First published 2009
David Sanger opens the doors to the White House Situation Room during one of America's most turbulent periods. The New York Times correspondent chronicles how the Iraq War drained American resources while new crises emerged worldwide. Bush administration officials conducted secret missions to Pakistan and covert operations against Iran's nuclear program. The 2008 financial collapse compounded these challenges. Sanger reveals how intelligence chiefs shuttled between Islamabad and Washington as Pakistan simultaneously helped and hindered American efforts. He exposes North Korea's weapons sales and China's strategic gains during America's Middle East focus. The book follows key decision makers as they grappled with nuclear threats, unstable allies, and diminishing American influence. Sanger shows how years of distraction created a cascade of problems for the incoming president. The narrative captures the tension between immediate crises and long term consequences that define modern American foreign policy.
Genres: history, international-relations, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, political-intrigue
Setting: White House, Islamabad, Washington, Middle East
Period: 2008 Financial Collapse, Iraq War
498 pages · Hardcover · Crown