453 Our strategy is : Presidential Documents, March 18, 2006: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2006_presi dential_documents docid=pd27mr06_txt-4.
453 If this is not civil war : Michael A. Fletcher, Bush Still Upbeat on Outcome in Iraq; On Third Anniversary of Invasion, President Foresees 'Victory,' The Washington Post, March 20, 2006, p. Al; Presidential Documents, March 21, 2006.
454 And what about: Paul D. Eaton, A Top-Down Review for the Pentagon, The New York Times, March 19, 2006, p. 12.
455 On Monday afternoon: Jennifer Edwards, Bush's Chief of Staff Rallies Butler Co. GOP, The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 28, 2006, p. 2B.
455 The next morning: Presidential Documents, March 28, 2006: http://frwebgate.access. gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc. cgi?dbname=2006_presi dential_documents docid=pd03ap06_txt-9.
455 There were 58,249 names: From the National Park Service as of August 1, 2006, www.nps.gov.
457 Tony Blair was getting: Mary Jordan, Britons Feeling 'Tired of
Tony'; Former Fans Call Blair Out of Touch, The Washington Post, April 16,
2005, p. Al; Kevin Sullivan, Blair Reshuffles Cabinet After Election Losses;
Foreign Secretary Dismissed in Overhaul, The Washington Post, May 6, 2006,
p. All.
458 Afterward at a press briefing: Transcripts of Secretary Rice's comments: www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/63994.htm.
459 No matter how bad: David S. Cloud and Eric Schmitt, More Retired
Generals Call for Rumsfeld's Resignation, The New York Times, April 14,
2005, p. 1.
459 On Tuesday, April 18, 2006: Department of Defense News Briefing, April 18, 2006: www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspxPTran scriptID=1253.
CHAPTER 43
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six knowledgeable sources.
461 Jafari finally stepped aside: Nelson Hernandez and K. I. Ibrahim, Top Shiites Nominate a Premier for Iraq; Al-Maliki Opposed Hussein and the U.S.-Led Invasion, The Washington Post, April 22, 2006, p. Al.
464 Rice and Rumsfeld: Transcripts of Rice's and Rumsfeld's press conferences in Iraq: www.state.gov/secretary/trvl/2006/64876.htm.
466 He watched: Directed by Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill, Baghdad ER, Home Box Office, 2006.
468 The president invited: Elisabeth Bumiller, This Time Around, Bush Lets Former Secretaries Speak, The New York Times, May 13, 2006, p. 9.
469 Maliki took office: Nelson Hernandez and Omar Fekeiki, Iraqi Premier, Cabinet Sworn In; Sectarian Bickering over Unfilled Posts Interrupts Ceremony, The Washington Post, May 21, 2006, p. Al.
469 In a speech in Chicago: Presidential Documents, May 22, 2006: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2006_presi dential_documents docid=pd29my06_txt-12.
CHAPTER 44
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with four knowledgeable sources, and from an interview with General Pace on July 20, 2006.
471 The next day: Documents reviewed by the author.
475 In July 2006: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6,
2006.
476 On May 26: Full report can be obtained from the Pentagon's website:
www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2005/d20050721 secstab.pdf.
CHAPTER 45
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with five knowledgeable sources, and from an interview with General Pace on July 20, 2006.
480 Classified reports: Documents reviewed by the author.
482 But President Bush: Author interviews with President George W. Bush, December 20, 2001, and August 20, 2002.
482 On July 11, 2006: Transcript of Secretary Rumsfeld's press conference, July 11, 2006: www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?
TranscriptID=47.
483 Three days after: News release from Multi-National Force-Iraq:
483 In July 2006: Author interviews with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6 and 7, 2006; document reviewed by the author.
488 On December 11, 2003: Author interview with President George W. Bush, December 11, 2003; see Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack, p. 422.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
this book is based almost entirely on my own reporting and interviews, but the very large group of reporters and authors who have come before and written about the Iraq War have provided important information and added immensely to my understanding. I thank them all, especially those who have reported from Iraq. These men and women have endured hardships and risked their lives to keep a steady stream of information coming to the rest of the world. More than 70 reporters from The Washington Post, and probably thousands from other news organizations, have filed from Iraq. They, and all the Iraqis who have assisted them, have my respect and deep appreciation.
Post reporters whose work from Iraq was of great help include but are by no means limited to Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Anthony Shadid, John Ward Anderson, Karl Vick, Jackie Spinner, Ellen Knickmeyer, Nelson Hernandez, Scott Wilson, Ann Scott Tyson, Caryle Murphy, Josh White, Vernon Loeb, Barton Gellman, Peter Slevin, and Doug Struck.
