Chapter 1 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1 shows a rocky transition to power and immediate, doctrinaire divisions in Bush's inner circle. Clinton officials brief incoming officials on enforcing no-flight zones in Iraq, the 1998 congressional mandate to effect a regime change, and the CIA's identification of three primary threats. These include bin Laden's al-Qaeda network operating out of Afghanistan, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD,) and the rise of the Chinese military. Iraq is scarcely mentioned. Nevertheless, on February 5, 2001, Rice, chairing the Principals Committee (the vice-president, secretaries of State and Defense, and Director of the CIA), focuses on Iraq, particularly the purpose, cost, risks, and benefits of the no-fly zones, because Bush is concerned about downed pilots. Rumsfeld tangles heatedly with Secretary of State Powell about U.N. sanctions on "dual-use" items Powell knows the French and Russians want reconsidered. These are the first shots in a...