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Woodward's Bush At War


This apparent breakdown in the intelligence community received heavy media scrutiny in the days following the attacks, with many pundits calling for massive restructuring and new leadership. Indeed, in a conversation reported by Woodward between former senator David Boren and CIA chief Tenet, chief Tenet expressed trepidation at the thought of bin Laden and al Qaeda. Ironically, this conversation occurred the morning of the attacks, while the four hijacked airliners were cruising towards their fated targets. It is clear that there existed missed opportunity based on the signs the CIA was receiving: the first World Trade Center bombing eight years earlier, the African embassy bombings in 1998, the USS Cole attack in Yemen in 2000, and the recent HUMINT (human intelligence) whisperings ofsomething big? in the works. However, it is also clear the chief Tenet and the rest of CIA and FBI leadership were committed to restoring the intelligence flow after the attacks to make sure the president will be informed of any future attacks with enough time to act. Tenet began ordering the training of more case officers, who were front-line undercover spies who provided valuable human intelligence. FBI chief Mueller substantially increased homeland surveillance and obtained permission for more aggressive security measures from the president, including more phone taps and satellite surveillance.
             Like many other Americans, Woodward recognizes the power, wisdom, and resolve that Secretary of State Colin Powell exudes. Accordingly, Woodward spends ample time describing Powell's role following the attacks. Powell is portrayed as a wise, thoughtful leader, only vaguely aware of his own popularity. When he entertained running for president in 1995, it was his devotion to his wife, who opposed his running, that eventually led him to abandon the idea. President Bush is also apparently aware of Powell's popularity, because Woodward suggests the Bush and his closest advisors tried repeatedly to limit Powell's contact with the public, either through interviews or appearances, for fear of the beloved general overshadowing the president.


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