Bob Woodward profitably peels White House open again

Bob Woodward has done it again.

The Washington Post investigative reporter, with colleague Carl Bernstein, helped unravel the mysteries and criminalities of Watergate. Before it was over, President Nixon had resigned and Woodward and Bernstein had authored their first bestseller: "All the President's Men."

Bernstein left the paper soon after, to pursue television and Hollywood and other forms of fame. Woodward stayed on, rising through the ranks of the Post hierarchy. These days he's the newspaper's associate editor.

And he kept writing books. Most of them were behind-the-curtain looks at whatever administration was then occupying the White House. (Our favorite was "Veil," which included a deathbed interview with CIA Director William Casey that no one else witnessed.) Most of the books have been embarrassing to the administration in question. And most came with $1-million advances.

Woodward's latest opus, "The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008" comes out next week. Based on interviews with Bush insiders, it reveals, as Countdown to Crawford reported here yesterday, that the Bush White House has been spying on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

The temptation to help write the first draft of history, Woodward-style, must be enormous. But really, why would any White House cooperate?

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Richard Ellis/Associated Press

Comments

[Chuck Larson]

Somethings should just be kept quite,true or not, When I read articles like this I think about all of the lives and money spent on Iraq.
This guy has just opened the door for those in their goverment that want to break all ties with the United staes. I am all for freedom of speech but this is over the line. Whether you are against this war or not,my opinion is that this man should be tried for treason against his own country. His common sense must be located near his wallet

[Bob Rocklin]

Woodward is obviously looking to make a fast buck at the expense of selling out his counries secrets. The media has few morals or ethics these days. During the Iraq War, some in the media cared more about meeting a story deadline and had no qualms about giving out classified troop info via their storylines. Woodward has no shame and he can retire to Miami Beach with his blood money. Sad statement of what the media has become.

[Richard Patrick]

It seems all of you Love Bob because he comes up with trash against the Republication Party at election time..Isn't if funny you always lose in the long run...
You will lose again we know better..
maybe Bob can better another Dan Rather..
what an honor..

[ed brubaker]

how can this scumbag, woodward, look at himself in the mirror and call himself an american? he has zero integrity. he puts our troops in further jeopardy by publishing such rubbish. think maybe the dnc encouraged this slimebag on the timing of his trash release? hope someone knocks off this guy.

[Tony Garibaldi]

They know everything al-Maliki says behind closed doors, and they *still* can't out-negotiate him on the Status of Forces agreement ? What pathetic losers this Bush Administration is. They are getting kicked out at the end of 2009, Iraq's government is made up of guys that lived in Iran for 20 years when Saddam was in power, and the Production Sharing Agreements aren't finalized, *and* al-Maliki is publicly flirting with signing huge PSA oil contracts with China.

If these Bozo's knew anything about the "Internets", they would know they have to adapt the propaganda for the 21st Century. You can't blab about invading Iraq to "help the Iraqi's" and "setup Democracy in Iraq" and then expect your Puppet Government to keep quiet about what's going on. When England conquered India, there was no confusion: England got richer, India got poorer. That's how Empire is supposed to work. Egypt gets poorer, England gets richer. Iran gets poorer, England gets richer.

But Dumb and Dumber (Cheney and Bush) never studied history in their alcoholic college days; I think Bush actually *believes* some of the propaganda Cheney and Co. write.

Now Iraq is using it against them: "OK, thanks for getting rid of Saddam. We're good now. Goodbye".

You don't spend $600 BILLION for 'Thanks'. Just come out and tell the world, we control Iraq, we control Iraqi oil, we control al-Maliki whether he knows it or not, likes it or not, F. U.

We're AMERICANS - the world knows what that means, it's time the idiots at home get the message. We don't invade countries to *help* them. Get over it. Who cares if al-Maliki knows we "spy" on him ? He knows he is only alive as long as the Americans tolerate it.

[Chris D]

With Governor Palin in office, Iraq will know we mean business. Iraqi oil for Iraqi security, that's all the leverage we need.

[Dave Schwartz]

I simply can't believe that bob woodward would put the Iraq War in jeopardy just as it looks like victory is in reach. This is outrageous to reveal spying operations for his own personal gain. There is a limit to so called "investigative reporting." He has seriously crossed the line. Thousands of Americans have given their lives for this war (wrong or right) and this guy has possibly undermined our fallen soldiers heroic efforts. And what is so amazing about revealing such an operation? Every war has spying, and intelligence gathering. In any other war, in any other time Mr. Woodward would be hauled-in, put on trial and hung for treason. For Godsakes, american lives are on the line, not to mention the Iraqi civilians! This can not go unpunished.

[Natalie]

I'm also very critical of our current administration, but this is not appropriate. I'm all for freedom of speech, and I don't even want think about living in a country without it, but we are at war right now whether people want to acknowledge it or not. Iraq is still very dangerous and unstable, but it is very slowly becoming better. Last two years was the worst and most violent, but hope is returning although very tentatively. This is a very crucial time both for Americans and also for the people of Iraq. To publish such a sensitive information at this time is not only stupid, but dangerous. Relationship b/w two governments is so important right now. If their relationship is strained, progress will be slower and more people will be put in danger. Almost all of us hate this war, but we're in it and can't just get out in a day. If we abandon Iraq right now, there will be more hell to pay later. It's not only moral, but practical to make sure that Iraq become a stable country. Iraqis lived under a brutal dictator for decades, but they are just like us. They want to live in a peaceful and prosperous country. If we just abandon them in current situation, more anger and violence will targeted towards us Americans. I'm enraged by our irresponsible policy makers, but I want our troops to be safe. They are not chess pieces that can be moved around to please the powerful people. Frankly, I'm disgusted by journalists in this country. So called journalists in this country failed all Americans in recent years. They report and write only for money, not to open our eyes and improve the world. If they have time to talk about Brangelina or Britney Spears, why don't they talk more about war in Iraq? Why don't they talk more about Obama and McCain's policies rather than about their personal lives? Journalists like Mr.Woodward are no better than greedy politicians in Washington.

[NB]

The question for me is simple... top secret operations have been again and again revealed by the NYC cocktail journalism world socialist set... with no prosecution. This administration is the first to agree that future administrations' power should not be jeopardized so why is this allowed? I wonder if most of these things are being leaked because, for instance in this case... they want the Iraqi government to know? If not and Woodward did publish this opperation... and the administration ask him and his publisher not to, saying it was Top Secret... they OF COURSE should be tried for Treason election or no election and the leak found at all costs.

Another possibility... look to Israel in some of this... manipulating... perhaps not wanting the US to accept withdrawal... on good terms... or wanting to force negative events in Iraq... to avoid any chance of Iran becoming friends in say two years with a new Iraqi governement... this would explain why the US Government does not have the guts to stand up in this situation if they are not leaking the material. Israel does not have I suspect the military power to attack Iran nor to weather the consequences... from other countries that surround her... but would love for the US to find a reason and soon. This is where the leaks very likely are coming from... at least partially... Regardless... those involved must be punished including possibly Israelis and there supporters in the US... this is an election year and it would take real balls to pick a fight with Israel when Christian voters are in play and on intelligence matters except for particularly egregious spying damaging the US directly... nothing is ever said about Israel's influence on US media.