This latest work covers the period between 2006 and 2008. Much of the book is focused on the planning for and eventual increase in U.S. troop strength, known as the “surge,” which has drawn widespread credit for reducing violence in Iraq. Woodward argues that other factors have contributed to this success including the so-called “Anbar awakening,” in which Sunnis have turned against foreign Al Qaeda fighters, and a secret program the military has used to target and kill terrorists.
There is a downward trajectory to Woodward’s view of the president’s performance as commander in chief. In “Bush at War,” which examined events after 9/11, the author portrayed the president as a strong and decisive leader. In “The War Within,” the president comes across instead as distracted while his administration is driven by internal conflict, secrecy and mistrust.
Readers looking for historical antecedents from earlier wartime presidencies might find the following recent titles of interest. All are available to library cardholders of the Newport Beach Public Library.
“Tried by War” by James McPherson: Perhaps no other president is as closely associated with wartime as Abraham Lincoln. Though Lincoln had no military experience before entering office, he is widely thought to be the greatest commander in chief in our history. In fact, McPherson argues that, by assuming powers for which there was no specific legal basis, Lincoln actually invented the role of the civilian leader of U.S. military forces. McPherson credits Lincoln’s ability to think clearly about military strategy, mobilize public support for his objectives, and deal effectively with his sometimes recalcitrant generals.
