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Bush, George W.

Bush Ordered War Plan for Iraq Two Months After 9/11, Book Claims

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

President Bush had decided to force Saddam Hussein from power two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to a new book by Bob Woodward of The Washington Post. The book, "Plan of Attack," reveals that Bush ordered the Pentagon to produce a war plan for Iraq, despite the administration's public statements about seeking a diplomatic solution. Woodward conducted extensive interviews with the president and writes that Bush was committed to removing Saddam from power, even as he was saying the opposite in public.

Key Takeaways:

  • The book "Plan of Attack" by Bob Woodward claims that President Bush ordered the Pentagon to produce a war plan for Iraq in November 2001, just two months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • Bush allegedly told his national security team to focus on Afghanistan in a meeting at Camp David on September 15, 2001, but later began to shift his attention to Iraq.
  • The president has denied remembering the exact dates of his discussions with the Pentagon, but admitted to focusing on Iraq after delivering a speech at the United Nations.
  • Press secretary Scott McClellan clarified that the Bush-Rumsfeld discussion about a war plan did take place, but emphasized there is a difference between planning for war and making a decision to go to war.
  • The administration's public statements about seeking a diplomatic solution in Iraq were allegedly contradicted by Bush's private decision to force Saddam Hussein from power.
  • Woodward's book raises questions about the administration's motives and the timing of its decision to go to war in Iraq.

Statistics:

  • 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred on September 11, 2001.
  • Bush met with his national security team at Camp David on September 15, 2001, to discuss the response to the attacks.
  • The United States delivered a speech to the United Nations, in which Bush emphasized the need to take action against Saddam Hussein.
  • November 2001: the month in which Bush allegedly ordered the Pentagon to produce a war plan for Iraq.
  • 2 months: the time span between the 9/11 attacks and the alleged ordering of a war plan for Iraq.

Sources:

  • Woodward, Bob. "Plan of Attack." The Washington Post.
  • Gonyea, Don. "Bush Deflects Question on Iraq War Plan." NPR News.
  • Block, Melissa. "ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News." NPR News.

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