Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis

The September 11, 2001, attacks define the Bush presidency as Pearl Harbor had FDR's. The CIA's Tenet warns Bush about al-Qaeda before 9/11, but, seeing no urgency, Bush concentrates on cutting taxes. Rumsfeld suspects Saddam is in cahoots with bin Laden and suggests using this as an "opportunity" to attack Iraq. Cheney has doubts, and Powell sees "bait-and-switch" wrecking international unity. White House Chief of Staff Card opposes targeting Iraq, Tenet recommends going after Afghanistan, and Wolfowitz sees no need to bog down troops in the mountains when Iraq offers a "brittle" target. Bush authorizes CIA and military operations against terrorists worldwide, with Afghanistan the primary target. Cheney, who has special sway on Bush, assesses the intelligence agencies and examines worst-case scenarios. Sees Clinton's response to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings, and the 2000 attack on...