Unveiling chaos
An Inside look at the Biden White House's foreign policy and Trump’s enduring influence
By Bob Woodward
Grade: 97
If War isn’t my favorite book of the year, it sure is the most detailed and compelling. I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in two days.
The book, the fourth of which Woodward has written involving former president Trump, might be the best. It’s certainly the most riveting, providing a heavily sourced, in-depth account of U.S. military and political decision-making in a time of rapidly escalating global tensions.
What’s it about?
The book delves into the inner workings of national security, sharing the strategies, conflicts, and power dynamics that shape U.S. foreign policy and military engagement. What I loved most was Woodward’s interviews with top military officials, policymakers, and intelligence leaders, painting a vivid picture of how leadership decisions impact global stability and, with it, the lives of soldiers on the ground.
Trump looms large in U.S. foreign policy
This much is certain after reading the book: Former president Trump still plays an outsized role in international affairs. For example, Woodward writes that Keith Kellogg, a national security advisor for Vice President Pence, secretly met with Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The advisor, writes Woodward, later circulated a document that cast blame on Pres. Biden for the Oct. 7 attack in Israel by Hamas.
It didn’t help that the Biden Administration was already seen as weak on foreign policy, especially with regard to Iran, who is in league with Hamas. Woodward continually points out that, behind the scenes, Biden and his advisers were pushing Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas. Biden also insisted that Israeli forces not move into Rafah. Biden’s words were ignored. No ceasefire was forthcoming, and the offensive moved into Rafah in May.
Biden, incensed that Netanyahu entered Rafah, described him as a “f-cking liar.”
“That son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy,” Biden said. “He’s a bad f-cking guy!”
Trump is also featured prominently in the discussions of Ukraine. We all recall that the border bill was killed earlier this year, when it was tied to aid for Ukraine, after Trump saw to it that the GOP got news that he didn’t want Biden to have this feather in his cap during campaign season. Luckily speaker Mike Johnson was able to convince the former president that aid to Ukraine was a smart move. This is but one example illuminating how the former president still commands the modern GOP. For better or worse.
Biden appears weak
Ever since Biden’s horrible debate performance in July the question “how could everyone know how bad off he was, but not say or do anything?” has loomed. War shares some insight on the matter. From interviews with numerous people around Biden at the time, he appeared sharp and focused in personal meetings; then, at other times, it was obvious that his cognitive capacity was well below that which is needed to run the country.
One spouse of a high-ranking official remarked of how she enjoyed listening to him on phone calls with her husband. He was clear and thoughtful. But to those around him, the bad days were becoming more and more infrequent. The book shows the many sides of the president. Vitriolic and bombastic when discussing Trump and Putin. Reflective when considering his legacy. Delusional about his chances of winning the 2024 election. And concerned about the conflicts and impending conflicts across the world.
The 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan haunted him, especially his inability of his administration to foresee the Taliban swiftly returning to power in the region. Former president Bush, whose administration was responsible for the initial takeover in 2001, was sympathetic.
“I can understand what you’re going through,” said Bush, via phone. “I got f—-d by my intel people, too.”
There would be no such intelligence failure regarding Russia, however. Woodward shares how American spies had intricate details of Putin’s plans well in advance of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (The details on this topic were jaw-dropping, including how the administration had satellite imagery showing Russia positioning tens of thousands of troops along the Ukrainian border.) Reading of the in-depth intelligence reports from our intelligence agencies made me proud.
But convincing Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky of the imminent threat proved a herculean task, one undertaken by several parties, including the vice president.
Vice President Harris issues strong warning to Zelensky
Zelensky seemed hellbent on believing that an unprovoked invasion made no sense. But at the Munich Security Conference in February 2022, Harris was blunt: This is happening. You need to have a plan in the event that you’re captured or killed, she said. Finally realizing what was about to take place in his homeland, Zelensky prepared his people to fight for their independence. Then, instead of retreating, he asked the U.S. and other supporting nations for their support.
“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride," he said when offered the opportunity to evacuate.
His resolve earned him wide praise from the U.S. defense and intelligence communities.
The most salacious detail: Pres.Trump sent COVID-19 testing machines to to Russia
At several points in the book, Woodward shares how Trump and Putin have remained in contact with one another since the former left office in 2020. He reports that they have had “as many as seven private conversations.” Astoundingly, Woodward writes that in 2020 Trump secretly sent Covid testing machines to the Russian dictator for personal use—at a time when the machines were in short supply in the U.S.
Woodward writes that Putin, who was said to be scared of falling ill with the virus, asked the former president to refrain from publicly sharing that he’d sent the dictator the tests.
“I don’t want you to tell anybody because people will get mad at you, not me,” Putin is quoted as saying.
Trump was apparently unconcerned with any fallout:
“I don’t care,” he said. “Fine.”
Why you should read the book
This review doesn’t scratch the surface of the great info the book contains. If any of it seems interesting, you definitely should read the book.