Simon Schuster and The Washington Post once again supported me completely as I reported and wrote this book, my 14th. Alice Mayhew, who has been my editor at Simon Schuster for the past 34 years, once again was the skillful and devoted guide and counselor, helping me at every stage and making sure we found the story.
The remarkable team at Simon Schuster of Carolyn K. Reidy, the president, and David Rosenthal, the publisher, were at their very best on this book—engaged, prodding and thoughtful. They treat their authors as family, keeping the bar high, but bestowing on them full attention and
devotion. They know how to publish a book right and as fast as 21st-century technology permits.
Thanks to Roger Labrie, the editor, for help in so many areas—words, photographs, deadlines and overall coordination. Roger is one of the unsung heroes of publishing, making sure that everything lands at approximately the same time. I also thank Jack Romanos, the president and chief executive officer; Elisa Rivlin, senior vice president and general counsel; Victoria Meyer, the executive VP director of publicity; Tracey Guest, director of publicity; Jackie Seow, art director and jacket designer; Irene Kheradi, executive managing editor; Allison Murray, associate managing editor; Serena Jones, associate editor; Linda Dingier, director of design; Lisa Healy, the senior production editor who took charge and so skillfully managed one of the tightest fast-track schedules in book publishing; Jaime Putorti, who worked on the photo layout and design; Nancy Inglis, director of copyediting; Lynn Anderson, proofreader; and Chris Carruth, indexer.
A special thanks to John Wahler, associate director of production, for his care and expertise with all details—small, medium and large.
Bill Murphy, Christine Parthemore and I have much gratitude for master copy editor Fred Chase, who again came from Texas to join our garrison in Northwest Washington. This is my fourth book with Fred. He is great company, knows the world and language, and offers unmatched expertise, good sense and mature advice.
Leonard Downie Jr., The Washington Post's executive editor, and Phil Bennett, the Post's managing editor, provide the foundations for in-depth, book-length projects that are on the news. Len calls it accountability reporting, and this effort has been undertaken with that important idea very much in mind. Don Graham, the Post's chief executive officer, is unique among media owners and top executives. Don is a pillar of independence and he even tolerates employees who declare their independence from him. Bo Jones, the Post publisher, is a true friend of journalism. Bill Hamilton, an assistant managing editor at the Post, has a keen eye for the essential and used it wisely for the excerpts from this book for the Post.
I am certain that I have used material that sources have told me about or information reflected in records that has appeared earlier in some form in another publication or news account or book. I have not done the archae
ology to see who should be given credit for first reporting on
various episodes or issues, but the endnotes give specific citations for material that was used.
My colleagues at the Post provided much assistance, not only in their excellent daily coverage but informally with many suggestions and ideas. Those reporters and editors include Jeff Leen, Peter Baker, Thomas E. Ricks, Walter Pincus, Karen DeYoung, Al Kamen, Susan Glasser, Steve Luxenberg, Robert Kaiser, Charles Babington, David Broder, David Ignatius, E. J. Dionne, Jim VandeHei, Carol D. Leonnig, Dana Priest, Bradley Graham, Glenn Kessler, Eugene Robinson, Liz Spayd, Michael Abramowitz, David Hoffman, and Joby Warrick. They have always been gracious and accepting of a lone ranger in their midst. Much significant background and understanding was also provided by The Washington Post foreign and national staffs.
Special thanks to Joe Elbert, Vanessa Hillian, Erica Lusk, Michel duCille and the rest of the Post's wonderful photo staff.
I was also helped immeasurably by the reporting and analysis in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News World Report, Los Angeles Times, The New Yorker, The National Journal, the Associated Press and dozens of other news organizations.
The books I have found most useful include Fiasco by Thomas E. Ricks, My Year in Iraq by L. Paul Bremer, The Assassins' Gate by George Packer, Rise of the Vulcans by James Mann, No True Glory by Bing West, The UN's Role in Nation-Building by James Dobbins et al., Rumsfeld's War by Rowan Scarborough, and American Soldier by General Tommy Franks.
Robert B. Barnett, my agent, attorney and friend, again provided steady counsel beyond the lawyerly skills he so ably brings to any task. His wife and daughter call him the Waukegan Warrior, because he was raised in that Illinois town. Wherever his origins, he is a real warrior— the good kind, 100 percent on your side but aware of the bigger picture in the tradition of his mentor, Edward Bennett Williams. Because he represents prominent Democrats such as former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and prominent Republicans such as Lynne Cheney, he was not consulted on the contents and he did not see this book until it was printed.
Thanks again to Rosa Criollo and Jackie Crowe, who keep life sane and orderly.
