Which book should I read first - Richard Clarke's or Bob Woodward's?

[RamblingRose]

My time is being split between Air America, NPR, and DU. Since I have all this extra spare time (hee hee), which book should I read when I'm sitting around with nothing to do?

[Richardo]

1. Just finished Clarke's book last night...

...the last chapter lays out exactly why Iraq is worse than a quagmire - it's precisely what OBL would have wanted GWB to do to re-energize Al-Qaida.

The first chapter rings fairly melodramatic - it's what happened in the WH on 9/11, but some of the dialog reads a little too "fictiony".

Other than that, a very strong (and pretty objective) laying out of the state of counterterrorism through four administrations and what each did (or did not) do to make us safer.

Two Richardo :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[skypilot]

9. "fictiony"

That's EXACTLY what I thought as I was reading that chapter. In fact, it kept making me think of that "DC 9/11" movie. I never did finish reading Clarke's book. After that chapter the book just didn't sit right with me and when I heard that he'd sold the movie rights I returned it since this was one of the rare occasions where I'd actually kept the receipt. Maybe I'll give it another go when I comes out in paperback.

[Richardo]

12. If you can get a hold of or borrow a copy, read the last chapter.

You won't be sorry.

I'm conflicted about the movie deal too. Lousy judgement IMO.

[peekaloo]

2. I'm still reading Clarke's book (which I voted for)

after that I'm gonna go get John Dean's 'Worse Than Watergate'......screw Woodward!

[tinanator]

3. lose NPR and dont buy the Woodward trash

John Dean's book and the House of Saud are far more worthy efforts.
Radio Enron is a really sad place to tune into. Set your computer on a Pacifica webcast.

[Jazzgirl]

4. Still reading Clarke's book.

Great reading.

On edit: Dean's book is next on the list to read.

[Richardo]

5. jazzgirl and peekaloo - Dean's book is great, but scary...

...because he concentrates almost exclusively on the secrecy and opacity of the Bush-Cheney "Co-presidency" as he calls it.

I recommend this book highly, especially to those too young to have experienced Watergate. John Dean provides a great perspective and really lays out the Nixonian origins and the subsequent resumes of much of the current WH, with an emphasis on Cheney.

It's really too bad that this book was overshadowed by Clarke and Woodward. It has a lot of important things to say about how the openness of our government is being perhaps irrevocably closed by these goons.

[peekaloo]

10. Thanks

I also have 'American Dynasty' sitting on the shelf.....have you read that one? I removed the paper cover because I was too tempted to draw horns, moustaches and 666 markings on Dumb and Dumber's ugly mugs.

p.s. I have fond memories of Sam Erwin ;-) (what kid would spend their afternoons watching THAT on TV)

[Richardo]

11. This one! We watched Watergate hearings for our summer civics class...

...in HS. I ate it up.

:thumbsup: peekaloo!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. clarke's book is probably easier to get a hold of

at this point... I'd go for that.

[robbedvoter]

7. Let the Bush voters read Woodie

http://www.georgewbush.com/KerryMediaCenter/
Don't buy it until you get a satisfactory answer as to why is it there.
Clarke's book is good.

[Carolina]

8. just finished Clarke's

book, too, and agree with Ricardo's assessment. It is must reading. In addition to all the conterterrorism info, there are interesting personality tidbits like how bad Ollie North screwed things up, how Jim Baker secretly thought Poppy was an incompetent dolt, how backstabbing Louis Freeh (lower than snake shit) was, how Lynne Cheney was in the bunker on 9/11 injecting her worthless 2 cents (remember their mantra "who elected her" re: Hillary ...

I trust Clarke; I'm suspicious of Woodward. Read Clarke, Kevin Phillips (on the poisonous Bush Dynasty), John Dean, House of Saud ... I would let Woodward's book (in hardback) wither on the vine (in bookstores). He's no longer the same Woodward of Woodward & Bernstein during the Watergate crimes. I question why he was granted such access to begin with and why anyone connected to that secretive WH would agree to be taped ... smells fishy to me.

[mouse7]

13. Clarke, John Dean, Kevin Phillips, and O'Neill

Those are the books I'd recommend.

[Richardo]

15. Suskind's book about O'Neill is VERY strong...

Well written and insightful. Paul O'Neill is a fascinating character. The Africa Tour with Bono!

[veracity]

14. Books are available - tax deductible gift for a donation

The O'Neill Book, and the House of Bush, House of Saud classics are also available, along with these two....for a donation to TvNewsLies.org

It's important to support the fight against media deception, and by getting the books there - you do a good deed while you buy. TVNL is a not for profit site..... give it a leg up.

http://tvnewslies.org/html/donate.html

[NoPasaran]

16. I finished Clarke a couple of weeks ago

And have lent it to a friend. I picked up Dean's book yesterday and started it last night. I probably will get Woodward's book at some point, especially if I can get it at a discount.