* * *
By early March, Petraeus and McMaster had assembled: Included in the group were David Kilcullen, an Australian counterinsurgency expert; Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Algeria; Molly Phee, a seasoned diplomat who'd spent time in Iraq; Rick Waddell, a West Point alumnus and Rhodes Scholar who'd served a stint on the National Security Council; Ylber Bajraktari, a former journalist and Albanian refugee from Kosovo who'd earned a master's degree at Princeton; Colonel Marty Stanton, an author and veteran of the first Gulf War, Bosnia and the Iraq War; P. J. Dermer, a former Army helicopter pilot who worked in Iraq during 2003 and 2004 for the Defense Intelligence Agency; Steve Biddle from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brookings Institution; Toby Dodge, an Iraq expert from London; Colonel J. R. Martin, a professor at the Army War College and former classmate of Petraeus.
The president later told me: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
At 3 P.M. the next day: Defense Department News Briefing, April 11, 2007, www.defenselink.mil.
CHAPTER 34
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with ten firsthand sources.
* * *
In early April 2007, Petraeus had led McCain: Kirk Semple, "McCain Wrong on Iraq Security, Merchants Say," The New York Times, April 3, 2007, p. A1; "Briefing by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Representative Mike Pence (R- IN), Representative Rick Renzi (R-AZ); Topic: Their Visit to Iraq," Federal News Service, April 2, 2007, www.fnsg.com; Sudarsan Raghavan, "Sum of Death Statistics: A Perilous Iraq; Merchants, U.S. Officials Take Issue with McCain's Remarks on Security Gains," The Washington Post, April 4, 2007, p. A9. Asked about a suicide bombing: "Remarks with Senator John McCain After Their Meeting," State Department transcript, April 12, 2007, www.state.gov.
At a press conference: "Senate Democrats Hold a News Conference on Iraq," Congressional Quarterly Transcriptions, April 19, 2007, accessed via Nexis.
"Could I have couched my words": Harry Reid, The Good Fight (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008), p. 20.
I later asked him: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
In March, King Abdullah: Glenn Kessler and Karen DeYoung, "Saudis Publicly Get Tough with U.S.; King's Remarks on Iraq Follow Signs Riyadh Is Distancing Itself from Bush," The Washington Post, March 30, 2007, p.
A14.
On Wednesday, April 25: Carl Hulse and Jeff Zeleny, "House Approves War Spending Measure That Requires U.S.
to Start Pullout from Iraq," The New York Times, April 26, 2007, p. 12.
CHAPTER 35
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with four firsthand sources.
* * *
On May 26, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: Michael Abramowitz and Peter Baker, "White House Considers Next Steps in Iraq; Troop Drawdowns and Shift in Mission Are Premised on Successful 'Surge,'" The Washington Post, May 27, 2007, p. A5. "I'm not going to dime that guy": Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
The New York Times had published: David E. Sanger and David S. Cloud, "White House Said to Debate '08 Cut in Troops by 50%," The New York Times, May 26, 2007, p. A1.
"Let me make a forecast": Interview with Bill Perry, June 6, 2007.
Petraeus's forces were beginning: In June 2008, Petraeus distributed a three-page instruction titled "Multi-National ForceóIraq Commander's Counterinsurgency Guidance" that showed he believed that protecting the Iraqi population involved specific actions by troops on the ground. He listed 22, including: ï "Live among the people. You can't commute to this fight. Position Joint Security Stations, Combat Outposts, and Patrol Bases in the neighborhoods we intend to secureÖ.
ï "Promote reconciliation. We cannot kill our way out of this endeavorÖ.
ï "Foster Iraqi legitimacy. ÖLegitimacy in the eyes of the Iraqi people is essential to overall success.
ï "Fight for intelligence. ÖOperate on a 'need to share' rather than a 'need to know' basisÖ.
ï "Walk. Move mounted, work dismounted. Stop by, don't drive by. Patrol on foot and engage the populationÖ.
ï "Build relationships. Relationships are a critical component of counterinsurgency operationsÖ.
