To the Point

All the President's Books

The Detroit Free Press says this year-s political action is in America-s bookstores. There's Paul O-Neil-s biography and Richard Clarke-s memoir, not to mention titles like, Worse than Watergate, Rogue State and The Lies of George W. Bush, up against Bush Country, Deliver Us from Evil, and The Right Man. Bob Woodward-s latest book, which portrays confusion in the White House and dissention in the Cabinet and raises questions about the war on terror and the invasion of Iraq, has become part of what CNN calls the -literary arms race- in this year-s presidential campaign. But despite the fodder it's provided Democrats, Plan of Attack is -recommended reading- on the Bush campaign website. Warren Olney looks at who buys and reads these books, and their place in history, including their possible impact on November-s election? Making News: Basra Bombings In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, two car bombs destroyed the seven-story security headquarters today, killing at least two people and wounding many more. In Basra, Iraq, four simultaneous explosions killed 68 people and wounded almost 100 at Iraqi police stations. Melinda Liu, who is in Baghdad for Newsweek magazine, says Iraqis will likely blame today's tragic events on the US coalition for not bringing security to civilian communities. Reporter-s Notebook: Israeli Whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu Finally Walks Free Mordechai Vanunu was freed today after 18 years in prison for divulging details about Israel-s nuclear weapons program. Vanunu was captured in Italy, after London's Sunday Times published an extraordinary expose showing a stockpile of between 100 and 200 atomic bombs and the capacity to make a hydrogen bomb. Jonathan Ariel, editor-in-chief of Maariv International, updates the story of a man who-s being called both traitor and hero.