February 28, 2003

Contact:
Jennifer Meriam, Director (954) 262-5355
Mike Laderman, Associate Director, (954) 262-5354
Mara Kiffin, Coordinator, (954) 262-5350

Bob Woodward Speaks to NSU Students About 'Bush at War'

The newly christened Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences at NSU--previously the Farquhar Center for Undergraduate Studies--inaugurated its Annual Distinguished Speaker Series with acclaimed journalist Bob Woodward, who recently spoke at NSU’s Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center Theater. Woodward spoke of his latest bestseller, Bush at War.

Woodward has reported for the Washington Post for 23 years and has written eight non-fiction bestsellers including All The President's Men, which documented the Watergate scandal that the author and fellow journalist Carl Bernstein uncovered. Their history-making investigation earned a Pulitzer Prize for the Washington Post. Woodward spent a year gaining access to confidential records of over fifty key meetings concerning the Bush Administration's war against terrorism, culminating last August in four hours of interviews with President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The author stated that President Bush was surprisingly candid in his forthright responses to every question. Woodward remarked that the Bush Administration's cooperation "allowed the excavation of their decision-making process."

Newly uncovered documents, which Woodward unveiled, illustrate that President Bush neglected to address CIA Director George Tenet's January 2001 warnings about the menace of Osama bin Laden and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Despite papers, discussions, and a proposed 'action plan' that was never written, nothing was done to reckon with bin Laden's threats. Woodward laconically summarized the President's unconcern, "He dropped the ball." However, the veteran journalist admitted that he too had dismissed bin Laden as “a kook”.

Woodward speculated that the catastrophic events of 9/11 left President Bush feeling guilty about his neglect of Tenet's warning. After the President and the First Lady visited a burn unit caring for charred survivors, Secret Service agents--alarmed by threats of another attack--urged Bush to hide underground. However, a stoic resolve to remain visible at the White House emerged in the President. As evidence proved Al-Qaeda's involvement in the 9/11 attacks, Bush sought to bomb the terrorists' stronghold in Afghanistan immediately. Paradoxically, it was his own War Cabinet that cautioned him to wait another week.

President Bush swiftly empowered the CIA to infiltrate terrorist networks by any means necessary. Clinton-era restrictions on recruitment of enemies were discarded; as CIA Director Tenet declared, "We have to get inside the plot." Woodward said that the CIA's role in Afghanistan was absolutely critical. Tenet told General Tommy Franks that the CIA would buy more of the enemy than American troops would kill. Many Taliban warlords were simply bribed to fight their comrades, thereby sparing American soldiers in such battles.

Though Osama bin Laden escaped capture, Woodward reminded that no Al-Qaeda attack has occurred in America since 9/11. Over three thousand suspects have been apprehended in some 200 countries worldwide; the war on terrorism is evidently being waged effectively (though Woodward supposes that inquiries into current FBI and CIA practices will likely occur "in our lifetimes"). However, many people wonder how a possible war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq will affect the anti-terrorism campaign. Woodward addressed controversial motivations in the President's military confrontation with the brutal Ba'ath Party dictator.

Apparently President Bush is genuinely concerned with Iraq for the very reason he has made explicit: namely, that Saddam must be disarmed before he can threaten America. Woodward suggested that the lesson Bush drew from 9/11 was to reckon with potential enemies before they can attack. The President may be haunted by his neglect of Tenet's warning about bin Laden, so he will not tolerate Saddam to conceal a hidden arsenal of WMD from U.N. inspectors much longer. Tenet warned Bush of WMD at that fateful meeting in January 2001, and though bin Laden was ignored then, the other threat of a WMD attack consumes the full attention of our President now.

President Bush is especially troubled by Saddam's long and well-documented history of murdering his own people. Woodward said that during his interview Bush became visibly angry as he discussed the dictator's horrific crimes. Woodward ended his lecture by examining President Bush’s personality. He stated that as recently as fifteen years ago, George W. Bush lived a leisurely life of great wealth, still drinking heavily long after his DUI arrest at the age of 30. But a religious experience revitalized Bush; he claimed to overcome his weakness for alcohol through prayer, and unexpectedly sought a career in politics.

Bush revealed in his interview with Woodward that polls of public opinion signify nothing more than the past, not the future. Though many politicians deny the influence of polls on their decisions, Woodward noted that Bush appears genuine in his dismissal of opinion polls: instead, he appears to feel that his actions can change opinion. Bush believes he has seen many of his prayers answered, and this likely affects his presidency. According to Woodward, obstinate resistance to Bush’s will--whether at home or abroad--has little effect on his confident thinking. Woodward described Bush as "strong, decisive, and impulsive."

After his speech, Woodward answered questions from the audience, many of which were about possible war with Iraq. The celebrated journalist admitted that he was undecided about the potential conflict, yet he remarked that many Arab leaders are privately opposed to Saddam's regime; even Syria signed Resolution 1441 authorizing force against Iraq if it does not disarm.

The evening ended with Woodward signing copies of Bush at War.

Reviewed by Devin Meriam