Mr. Bush's War: Adventures in the Politics of Illusion

Graubard, history professor at Brown, is unimpressed with President Bush, especially his performance from early August 1990 to late February 1991 in connection with the Gulf crisis. The author calls it a ``nothing war'' in that nothing was resolved, which is arguable, and readers may question Graubard's contention that the president's decision to send troops was ``hazard-free,'' that he knew that the Iraqis were militarily impotent and that Bush's main motivation was to create domestic enthusiasm for his reelection in '92. Readers may also quibble with the book's thesis that the president is essentially an amateur with ``very little experience'' if they recall that Bush served two terms in Congress, was ambassador to the U.N., chief of the U.S. liaison office in China, head of the Republican National Committee, director of the CIA and vice-president of the United States for eight years. The book is strictly for those who regard the current administration as inept and morally bankrupt. (Feb.)