Who's reading Clarke's book or

[Blue_Roses]

who has finished it? I bought it this morning and I can't put it down. I'm pretty selective with political books--just want the facts without all the bull-doodoo and this one is definitely a "keeper" for my bookshelf. Not only is it thought-provoking, but it is also educating as well. I've learned more about Hezzebollah and the other terroist groups in one day from this book than in all "political" shows in the last 3 years.

The guy is obviously an expert. He has a passion for what he speaks--terroism. I'm glad to know there is someone like him who has the "drive" and desire to flesh these groups out. I genuinely don't think he is trying to make this a partisan issue he's just stating the facts and with that comes the incompetence of Bush as a leader.

The tone of the book reveals a man who ate, drank, and slept his job. It truely is his passion. Another thing that becomes crystal clear is his dislike for incompetence.

[Kool Kitty]

1. I just bought it and I can't wait to start it.

Three other people bought it when I did.

[Stephanie]

10. Me too. And the store where I bought it is already sold out of it.

The store is in Grand Central. They were sold out by Thursday.

[FauxNewsBlues]

20. Buy this Book

I don't agree with Clarke on everything, but damn I respect the man. He has a great intellect, and he is a damn good writer. If all republicans were like him, elections wouldn't mean as much to me, because I would just disagree on some issues, not worry about evil S.O.B.'s running amuck.

The fact that buying this book pisses off the evil ones in the W.H. only makes me happier. If you have extra money, and a Republican around, family or friend, buy them a copy as well. This should be required reading for anybody casting a vote this fall. I read it in two sessions.

[Vickers]

2. I bought it yesterday, and I'm reading it in fits and starts

I swear, I have to get up every once in awhile and jump around the room!

:bounce::crazy::bounce::crazy::bounce::crazy::bounce::crazy::bounce:

[Blue_Roses]

4. as I read it

I sometimes forget it's true, 'cause it reads like a good novel.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

3. Exactley....ties together alot of stuff.

Alot of what Clarke rights about was, for me, just episodic stuff that popped up on the news and then went away....Clarke ties all this together.

And he has a really fun, sort of wisecracking anecdotal writing style too, humanizing the incidents and events he write about.

This is not just an expose of Bush...in fact I havnt got that far yet. This is just what it says..inside the war on terror.

[Blue_Roses]

5. exactly

I like his sense of humor and I'm amazed at how he remembers all this stuff from 20 years ago.

He does tie it all together and makes it so interesting.

[Vickers]

7. "how he remembers all this stuff from 20 years ago"

I'm thinking Mr. Clarke has a set of "private files" that would make J. Edgar Hoover green with envy.

[goclark]

6. On page 15

It is very easy and comfortable to read. It is well written and crisp.

I know I won't be able to go to sleep tonight-I'll keep reading until it's over.

[Blue_Roses]

13. Wait till you get to page

89...last paragraph. It made me cry and I wasn't expecting that!

[neverforget]

8. Bought it today and will read it when I'm finished with the history book

I'm reading now. Bought it at Costco too!

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Been reading it while sitting on the beach this week

I had a woman walk up to me while I sat under my lovely pastel umbrella (I am a very, very white guy), drinking a beer and reading Clarke's book. She scared the crap out of me because she just kind of appeared there and said, "Well, what do you think? Is it good?" I said, "It is very good and very sobering." She then turned away and mentioned that she was going to go buy one.

So, the word is out there even on the beaches of Florida.

[Stephanie]

11. Where is Paul Thompson?

I'd love to hear his take on the book.

[Blue_Roses]

12. Paul Thompson

:shrug: Help me out here...who is Paul Thompson?

[Stephanie]

18. Check out his 9/11 Timeline

www.cooperativeresearch.org

[RedSock]

24. paul thompson is reading clarke's book now

i'm working on some stuff with paul and he said he is reading clarke's book now.

he is in san francisco this weekend for a big 9/11 conference. he started a thread about it on LBN.

[Stephanie]

25. thanks!

I can't wait to hear his take on the book.

[9215]

14. I'm reading it. The

first chapter blows Cheney's "Clarke was out of the loop" BS out of the water.

Not much up close and personal horseshit in this book. Combine that with the fact that it is a sellout and it makes for interesting reading.

[jeanmarc]

15. I feel empathy for this guy because I have lived this as well

It is extremely hard to deal with incompetence from above. The first time I encountered it, I voted with my feet. Ever since, I have been fighting it.

It's one thing to be mistaken. It's another thing to be warned that you are mistaken, that some sort of introspection never occurs, and you continue behaving like a jackass.

Clarke's 'bodybags' testimony is so true. It takes damage of one kind or another before people listen to good thinking to change. I've experienced the same phenomenon.

The sad thing is some executives and management are more able to listent and change quickly and some are not. It's quite apparent we have some incompetent assholes in office now that the Clinton team could eat for lunch.

Get these assholes out of here!!!!

[RamboLiberal]

16. I got it Monday and immediately read the parts pertinent to the Bush

Administration, now starting the rest of the book.

BTW, I sat down at the bookstore tonight and read the last 30 or so pages of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001

It too backs up most of what Clarke was saying (references him a lot), and the urgency those in the trenches of the terrorism fight felt in 2001 starting in January that there was going to be a terrorist attack and it would be on US soil.

Bush comes off a little bit better in this book as demanding an answer to do something about Al Qaida, but the rest of his administration comes across as slow sloths.

[Lugnut]

17. Just got my copy today

I'll be settling in for some quality reading time before I hit the hay. I may not get much sleep this weekend. ;)

[Kimber Scott]

19. Waiting for my copy from Amazon.

nt

[nwstrn]

22. Same here--ordered Clarke's book

and the Moveon.org book from Amazon. They're 1-2 on the bestseller list.

[mainer]

21. Finished it in two days

I was the very first customer to buy a copy at the Washington D.C. airport bookstore the day of release! Then spotted another woman reading it on the plane...

[RedSock]

23. mine shipped today!!

i can't wait.

[Spazito]

26. I just bought it yesterday, am planning to start reading it tonight...

what I found interesting is that I live in a small town in Canada and was able to find it. In talking to the employee there, she was a teenager and was aware of Clarke, etc, and said that there was lots of talk about his book, etc.

I have no doubt this book is going to be a worldwide blockbuster!

[RhodaGrits]

27. It should be required reading for all American citizens, let alone

anyone who posts here on DU. I probably would have been one of the doves arguing against a lot of what he wanted done but damn you have to respect this man. I would want his voice heard and it troubles me that he's not there now. I wish he hadn't taken a pledge not to work for Kerry.