Tali, my older daughter, spent four days reading the manuscript and brought a keen eye and good sense to the task, reminding me that not
everyone knows what the J-5 does on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Diana, our 10-year-old, brought much good cheer and, more important, real affection during the reporting and writing.
Love, gratitude and admiration to Elsa Walsh, my wife and best friend. Elsa bears up well under the hours of private discussions we have about politics, wars and books. She graciously helps with the story development and the editing. Elsa remains the solid rock on which we all depend. Wise, joyful and cool under any pressure, Elsa has solved most of life's dilemmas and helps her family and friends as we stumble through our own.
INDEX
AARDWOLF, 383
ABC News, 28, 33, 343
Abdullah, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, 45, 75-77, 204, 287-88, 335
Abdullah, King of Jordan, 46, 277
Abdulrazzak, Salah, 465
Abizaid, General John, 115-16,
117-18, 119, 139, 143, 157, 158, 173, 176, 182, 192, 196-97, 200, 218, 243, 260, 265, 271-72, 275, 276-77, 288,297,298-99,311,319, 337, 425-26, 433, 450-51, 455, 483, 484
Abraham Lincoln, USS, 21, 186-87
Abrams, Elliott, 106-7, 177, 307-8
Abu Ghraib, prisoner abuse at, 275, 305
Adams, Ron, 126, 135, 138, 152, 191-92, 200
Adel (informant), 400-402
Adelman, Kenneth, 43-45, 77, 138, 431-34,445-46
Afghanistan, 77, 78, 87, 111, 130,
131, 148, 162,265,274-75,
296, 309, 325, 374, 380, 408,
421, 433, 437, 438, 482 bombing campaign in, 78, 83 Afghanistan War (2001), 108, 267,
317, 326 Africa, 218-19, 232, 233 agriculture, 199, 315, 389 Agriculture Department, U.S., 150 Agriculture Ministry, Iraqi, 150,
187 Ailes, Roger, 346 Air Force, U.S., 17, 70, 71, 154, 333,
379, 470 Space Command of, 70 Air Force Medical Corps, 437 Air Force One, 232, 339 Air National Guard, 314 airport road explosions, 202, 206-7,
272, 308, 457 Ajami, Fouad, 84 Alabama, 339, 462 AlArabiya, 211, 247 Albania, 308
Albright, Madeleine K., 468-69 AlDawa Party, 461,468 Alfalfa Club dinner, 113-14, 379
Blackwill, Robert D.(cont.) Condoleezza Rice, discussions
with, 241, 264, 301-2 Fallujah and, 298-99, 300, 301 Frank Miller and, 299-300, 302 George W. Bush and: meetings with, 241 reelection of, 299, 335-36 secure video teleconferences with, 299 Iraq strategy and, 302, 336-37 Iraqi government and, 296, 299,
312-313 Lakhdar Brahimi and, 296, 298,
313 Najaf and, 322 Steve Hadley, discussions with,
301-302 on troop levels, 256, 302 and UN Iraq reengagement, 296 Blair, Admiral Dennis, 29-30, 55 Blair, Tony, 4, 136, 154, 161, 223, 231,314,319,346-47,371, 457 Blair House, 341 Bletchley II, 84-85, 167, 476 Bletchley Park, 83 Blix, Hans, 99 Bloomberg News, 464 Blunt, Roy, 430 Bodine, Barbara, 149 body counts, 319-20, 482-83 Bolten, Josh, 356, 455, 456, 469 Boren, David L., 114-15 Bork, Robert, 283 Bosnia, 7, 91, 118, 130, 162, 166,
401 botulinum toxin, 216, 227, 258 Bowden, Mark, 121 Boxer, Barbara, 377 Brahimi, Lakhdar, 296, 298-99, 370,
374 Bremer, Francie, 249 Bremer, L. Paul Jerry, III, 203, 206, 240, 250, 251, 258, 259, 262,
270-71, 275, 277, 288, 289-91, 294-95, 301, 307, 312,315,316,330, 331,360, 374, 388, 392, 491 background of, 173, 190, 297 Blackwill and, 256, 298, 300,
336 Cheney and, 264, 265 Garner and, 186, 201-2, 204, 206, 207-8, 219, 221, 224 discussions with, 183, 193-95, 200-01 George W. Bush and, 180, 252, 274 discussions with, 182, 190-91, 211-12,246-47,249-50, 260, 262-63, 266, 268, 269-70, 299, 313-14 memo to, 205 reporting to, 209 Gingrich and, 252-53, 274-75 Iraq and, 184, 198-99,211, 292-93 arrival of Bremer in, 192-93 de-Baathification in, 191,
