Free Downloads No Higher Honor: A Memoir Of My Years In Washington
From one of the world’s most admired women, this is former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s compelling story of eight years serving at the highest levels of government. In her position as America’s chief diplomat, Rice traveled almost continuously around the globe, seeking common ground among sometimes bitter enemies, forging agreement on divisive issues, and compiling a remarkable record of achievement. A native of Birmingham, Alabama who overcame the racism of the Civil Rights era to become a brilliant academic and expert on foreign affairs, Rice distinguished herself as an advisor to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign. Once Bush was elected, she served as his chief adviser on national-security issues – a job whose duties included harmonizing the relationship between the Secretaries of State and Defense. It was a role that deepened her bond with the President and ultimately made her one of his closest confidantes. With the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Rice found herself at the center of the Administration’s intense efforts to keep America safe. Here, Rice describes the events of that harrowing day – and the tumultuous days after. No day was ever the same. Additionally, Rice also reveals new details of the debates that led to the war in Afghanistan and then Iraq. The eyes of the nation were once again focused on Rice in 2004 when she appeared before the 9-11 Commission to answer tough questions regarding the country’s preparedness for – and immediate response to – the 9-11 attacks. Her responses, it was generally conceded, would shape the nation’s perception of the Administration’s competence during the crisis. Rice conveys just how pressure-filled that appearance was and her surprised gratitude when, in succeeding days, she was broadly saluted for her grace and forthrightness.From that point forward, Rice was aggressively sought after by the media and regarded by some as the Administration’s most effective champion. In 2005 Rice was entrusted with even more responsibility when she was charged with helping to shape and carry forward the President’s foreign policy as Secretary of State. As such, she proved herself a deft crafter of tactics and negotiation aimed to contain or reduce the threat posed by America’s enemies. Here, she reveals the behind-the-scenes maneuvers that kept the world’s relationships with Iran, North Korea and Libya from collapsing into chaos. She also talks about her role as a crisis manager, showing that at any hour -- and at a moment’s notice -- she was willing to bring all parties to the bargaining table anywhere in the world. No Higher Honor takes the reader into secret negotiating rooms where the fates of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Lebanon often hung in the balance, and it draws back the curtain on how frighteningly close all-out war loomed in clashes involving Pakistan-India and Russia-Georgia, and in East Africa. Surprisingly candid in her appraisals of various Administration colleagues and the hundreds of foreign leaders with whom she dealt, Rice also offers here keen insight into how history actually proceeds. In No Higher Honor, she delivers a master class in statecraft -- but always in a way that reveals her essential warmth and humility, and her deep reverence for the ideals on which America was founded.
Paperback: 784 pages
Publisher: Broadway Paperbacks (September 4, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307986780
ISBN-13: 978-0307986788
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.6 x 7.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (238 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #53,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #43 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Diplomacy #120 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > United States > Executive Branch #164 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > African-American & Black
This is one of the most difficult books I've read --- not because of poor writing or lack of clarity, but because foreign policy during President George W. Bush's administration will remain controversial for the rest of our lives. Bush and his people are judged primarily in terms of the overwhelmingly polarizing Iraq War. Either you believe that the war was justified because Saddam Hussein posed a direct threat to the USA or you believe that "W" was at best a dumb cowboy and at worst a "war criminal" who led us into a gratuitous war.If you believe the war was justified then everything that Dr. Rice --- who served as Bush's National Security Advisor in his first term and his Secretary of State in the second term --- writes in this book will make perfect sense to you, especially Condi's assessment of the necessity for going to war:==============THE PRESENTATION of the case against Saddam had three elements. First, we would review his transgressions against the international community and against his own people. Saddam had signed a ceasefire agreement in 1991 and was systematically violating every aspect of it. Second, we would inform the world of what we knew about his continuing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, his support for terrorism, and his oppression of his own people. Finally, we would paint a picture of the dangers inherent in failing to address the decade-old threat of Saddam Hussein.==============If you've already convinced yourself that Bush was a warmongering cowboy then you won't think much of this book and have no reason to buy it. Because people have already hardened their positions either supporting or opposing the Iraq War, the book isn't likely to be read with an inquisitive spirit of trying to learn anything new.
"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." (anon)I read the entire book, all fifty-eight chapters, within several days - don't expect a quick easy read - this is a detailed and focused foreign policy book by Dr. Condi Rice who educates the reader as she travels thruout the world skillfully engaging world leaders in helping solve serious global problems, most of which seem unsolvable.How refreshing to read an honest memoir by a young intelligent academic who held her president in high esteem yet refused to be intimidated by him or anyone else for that matter! I suggest you read her first memoir published last year up to the point of accepting the position of National Security Advisor, before you read this one. It will provide a background for this lengthy book describing her White House years with George W. Bush.This book is a "window" into the White House inner circle. You will learn just what a National Security Advisor actually does. Later, following Colin Powell as Secretary of State, Condi literally takes the reader with her as she travels all over the world for four years with very little time for rest and recreation. As a talented musician she relaxed by playing piano, dining with friends and family, and learning to play a little golf. She explains how her faith sustained her during crisis after crisis, frustrations, and disappointments. She respected other opinions, knew world leaders on a first name basis, and won hearts with her calm demeanor. She gives credit to her deputies and assistants - a nice touch.
This lengthy book is an extremely detailed summary about national and international events that occurred between January, 2001, and January, 2009, that involved Dr. Rice's distinguished service as National Security Council Director and as Secretary of State. The details are extensive and deep. This book is a must for readers who need to know the intricacies of every security issue and diplomatic issue during that time frame. It provides the critical `ring-side' seat of how history was made during the Bush_43 presidency.The arduous task of international relations is described and reviewed as a cumbersome process, often ruled by `Murphy's Law.' Many of these problems are intractable with no immediate solution in sight. The first and starts are often reversed and have to be continuously redone and revisited.I found the chapters dealing with the aftermath of 9/11 and the nettlesome diplomatic issues surrounding the Middle East, North Korea, China and Russia insightful. Partial progress on a variety of fronts was made, but set-backs also occurred. Notable successes were also achieved, but the reader needs to read the book to fully grasp the outcomes and details.The book clearly demonstrates that President Bush was cognizant of issues confronting him and could make a quick decision as to what needed to be done. In short, President Bush "gets it" and did so from the get-go with a clear vision and understanding of the paradigms and boundary decisions that guided his decisions.If I had a criticism of the book it is this. Although referencing the framework of American security and diplomatic issues in a few sentences and phrases, it wasn't until the Epilogue that Dr.
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