WAR by Bob Woodward

WAR (2024) by Bob Woodward begins with a prologue explaining how his Watergate reporting partner, Carl Bernstein, invited him to join him at a party in 1989. "Trump is here," Bernstein said, telling him it was a fun party and he enjoyed the conversation with Trump. Woodward's conversations at the party quoted Trump as saying he was a great loyalist and that in New York City when inspectors gave him violations (unfounded in his mind on his perfect buildings) for his properties, he would say F**k you, and not pay. He told Woodard it is similar to the Mob; they continue returning for more once you pay.

Woodward calls that time in 1989 a profile of the forty-five-year-old Trump and the "origin of Trumpism in the words of Trump himself."

The chapters begin on January 6, 2021, and cover the well-known events of that day. When Trump finally left the White House on Air Force One, he and his family sat in the front of the plane and never came back to talk to any of the aides. They had no plan, and they had never been clear on whether Trump would leave the White House.

Woodward provides details of the U.S. Intelligence on Russia massing on Ukraine's border, with Putin and his foreign secretary denying any invasion. Biden worked with G20 leaders regarding Ukraine, but the Europeans were skeptical of any invasion. The book meticulously documents the Intelligence and Defense operations, as well as the political and diplomatic considerations. Tony Blinken, the Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, worked tirelessly from all directions.

In the Middle East was the calamity in Gaza and Israel. Netanyahu asked Biden to put out messages so that Hezbollah would stay out. Then he directly called Jack Sullivan. As Woodward says, it was "a true fog of war." Israel did not have Hamas contained, although they thought they did.

Meanwhile, former Trump cabinet members visited various embassies in D.C., telling them a new Trump administration would be friendly and accommodating to their countries.

In trying to get hostages released, messages had to go through intermediaries, slowing the progress. Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas (hidden deep underground), rejected reasonable offers. He had been in Israeli prisons for years and, while incarcerated, learned Hebrew and was determined to totally destroy Israel. All of the Arab countries told U.S. officials the same thing: Israel needed to take its time; they could not crush Hamas quickly. They needed to wait, bide their time, and when Hamas popped up, chop off its head. The Israelis wouldn't go slow and continued bombing everything and then went to Rafah, although they were warned not to. They were determined to find and kill Sinwar.

The book is detailed and covers many issues Biden and his administration juggled. The complex issues with hundreds of moving parts and numerous international players are covered in depth. Russia's Defense Minister told the United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, that he did not take kindly to being threatened. Secretary Austin responded that he was the leader of the most powerful military in the history of the world and did not make threats. Biden was yelling at Netanyahu on the phone, and his senior leaders were working overtime to prevent retaliation against Israel. Nuclear retaliation had to be off the table and was constantly a threat - an enormous worry.

The election was approaching. Biden needed to improve his public image, and the campaign received unsolicited private outside advice on how to present him to the public. A physician report said that Biden had discomfort in his left hip and neuropathy in his feet; most likely, these contributed to his stiff gait, which magnified his "old man" appearance and turned off people.

Woodward's book details incredible conversations and meetings unknown to the public. He states, "Biden solidified an American foreign policy that kept U.S. ground troops out of war." The book is fascinating and includes thirty-three pages of source notes at the end. Published just a few months before the 2024 election, it, like many other warnings from informed career professionals, failed to convince the American public to reject Trump.

The Epilogue shows the author's respect for President Biden and his professional and accomplished national security team, which he built and maintained during his presidency.

I highly recommend this book for the new information I gleaned and his credible, detailed, and meticulously sourced information.

Copyright © 12/11/2024 by Andrea O. Corwin

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