New Bob Woodward Book Coming on Sept. 8 -- More Iraq Bombshells?

Sure, the new Ron Suskind book, out today, is already drawing headlines for its "impeachable" revelation about a cooked CIA document linking Saddam to al-Qaeda. And there may be much more in this vein in the book. But Suskind's influence -- with the mainstream -- pales in comparison to that of Bob Woodward.

And Woodward, very quietly, has a new book coming out on September 8. It's so quiet that it is still untitled and is known officially only as his Bush at War Book Vol. IV.

The Amazon page has nothing beyond that and its purported length at 486 pages. Barnes and Noble doesn't even have the length. But wait: there is a strong hint about the contents.

At both Amazon and at the publisher's own site (that would be Simon & Schuster) there appears this super-brief description:

"Bob Woodward's fourth book about the Bush presidency at war declassifies the secrets of America's political and military involvement in Iraq. It will be essential reading for all citizens -- and candidates -- in this election year."

My guess would be that Woodward, who finally grew much more critical of Bush and the war in Vol. III (State of Denial), will go even further this time, perhaps even producing some "smoking gun" type documents ("declassifies the secrets") of the trumped-up evidence in the march to war.

If he doesn't, would he really have a book at all at this point? Especially in the wake of the McClellan and, now, Suskind books?

My colleague here at E&P, Joe Strupp, spoke to Woodward this morning, and the author refused to describe the book beyond confirming its existence and release date. He did reveal, however, that it will be excerpted in The Washington Post.

Woodward in recent months has both admitted that the media failed in their pre-war coverage, and defended that performance, given what was known at the time.

Suskind actually made a Watergate reference on the Today Show today. He called the CIA forgery on the war "one of the greatest lies in modern American political history" and suggested it was a crime of greater impact than Watergate.

Stay tuned.
*
Greg Mitchell's new book covers Woodward's track record. It is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[Janco54]

This is going to be great! Can't even wait for the "non-denial denials" and Woodward Bashing.
I can just hear it now - "this isn't the Bob Woodward we knew" - "Bob has always been a great journalist searching for the truth but now he's just doing it for the money" - "There must be something seriously wrong with Bob at this time - we wish him the best".
There are more books out there just waiting to be written (and published sometime after January 20, 2009). We may get some of the answers to our questions yet.

[ImmanuelKant]

Suskind's report, with any element of truth or to total truth, is not what worries me. What worries me is that the Executive Branch for the past eight years has been treated as a monarchy and that this could continue indefinitely. Any discussion of our Constitution, at the elementary level includes the basic premise of checks and balances between the three branches of government. What has happened during the past eight years indicates there are no checks on the Executive Branch that have any force of accountability. It is time for the Speaker to accept the responsibility for enforcing the checks and now, before we get a new administration that can take for granted unchecked power.

[davidly]

The Speaker is too busy ensuring the election of "the lesser of two evils" to act in the citizens' best interest.

[TommyMcCarthy]

Eagerly awaiting the new Woodward book......­....I believe I've read 'em all

Better yet JUST got Greg Mitchell's book on the press during the run-up to the war.

Don't 'ya love the feeling when you've got a GOOD ONE you've been waiting for.

Think I'll turn off the PC and go crack it open.

Ahhhhhh
Regards
tm

[keclxivq]

Woodward doesn't care what happens to America. He quit caring once he realized he could work less hours and make more money writing books. At this point we know Bush & Co. have broken more laws than anyone already in prison in this country. Why come out with a book in September 2008 about an administration that is in it's last few months? I suppose he's looking for another vacation home or something along those lines.

[cpscscs]

I hope Greg is right. Woodward knows where the bodies are buried. The question is, "Will he supply the shovel?"

[levibatgirl]

Woodward was a bobble head when we needed journalists with the courage to investigate and inform.

No free passes for him. He knew better and chose to sell out.

[PADDYWHACK]

Bud,you bring up a great point,he may not wish to be outdone and will open up with both barrels.

[realpolitic]

Woodward fell asleep on the job far too long. He has long been part of the establishment he used to report on. How could he realize so late in the game that Bush was an incompetent?

[budfox]

Above all else, Woodward has a monumental ego, so, I would expect his book not to play second fiddle to the Suskind and McClellan books.

Hope exposes Bush/Cheney criminality.