Chapter 11 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 11 shows the plan developing, Bush beginning to swagger and deceive, and Powell conflicted as a former commanding general. His problems will deepen as diplomacy to head off war heats up. Deception begins in March, when Tenet meets two Kurdish leaders to assure them the U.S. will not let them down again. Franks, meanwhile, briefs the JCS, whose turf wars in Afghanistan he has criticized, and answers questions about troop refreshment and rotation, protection against WMD, logistics of supply, Iraqi and Israeli responses, and taking Baghdad. British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Crawford April 6-7, and tells the press Saddam must go. Bush bristles when "clever reporters" try to put words in his mouth and escapes without revealing his role in war planning that is technically not on his desk, saying only Saddam will not "blackmail the world" and, when...