough to have been part of the Viet Nam generation. I distinctly recall the outrage felt by my friends and relatives when the truth about that war began to unfold.
I am not sensing any outrage from anyone. People shrug and say, well that's the way it always is. Of course it will be if no one cares!
Your are being interviewed at length by many outlets; yet the people are completely disengaged. Even before the current financial crises. I find the current sense of malaise appalling.
My question for Mr.Woodward is, if the Bush administration was investigated for misconduct relating to the articles of war would there be a precendant for Impeachment.
Isn't the results of the surge being overplayed by the GOP/administration?
Real causes(maybe more) for the peace:
1. Sunni enlightenment
2. Al Sadr pulling his militia back
3. Counter insurgency tactics
4. Soldiers handing money to the different factions
Regarding "Generals lying". Lying comes in two forms: comission and omission. The Administration made it clear early on that you had to be with'em or againstem. How much evidence did you get that Generals (and others) simply didn't say anything that was not with'em. I feel this was really true on the runup to the war.
Why do journalists never seem to report the important stuff until years after the fact? Surely somebody in the media had to be aware of what an incompetent Bush was. Shouldn't the people who were sending their loved ones into this war have been a little more important than protecting an administration?
I haven't read your book yet, but it is definitely on my list. It seems to me that one of the greatest failings of this president is not only his arrogant certainty and refusal admit mistakes, but his walling himself off from opposing opinions--assigning gatekeeper status to the likes of Cheney and Addington to keep those with differing views--often those with the requisite knowledge and experience who should have been at the center of policy formation--away. This to me was a catastrophic failure of leadership.
What qualifications does Bob Woodward have,i.e. military training, military background, that make him an expert on the conduct of a war? What about the "fog of war"?
I believe it was just last week that NPR reported that President Bush had stepped up the efforts to "capture or kill" Osama bin Laden, before his Presidency closes...any chance you could comment on this in conjunction with Mr. Woodward's interview, thank you.
Hello Mr. Woodward;
I'm concerned that whatever techniques were used by the special operations forces to tag, track, locate, and eliminate insurgents in Iraq may some day be turned against internal dissenters here.
I know this regime won't be in power much longer but the civil liberties implications of these techniques are truly scary.
Unlike their European counterparts, I heard and read that American journalists are "too soft" on their own politicians, that they walk on eggs around them (lest they don't get invited to the interview again? Anyway, I felt that Woodward kinda danced around Bush esp. when he asked Bush why he decided on attacking Iraq. Woodward actually believed in Bush's sincerity that it was because of he wanted to establish freedom in that country. Why didn't Woodward press for why not many other countries that are not free, so why Iraq (still)?
At this point, who needs to continue to interview Bush in the future, this was one oppty. Woodward had to corner Bush and show Bush's own contradictions, inconsistencies and even hypocracies.
I recall catching a lot of this show on one of my radio's, then this past weekend I found your interview about the book on C-Span 3 very complete. Your just the facts 'Jack Webb attitude' got more out of the reply from the Decider then the late Mr. Russerts' "It was a war of necessity." I think, ' hope to find the time to read it. Will any of Tom & Marcia Mitchells new book about Katharine Gun corraborate with yours?
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