193-94, 196, 197-98, 205 decision to invade, 182 departure of, 308, 313-14 elections in, 228-29, 263-64 Fallujah and, 297-300 governance of, 197, 234, 246,
262,264-65,269,312-13 military, disbanding of, 194-96,
198, 205, 206, 265 U.S. occupation of, 209, 248-49 reactions to selection of, 182-83 Rumsfeld and, 212, 236 discussions with, 248, 261,
273-74 memos to, 205 reporting to, 235-36, 262-36,
273-74 selection of Bremer by, 173-174, 180,224 Brennan, John O., 89-90, 135
Brooke Army Medical Center, 437 Brookings Institution, 128 Brown, Harold, 166 Buckley, William E, 373 Bunker, Ellsworth, 307 Burkle, Frederick Skip, 150 Burns, John E, 429 Bush, Barbara, 2-3, 12, 13, 113-14,
341 Bush, George H. W., xi, xii, 4, 5, 7, 11-12, 13-14, 15,21,47, 75, 77,80-81, 82, 107, 114-15, 171,218,240,345,346,361, 378,384,387,419-20,428 and George W. Bush's reelection,
341-42, 343, 344 disappointment with Rice of, 420 networking of, 3 relationship with Bandar of, 1-2 Rumsfeld disliked by, xii World War II experience of, 81 Bush, George W, 28, 47-48, 52,
113, 126, 135, 143, 167,209,
236, 241, 257, 273, 296, 323,
324, 333, 392, 394, 432, 477
on American-sponsored media in
Iraq, 231 approval ratings of, 81, 421, 490 Armitage and, 7-8, 100, 244-45,
373 author's interviews with, 3, 11, 106,325-26, 482, 488-90 Bandar and, 1-5, 12-14, 24-25, 45-47, 75-77, 87-89, 163-64, 334-35,386,411 Blair and, 154, 161, 231, 314, 319,
457 Blackwill and, 241, 299, 335-37 Bremer and, 180, 182, 190-91, 205,211-12,246-47,249, 252, 260, 262-63, 266, 268, 269-70,274,299,313-14 Bush Sr. and, 14-15, 80 calcium in the backbone of, 326, 490
Card and, xii-xiii, 228, 340-41,
343-44, 347-48, 350-52,
354-57, 361-62, 368,
447-50, 453-56 Cheney and, 367-68, 485-86 Cincinnati speech of, 97, 231-34 Citadel speech of, 8, 10 Clark and, 55-56, 58, 59, 62-64 clear, hold and build strategy
/> adopted by, 422 communications strategies of,
231,247,405-6 as concerned about losing
propaganda war, 154-55, 170 Congressional Big Five
meetings of, 417 Crawford, Tex., ranch of, 244-45,
326, 338, 479 criticism equated with
undermining troops by, 423 criticism of Arafat by, 47 Crown Prince Abdullah and,
75-77, 204 de-Baathification and, 196,
224-25 defense secretary choice of, xi-xiv Delta of Terrorism memo and, 85 denial by, 488-90 domestic agenda of, 16 doubt lacking in, 325-26 Fallujah response of, 297-99,
359-60 Foley and, 284 foreign policy inexperience of, 3,
6, 16 Franks and, 154-55, 160-61 frat-boy pranks enjoyed by, 402 freedom agenda of, 371-73,
377-79, 466 Garner's meetings with, 131-34,
221-26 Geneva Conventions, 86-87 Gerson and, 186-87, 342, 351-52,
362-63, 371-73, 377-79 Gridiron dinner jokes of, 449-50
Bush, George W. (cont.)
on Guantanamo Bay detainees,
275-76 Hadley and, 10-11, 153, 155, 335,
348-50, 381, 383-85, 398 Heritage Foundation speech of,
265-66 inaugural parade of (2001), 58 on inevitability of Iraq war, 89 on Iraqi elections, 370-71,
375-76, 382, 383 on Iraqi governance, 197n, 268,
269-70,431,446-47 Iraq invasion ordered by, 389,
416, 417, 454-55 Iraq strategy of, 336-37, 425, 426,
453 Iraq war plan and, 81, 82-83,
97-98 Katrina and, 427-28, 447, 449,
457 Kay and, 236-37, 278-80 King Abdullah of Jordan and,
277 Kissinger and, 406-8 on London bombings, 401-2 Maliki and, 468-70 military transformation desired
by, 8, 10, 82-83 Mission Accomplished speech
of, 186-87, 336, 490 National Cathedral speech of, 342 Naval Academy speech of, 429 NSC meetings of, 86, 107,
Bob Woodward Page 61