All The Presidents’ Wars (twenty-five Years Of America’s War On Terror)

From a multiple New York Times bestselling author, here is an eye-opening history of the United States’ war on terror across four presidential administrations.

The year 2026 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11, the most devastating attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Within days, the United States began to declare its war on terror: ‘Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists,’ President George W. Bush proclaimed. The resulting invasion of Afghanistan cost trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives, and led to a series of misguided wars and the damaged perception of American power.

Based on hundreds of interviews, All the Presidents’ Wars focuses on critical decisions of four successive presidents — Bush, Obama, Biden, and Trump — that arose out of the country’s responses to 9/11. One of the few journalists to interview Osama bin Laden and to have unparalleled access to the US intelligence community, Peter Bergen covers a tragic history that might have been avoided.

All the Presidents’ Wars explores the innovations and unintended consequences of each presidency’s military and political decisions, including debates over military intervention and withdrawal, and the tactics of special operations units, armed drones, and the armies of counterterrorism partners. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand America’s devastating war on terror and to avoid the mistakes of the past.

‘Damning and meticulously researched … It is testament to both Bergen’s tenacity and the sheer number of fiascos under discussion here that his collection of interview subjects runs to over 500 people … [A] steady accretion of revealing anecdotes and insider details that transport the reader from surprise to a peculiar sense of wonderment at the scale of the ineptitude.’

‘Peter Bergen lifts the proverbial “fog of war” to provide a brilliantly clear and much-needed reckoning with America’s twenty-five-year global war on terror. With an even hand and expert skill, he holds US presidents and policymakers accountable for blunders of historic proportion.’

‘The best account I’ve read of America’s post-9/11 wars in the Middle East.’

‘A primer in how to lose the war on terror. National security expert Bergen shows how intelligence agencies, politicians, and the military misread the world after 9/11 — the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost roughly $6 trillion and 7,000 American lives … A profoundly insightful account of why we’re mired in forever wars, and likely will be long into the future.’

‘Peter Bergen delivers the best overview of America’s post-9/11 wars that I’ve seen. He does thoughtfully and fairly, laying out the facts and then coming to solid, evenhanded conclusions. Anyone who wants to understand American foreign policy needs to read this masterful account. Essential reading — and, as a bonus, well written.’

‘With his signature clarity and unparalleled insight, Peter Bergen traces the decisions made in the Oval Office and on the battlefield after 9/11 — and the lasting consequences that followed. A timely, incisive, and compelling account of a war whose impact is far from over.’

‘All the Presidents’ Wars is an unflinching look at the tragic mistakes and miscalculations of four US administrations, as well as the quiet successes that thwarted terrorist plans for further attacks on the US homeland. Drawing on decades of reporting, Bergen’s book is packed with revelations and fascinating insights. An important, deeply researched book, and a fascinating read.’

‘Few writers are bet