Woodward and Obama’s War

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.