Chapter 16 Summary and Analysis

Bush comes home on September 1, has Powell (and Rice) to lunch, and reaffirms his commitment to trying the U.N. Bush wants Congress to pass a resolution supporting military force against Saddam, although White House lawyers doubt he needs it. In 1991, the senior Bush gets the U.N. to authorize force 12-2 before asking Congress for a resolution, but Cheney suggests reversing the order, to get legislators on the record before the upcoming election. Rice agrees. Domestic unanimity will help convince the U.N. to act. On September 3, Card chairs the "White House Iraq Coordination Meeting" (later institutionalized as the "White House Iraq Group" - WHIG), including Nick Calio, the President's personal lobbyist. Calio has already researched votes on Iraq issues back to 1991. He's been told by Bush to "get the votes."

On September 4, Bush invites 18 key legislators to the White...