ï " Manage expectations. ÖAvoid premature declarations of successÖ.
ï "Be first with the truth. ÖDon't put lipstick on pigsÖ. Avoid spin and let facts speak for themselvesÖ.
ï "Live our values. ÖThere is no tougher endeavor than the one in which we are engaged. It is often brutal, physically demanding, and frustrating. All of us experience moments of anger, but we can neither give in to dark impulses nor tolerate unacceptable actions by others."
Abu Abed, also known as Saif: Joshua Partlow, "For U.S. Unit in Baghdad, an Alliance of Last Resort," The Washington Post, June 9, 2007, p. A1.
Gates approached a handful of senators: Interview with Carl Levin, December 6, 2007.
On Friday, June 8, Gates announced: "News Conference with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates Announcing Recommendation of Admiral Michael Mullen to Be Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General James Cartwright to Be Vice Chairman," Federal News Service, June 8, 2007, www.fnsg.com.
CHAPTER 36
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with nine firsthand sources and the notes of two participants.
* * *
On June 13, about 9 A.M.: John F. Burns, "Revered Mosque in Iraq Is Bombed for Second Time," The New York Times, June 14, 2007, p. A1. On Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace: General Petraeus on Fox News Sunday, Fox News Transcript, June 17, 2007, www.foxnews.com.
"It is the policy of the United States": Presidential Documents, January 20, 2005, pp. 74ñ76 (Vol. 41, No. 3), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v41no03.html.
Hayden had said that: Hayden's quotes are taken from dictated notes of the Iraq Study Group's record of his testimony on November 13, 2006.
According to Hamilton: Phone conversation with Lee Hamilton, June 12, 2007.
The Post story ran Thursday: Bob Woodward, "CIA Said Instability Seemed 'Irreversible,'" The Washington Post, July 12, 2007, p. A1.
That same day, the president was asked: Presidential Documents, July 12, 2007, pp. 944ñ956, (Vol. 43, No. 28) www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v43no28.html.
CHAPTER 37
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with 11 firsthand sources.
* * *
On August 22, Bush spoke: Presidential Documents, August 22, 2007, pp. 1107ñ1114 (Vol. 43, No. 34), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v43no34.html. Six days later, the president: Presidential Documents, August 28, 2007, pp. 1124ñ1131 (Vol. 43, No. 35), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v43no35.html.
On Thursday, August 24: NIE, "Prospects for Iraq's Stability: Some Security Progress but Political Reconciliation Elusive," August 2007, www.dni.gov/press_releases/20070823_release.pdf.
"We are the ones who saved our country,": Interview with Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, June 3, 2008. See also Sterling Jensen, "Lessons from an Anbar Sheik," The Washington Post, September 29, 2007, p. A19.
CHAPTER 38
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with four firsthand sources.
* * *
On August 29, 2007, Petraeus's aide: David Kilcullen, "Anatomy of a Tribal Revolt," Small Wars Journal, August 29, 2007, www.smallwarsjournal.com. On Monday morning, September 10: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" MoveOn.org advertisement, The New York Times, September 10, 2007, p. A25. See also: http://pol.moveon.org/petraeus.html.
David Gergen, a former adviser: CNN Newsroom, September 10, 2007, http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS.
Throughout a long day that stretched: "Joint Hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees; Subject: The Status of the War and Political Developments in Iraq," Federal News Service, September 10, 2007, www.fnsg.com.
"Petraeus Backs Initial Pullout": Peter Baker and Jonathan Weisman,
"Petraeus Backs Initial Pullout; General Praises Progress, Warns Against 'Rushing to Failure,'" The Washington Post, September 11, 2007, p. A1.
Sitting next to the president: Harry Reid, The Good Fight, 2008, p. 10.
That evening, in a nationally televised address: Presidential Documents, September 13, 2007, pp. 1204ñ1208 (Vol.
43, No. 37), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v43no37.html.
At a press conference the next day: Defense Department news briefing, September 14, 2007, DOD transcripts, www.defenselink.mil.
