[CS119laCoS]

Just finished it last night.

Was an interesting, entertaining read, well written.

But no really earth-shattering news, IMO. Basically confirmed what I had generally believed.

The person who comes across the worst and the most responsible for Iwreck is, by far, Rumsfeld. No one else is even close. If even 1/10 of what is written about him is true, it's bad. He's been a major problem. After reading the book, I would not be surprised if Rumsfeld is gone after the election, likely replaced by James Baker. I think by now, even Bush fully realizes it would be better for everyone if that change was made, but he's very cognizant that if he replaces Rumsfeld, many will trumpet that as an admission of failure. But hopefully after the mid-term elections, that won't matter as much and he'll do it.

Bush is of course painted very poorly in the book (deservedly so, IMO).

Not a lot about Cheney in the book.

I think Woodward is a good reporter and a good writer, but it seems to me that the book in many ways is entertainment. It's not the dry read that the 9/11 Commisson Report was. And it covers a lot more, in a lot less pages.

It seems by necessity, he had to do a lot of research, form some general conclusions, then write the book to fit those conclusions. You can't write about what ever person did every day over the course of 5 years, so you have to pick and choose the "vignettes" you want to present. I think at times it was a bit too one-sided. For example, he clearly likes the first administrator in Iraq, Jay Garner. So there is almost nothing ever showing Garner in a bad light. Others, like Garner's successor, Paul Bremer, are almost never shown in a good light. I'd have to think that everyone has some good and bad sides. If you've read the 9/11 Commission Report, you know that there were a lot of details to "pick and choose" from, and Woodward by necessity had to do that. As entertainment, I think he had to pick the various facts to "develop" the characters.

That's my macro-view of the book. It's painted with a broad brush, but I think it's broad, general themes are accurate.

Anyone else read it? I'd be interested in hearing reactions.

(Rodeo, you should read it, but be sure to consult your doctor if, while reading it, you experience an erection lasting longer than 4 hours).