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BOOK REVIEWS
THE WARS OF THE BUSHES The essential premise of “The Wars of the Bushes”
by Stephen Tanner, is that George H.W. Bush was an incomparably
Philadelphia: Casemate, 2004 better wartime president and strategist than George W. Bush.
Tanner is candid in his assessment. The first Bush he sees as
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM a gifted and capable leader, a talented tactician, a gifted
diplomat and a masterful strategist. George H.W. Bush’s
A STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT
by Thomas Donnelly, tenure in Washington is depicted as being possibly
Washington: AEI Press, 2004 “the most surehanded military leadership” in American
history. Tanner’s book assesses the development of
Reviewed by Lieutenant-Colonel Michael
the First Gulf War as “a near-perfect campaign, one in
Goodspeed
which foreign policy, a brilliantly recast American
military, and a superb team at the White House engineered
T
he Wars of the Bushes” and “Operation a magnificent victory at very little cost.” He sees ‘George
“ Iraqi Freedom” are two recent publications
that are worth reading for the starkly
differing views they provide on the war
Senior’s’ triumphs in the Middle East as his paradoxical
undoing – Americans released from their external
worries were freed to concentrate on internal matters.
in Iraq. Although both books have evident
political biases, they are useful in George W. Bush he views in rather
gaining a sense of perspective on the most less flattering terms. The younger
important conflict of the post-modern era. Bush he describes as a frightening
gunslinger who has left America isolated
Both books view the Iraqi campaign and pursuing a reckless and incoherent
from a political and a strategic perspective, foreign policy in the world’s most
but these volumes offer a good deal dangerous flashpoint. While it is difficult
more than that for they define the to find fault with Tanner’s view of
limits of the strategic debate on Iraq. Bush the Elder’s strategic abilities,
Neither provides much in terms of his assessment of Bush the Younger
what the available intelligence picture is harsh and disparaging. Time will
was like before the war, nor do they prove one way or another as to whether
present a great deal of information Tanner’s assessment is correct – and
in terms of understanding how the it is beyond the remit of this journal
Iraqi campaign is currently being fought. to forward judgments on allied politicians.
And, given their timely nature, both Nonetheless, Tanner’s book is an
books show evidence of being written instructive read for the military officer
in haste. Despite these issues, which for a number of other reasons. He
are far from fatal criticisms, both provides a useful overview of American
books should be read as a kind of news military policy in two post-modern
genre and not as definitive examinations wars, and he provides a representative
of the subject. In a world of sound critical synopsis of American strategy
bytes and shrink-wrapped opinion in dealing with terrorism in the Islamic
pieces, such a genre has its place world. Tanner also gives us much food
on the reading list of the thoughtful for thought on the efficacy and the
officer. These slender books are very implementation of the new post 9/11
much a ‘snap shot in time’ viewed doctrine of pre-emptive war. For these
from two diametrically opposed reasons alone, this book is worthwhile
angles. If regarded as such, they reading for Canadian officers. Whether
have value. or not one agrees with Tanner’s position,
there is value in Canadians looking
“The Wars of the Bushes” is a brief, at both sides of these issues. There is
highly readable examination of the unquestionably a degree of ambiguity
First and Second Gulf Wars. It was and complexity about the Iraq war that
written by the American historian Stephen soldiers, politicians and private citizens
Tanner and provides an overview of cannot ignore. Studying all dimensions
American policy towards Iraq from of this phase of what is likely to be
the early 1990s until 2004. Tanner’s a long and involved conflict is a
assessment of the last 15 years is, in a useful exercise. Tanner’s criticisms of
unique way, non-partisan, but it is by no George W. Bush’s war in Iraq are terse
means neutral.
78 Canadian Military Journal ● Spring 2005
BOOK REVIEWS
and pointed, but his criticisms are a more tempered as an apologist or an advocate for Bush, but he
variety than the strident brand of foreign policy provides context and structure for his descriptions
assessment popularized by Michael Moore and kindred of how the subsequent campaign unfolded. He spends
members of the anti-war movement. Canadian Forces little time assessing the issue of weapons of mass
officers should understand the nuances of this destruction or the al Qaeda link and, instead, focuses
conflict and Tanner’s assessment is potentially one on the nature of Saddam Hussein’s rule and the need
aspect of that understanding. Even though Tanner to rebuild a prosperous and democratic Iraq.
shows an unconcealed bias, his assessment is a
worthwhile examination of a problem that will be with Donnelly spends considerable effort in describing
us for some time to come. the build-up to war and the conduct of the actual
invasion. Although his descriptions of the actual
Tanner’s book has incidental qualities that recommend campaign are concise and authentic, they do not
it as well. He provides useful insights into some provide the reader with much detail or any real
of the key players and the political milieu that has feel for the pace and nature of the battle. Donnelly’s
been influential in shaping the events of these wars: views (and Tanner’s) on the counter-insurgency campaign
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, Clinton, Clark and of that followed the conventional victory are again
course, the two Bushes are all painted in fascinating ‘light’ on descriptions of the actual operations or
vignettes, each of which underscores the need to any assessments as to how the war should be fought.
understand the force of individual characters in Instead, he concentrates, for the most part, on the
shaping global events. political aspects of a prolonged war in Iraq. Donnelly
is a proponent of the school of thought that advocates
“Operation Iraqi Freedom”, written by Thomas a further transformation and development of the
Donnelly is, on the other hand, a useful contrast American army to turn it into a force capable of
to Tanner’s book. Donnelly has a background both defeating the insurgency in Iraq.
as a journalist and as a staffer on the House Armed
Services Committee. He is also a resident fellow Both these authors focus on staking out their
of the American Enterprise Institute. “Operation Iraqi views on the strategic advisability of the war.
Freedom” is worth reading for several reasons, not Both volumes are short and have been written with
the least of which is that it provides balance and a view to influencing a thoughtful readership as to
contrast to Tanner’s trenchant views on the war. the value of the war to both Americans and the rest
Donnelly believes that the invasion of Iraq and of the world. In this respect, they will have a brief
the creation of a democratic beachhead in the shelf life. That should not deter people from reading these
Middle East was a strategic necessity. He also works. There is value in this kind of extended essay.
puts forward the interesting proposition that it At the time of writing, it is too early to predict how
was the Pentagon that misunderstood the true nature the war will play out, but the conflict is certainly a long way
of the conflict as it organized the US military to from its final conclusions and war is not a predictable
fight the war rapidly rather than thoroughly crushing endeavour. Accordingly, we would do well to give both
all armed resistance. Donnelly takes a much more these interpretations of the war some serious thought.
benign view of George W. Bush than does Tanner,
and the early and latter chapters of his book are
liberally sprinkled with quotations from President Bush’s Michael Goodspeed is an infantry officer employed in staff duties
speeches. Donnelly is careful not to be perceived at the Canadian Defence Academy.
Spring 2005 ● Canadian Military Journal 79