His comments landed on the front page: Julian E. Barnes, "Gates Seeks Bigger Troop Cut; The Defense Chief Looks to Reduce the Number in Iraq by Nearly Half Before 2009óa Deeper Trim than Bush Plans," Los Angeles Times, September 15, 2007, p. A1.
When I asked the president about it in 2008: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
CHAPTER 39
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with four firsthand sources.
CHAPTER 40
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with eight firsthand sources.
* * *
Maliki overestimated the temporary restraint: John Affleck, "Al-Maliki Calls on Iraqis to Boost Political Process in Speech Marking Religious Holiday," Associated Press, February 28, 2008. "This is a defining moment": Presidential Documents, March 28, 2008, pp. 437ñ443 (Vol. 44, No. 12), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v44no12.html.
In early March 2008, Esquire magazine published: Thomas P. M. Barnett, "The Man Between War and Peace,"
Esquire, March 2008.
"I have approved Admiral Fallon's request": Defense Department news briefing, March 11, 2008, DOD transcripts, www.defenselink.mil.
CHAPTER 41
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with seven firsthand sources.
* * *
On April 8, Petraeus and Crocker: Lolita C. Baldor, "Petraeus Charts Violence in Iraq," Associated Press, April 8, 2008.
Two weeks later, on April 23, Gates called: Defense Department news briefing, April 23, 2008, DOD transcripts, www.defenselink.mil.
Later, in the Oval Office, I asked the president: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
EPILOGUE
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with three firsthand sources.
* * *
The headline splashed across the top: Amit R. Paley and Karen DeYoung, "Key Iraqi Leaders Deliver Setbacks to U.S.," Washington Post, June 14, 2008, p. A1. "We will direct every resource": Presidential Documents, September 20, 2001, pp. 1347ñ1351 (Vol. 37, No. 38), www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/v37no38.html.
"I'm ready to go," he later told me: Interview with President George W. Bush, August 20, 2002.
"One time early on," I said: Interview with President George W. Bush, December 20, 2001.
President Bush once said to me of the path: Ibid.
"His instincts are almost his second religion": See Bob Woodward, Bush at War, p. 342.
Finally, he said, "He is the wrong father": Interview with President George W. Bush, December 11, 2003.
In a December 2003 interview: Ibid.
In May 2008, I asked if he still believed that: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 20, 2008.
He alternately insisted: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 20, 2008.
Even the president acknowledged: Interview with President George W. Bush, May 21, 2008.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
While this book is based almost entirely on my own reporting and examination of documents, I offer my deep gratitude to those journalists who have covered the Iraq War. The knowledge and information they've provided have been an indispensable foundation for this book.
In 2007, the Project for Excellence in Journalism concluded that Iraq had become one of the most dangerous wars in American history for reporters to cover, and the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented the killings of more than 125 reporters on assignment in Iraq. We owe them a debt that will never be repaid.
I thank all the sources, named and unnamed, who have patiently sat through session after session of interviews and provided me with documents, both professional and personal. I appreciate their willingness to take the risks inherent in participating in a project like this, especially when the project concerns a controversial war in an election year. It takes guts to let an outsider in, and I hope future historians who study the Iraq War and the swirl of events surrounding it will be grateful for their contribution.
This is my thirty-sixth year and fourteenth book with Alice Mayhew, my editor at Simon & Schuster. She has thrown herself into this project with the same passion, focus, and attention to detail that she has possessed since Carl Bernstein and I first began working with her in 1972 on All the President's Men. Unwaveringly fair-minded, an endless source of energy and ideas, Alice seeks the clearest possible view of events as they occurred. She quickly realized that the soul of this book is its verbatim nature, with virtually all of it taken directly from the documents and people involved. Alice shares with me an awareness of the scale of the decision making documented in these pages, as well as a belief in the necessity of impartial reporting and ensuring that all involved receive a chance to have their say.
