Woodward and Obama’s War

Published in L Express
(France) on 24 September 2010
by Philippe Coste (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Karolina Beirioumova. Edited by Sam Carter.
Bob Woodward, a human thorn in the side of presidents ever since his vital role in uncovering the Watergate scandal, releases his new book next week, entitled “Obama’s War,” in which he describes in detail the administration’s brawls, especially between the military and White House politicians regarding what strategy to follow in Afghanistan. James Jones, the National Security advisor to the president and a former Marine, calls them “the politburo.” What a lively atmosphere.

What never ceases to amaze me is that Bob Woodward still has access to such high places in the political world. His book about Bush and Iraq had a devastating effect on the previous government. What possible interest does the current administration have in facilitating the writing of a book that, before midterm elections, will reveal the discord surrounding the president? Unless it’s the case that Woodward’s sources are primarily at the Pentagon, the latter being frustrated to see a president limiting the military effort in Afghanistan and imposing a premature troop withdrawal date, with the only hope to avoid losing the whole Democratic Party.


Woodward et la Guerre d’Obama

Bob Woodward, incarnation humaine du poil à gratter des Présidences depuis sa gloire du Watergate, sort un nouveau livre la semaine prochaine, intitulé « Obama’s War », qui décrit avec minutie les bagarres internes de l’administration sur la question de la « bonne stratégie » en Afghanistan. En particulier entre les « militaires » et la garde rapprochée des « politiques » de la Maison Blanche. James Jones, conseiller de sécurité nationale du Président, et ancien Marine, les surnomme « le politburo ». Ambiance…
Un point m’étonne toujours : que Bob Woodward puisse avoir encore un tel accès aux cimes politiques. Ses bouquins sur Bush et l’Irak ont eu un effet dévastateur sur le gouvernement précédent. Quel intérêt pouvait avoir l’équipe actuelle à se confier pour un livre qui révélera avant les élections la zizanie qui entoure le Commander in Chief des Etats-Unis ? A moins que ses sources ne soient essentiellement au Pentagone, frustrées de voir le Président limiter l’effort militaire en Afghanistan, et imposer une date de retrait des troupes trop proche, dans le seul espoir d’éviter de « perdre tout le parti démocrate ».
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