Melvyn Leffler, a prominent historian of American foreign policy, is back in the studio for part two of his discussion with host Carrie Lee. Their conversation continues examining the decision-making process leading to the invasion of Iraq. Leffler’s insights shed light on the internal dynamics of the Bush administration, highlighting the distrust and dysfunction among key players despite their extensive foreign policy experience. The discussion also explores the role of credibility in the Bush administration’s strategy development and strategic messaging to allies and partners. The goal of the exchange is to offer valuable lessons for the next generation of military leaders and strategists, emphasizing the importance of careful analysis, clear communication, and a nuanced understanding of the limits of American power.
Hans Blix, the head of the inspection team…in December 2002, January 2003, he himself still thinks that Saddam Hussein probably has weapons of mass destruction and that it does take the threat of military force to compel Saddam Hussein, so to speak, to come clean.
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Melvyn Leffler, Ph.D., is an American historian and educator, Co-chair of History and Public Policy Program Advisory Board at the Wilson Center and Emeritus Professor of American History at the University of Virginia. He is the author of For the Soul of Mankind (2007), A Preponderance of Power (1993), and Confronting Saddam Hussein: George W. Bush and the Invasion of Iraq (2023) He has served as president of the Society for the History of American Foreign Relations, Harmsworth Professor at Oxford University, and Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at The University of Virginia.
Carrie A. Lee is an associate professor at the U.S. Army War College, where she serves as the chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy and director of the USAWC Center on Civil-Military Relations. She received her Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University and a B.S. from MIT.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announces his resignation while President George W. Bush stands in the background
Photo Credit: Jim Bowman, DoD Photo