Carolyn K. Reidy and David Rosenthal at Simon & Schuster run the best publishing house in America. They are hands-on managers and care deeply about their business and their books. They consistently display a commitment to the First Amendment that would make Thomas Jefferson feel good about his early work. Roger Labrie is diligent and meticulous, qualities that have made him a master of thoughtful editing. A great deal of gratitude goes to Elisa Rivlin, senior vice president and general counsel; Victoria Meyer, executive vice president of publicity; Tracey Guest, director of publicity; Jackie Seow, art director and jacket designer; Irene Kheradi, executive managing editor; Michael Szczerban, assistant managing editor; Karen Thompson, associate editor; Paul Dippolito, designer; Lisa Healy, senior production editor; Nancy In-glis, director of copyediting; Lynn Anderson, proofreader; and John Wahler, associate director of production.
Brady Dennis, Evelyn Duffy and I share a deep appreciation for copy editor Fred Chase, who took six days away from his home and family in Texas to travel to Washington and work on his fifth book with me. He is a joy to have around and an integral part of this book. A consummate professional, Fred's observation, insight and sound judgment prove that the best editing is about far more than marks on a page.
Eight years ago, I wrote in Maestro, my book on Alan Greenspan and the Federal Reserve, that The Washington Post had allowed me to wander on perhaps the longest leash in American journalism. That leash has gotten longer with time, and I am ever grateful for the Post's support. The Post continues to play a vital and irreplaceable role in Washington life and politics. Don Graham, the Post's CEO, is a man with a kind soul and a businessman's savvy. He looks out for underdogs and gives voice to the voiceless. He is a generous and compassionate boss, and there is no one else quite like him. Leonard Downie Jr., the Post's executive editor and the best newspaperman in America, is retiring after a spectacular career. The newspaper's 25 Pulitzer Prizes during his tenure are a testament to his determination and skill. The Post's publisher, Katharine Weymouth, shows all the signs of a commitment to independent, aggressive journalism shared by her uncle, Don Graham, and her grandmother, Katharine Graham.
Special thanks to Steve Luxenberg for devoting his time, focus and formidable intellect while helping to excerpt this book for the Post.
The work of a number of Post reporters who covered the war from both Iraq and Washington provided many key insights. They include but are certainly not limited to Rajiv Chandrasekaran, John Ward Anderson, Ann Scott Tyson, Karen DeYoung, Josh White, Joshua Partlow, Naseer Nouri, Thomas Ricks, Anne Hull, Amit Paley, Sudarsan Raghavan, Michael Abramowitz, Peter Baker, Ellen Knickmeyer, and Jonathan Weisman.
Many of my colleagues again provided help and encouragement, both in the form of their daily coverage and through the informal sharing of advice and ideas. They include Al Kamen, Susan Glasser, David Ignatius, Dana Priest, Glenn Kessler, David Hoffman, Joby Warrick, and Rick Atkinson.
Many thanks also to Michel du Cille and Wendy Galietta at the Post for their expert assistance with the photos in this book, and to Laris Karklis for the map.
I thank Carl Bernstein, who has been a friend for 36 years. He is in touch with all that is happening in American politics and he provided many thoughts and insightful analysis on Bush and the war. He and I remain linked for life as friends and colleagues.
My eternal thanks to Ben Bradlee, who raised the bar for all of us and remains a founding father of The Washington Post.
No work of this size and scope can be pieced together in a vacuum. I acknowledge the many books and newspaper and magazine articles that added background or detail to my own work. I have drawn on the excellent reporting and analysis of dozens of news organizations, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek and the Associated Press. The following books were useful points of reference: The Iraq Study Group Report by James Baker III, Lee Hamilton, et al.; In the Company of Soldiers by Rick Atkinson; The U.S.
Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual; Fiasco by Thomas Ricks; Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush by Robert Draper; Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President by Stephen F. Hayes; Condoleezza Rice: An American Life by Elisabeth Bumiller; and From the Shadows by Robert Gates. I also found the Web site of the Institute for the Study of War (www.understandingwar.org) and the Small Wars Journal weblog (www.smallwarsjournal.com) helpful throughout.
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