| The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals | 
 enlarge | Author: Jane Mayer
Publisher: Doubleday
Category: Book
List Price: $27.50
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Avg. Customer Rating:  47 reviews
Sales Rank: 154
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.7
ISBN: 0385526393
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN: 9780385526395
ASIN: 0385526393
Publication Date: July 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A dramatic and damning narrative account of how America has fought the
"War on Terror"
In the days immediately following September 11th, the most powerful people in the country were panic-stricken. The radical decisions about how to combat terrorists and strengthen national security were made in a state of utter chaos and fear, but the key players, Vice President Dick Cheney and his powerful, secretive adviser David Addington, used the crisis to further a long held agenda to enhance Presidential powers to a degree never known in U.S. history, and obliterate Constitutional protections that define the very essence of the American experiment.
THE DARK SIDE is a dramatic, riveting, and definitive narrative account of how the United States made terrible decisions in the pursuit of terrorists around the world-- decisions that not only violated the Constitution to which White House officials took an oath to uphold, but also hampered the pursuit of Al Qaeda. In gripping detail, acclaimed New Yorker writer and bestselling author, Jane Mayer, relates the impact of these decisions—U.S.-held prisoners, some of them completely innocent, were subjected to treatment more reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition than the twenty-first century.
THE DARK SIDE will chronicle real, specific cases, shown in real time against the larger tableau of what was happening in Washington, looking at the intelligence gained—or not—and the price paid. In some instances, torture worked. In many more, it led to false information, sometimes with devastating results. For instance, there is the stunning admission of one of the detainees, Sheikh Ibn al-Libi, that the confession he gave under duress—which provided a key piece of evidence buttressing congressional support of going to war against Iraq--was in fact fabricated, to make the torture stop.
In all cases, whatever the short term gains, there were incalculable losses in terms of moral standing, and our country's place in the world, and its sense of itself. THE DARK SIDE chronicles one of the most disturbing chapters in American history, one that will serve as the lasting legacy of the George W. Bush presidency.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 42 more reviews...
 A Must Read for Pre-Election August 28, 2008
Congratulations to Ms. Mayer for a very consise and clearly set-out examination and explanation of the Bush Presidency and the dark motivations and the unexplicable dealings of his co-horts and cronies.
It's a condemnation, pure and simple, of the misuse power and religious fervor for political and personal agendas. Where was this 2 years ago?
The Dark Side August 28, 2008
No matter what Americans believe is going on, we are in Camelot compared to the real thing~! TDS just confirms my worst fears about what goes on in the backgrounds of government, the military, and politics.
"The Dark Side" August 27, 2008
Anyone with half a brain who intends to vote in November ought to read this!
Author delves deeply into what went wrong with Bush II starting in the Ford Administration,m and explains in great detail how the Cheny Presidency was developed in a vacuum of intelligence, hubris, and arrogance beyond any measure in a constitutional democracy.
It is difficult to put this book down even to eat or for bathroom breaks, it is that thought-provoking.
What have they done to our country? August 26, 2008
This should be required reading for all three branches of our government: executive, legislative, and judicial. I was all for closing Gitmo but now think they should convert it to a special "retirement center" for the likes of Bush Jr., Dick Cheney, David Addington, John Yoo, Alberto Gonzales, Michael Mukasey, and the list goes on and on.
Required reading August 26, 2008
It is a pity that it takes so long for the story to come out of this secretive administration. Mayer does a masterful and readable job of putting the story of torture by our government together. Everyone should read this book.
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