With a new investigative epilogue by a prominent Washington journalist and a new foreword by the author. Ambassador Joseph Wilson recounts more than two decades of foreign service to our country in this unprecedented look at the life of an American diplomat and an unabashed account of policies that sometimes succeeded and sometimes failed. As the last American official to meet with Saddam before Desert Storm, Wilson successfully parried the dictator's threats to use American hostages as human shields against U.S. bombing. Yet today he finds himself battling threats from his own government because he called a lie a lie. When President Bush alleged that Iraq had pursued uranium from Africa for its nuclear weapons program, Wilson could not stand silent. He had traveled to Niger the previous year and found no evidence to support the president's claim. To intimidate Wilson, senior administration officials disclosed the undercover status of Wilson's wife, CIA operative Valerie Plame, to the press, putting her life in danger. Rather than backing down, Wilson persistently criticized the way the administration misled the nation into war. Now he continues his fight in this groundbreaking book by revealing the perils bred by the war-hungry regime in the White House.

Average Customer Review: ( 100 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

When the history of this perilous period in our national life is finally written, Joe Wilson and his book The Politics of Truth may receive credit for shedding a bright light on dark and disturbing behavior by George W. Bush and his handlers. It is worth recalling that George H. W. Bush had praised Wilson as an American hero for his work as acting ambassador to Iraq before the Gulf War. Yesterday's hero, however, becomes today's villain, under the end-justifies-the-means policies of the second Bush White House.

Three cheers!

62 of 75 found the following review helpful:

Compelling and TerrifyingMay 06, 2004
By Streptile "streptile"
I have read a number of Bush books recently, and I seem to be devouring them at an ever increasing clip. As an independent fundamentally uncomfortable with highly partisan politics, I have found Paul O'Neill's book (The Price of Loyalty, actually written by Ron Suskind about O'Neill) to be one of the best. Richard Clarke's "Against All Enemies" is also chilling and insightful. Both these books were written by conservative, Republican mavericks with close insight into this administration, and the stories they tell are frightening: a White House run by ideologues surrounding a President whose experience and intellect could not possibly support the level of conviction he brings to the weighty issues confronting our great nation.

Wilson's book belongs on any shelf with Suskind's and Clarke's. One obvious parallel: Bush '41 - a moderate and intelligent man - felt great fondness for O'Neill, Clarke, and Wilson. Bush '43 disdains and disrespects them. Wilson gives us an account from the outside: how does the Administration glimpsed by insiders like Clarke and O'Neill affect "outsiders" like Wilson? Or Valerie Plame? Or you? Wilson's account is fired by anger and disappointment, not partisan rage. He comes across as a dedicated civil servant, non-partisan, astute. It should be read by all who care deeply for our country, and are wondering what the hell is happening to it.

One final note: The few reviewers who rate this book with one star have clearly a) not read it, or b) ... well, there is no other option, except perhaps that they work for Karl Rove.

131 of 163 found the following review helpful:

Insightful look at diplomacy & dirty politicsApr 30, 2004

Ambassador Joseph Wilson's book is an absorbing, engaging read, covering a wide range of topics: from his wild youth, to his stints in various diplomatic posts for both Democratic and Republican presidents, and his current dealings with the nefarious G.W. Bush Administration and their leaking of his wife as an undercover CIA operative.

If you're curious about the behind-the-scenes games--both abroad and domestic--that get played every day, I highly recommend this book.

See all 100 customer reviews on Amazon.com