- ISBN13: 9781607145554
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
An American President faces war and finds himself hamstrung by a Congress that will not act. To protect national security, he invokes his powers as Commander-in-Chief and orders actions that seem to violate laws enacted by Congress. He is excoriated for usurping dictatorial powers, placing himself above the law, and threatening to “breakdown constitutional safeguards.” One could be forgiven for thinking that the above describes former President George W. Bush. Yet these particular attacks on presidential power were leveled against Franklin D. Roosevelt. They could just as well describe similar attacks leveled against George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln and a number of other … More >>
Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George W. Bush
This man shamelessly advocates for torture. I read few pages ( borrowed from a friend) and tossed it aside. I hope this criminal somehow, someday gets water boarded. Peace to the rest.
Rating: 1 / 5
Yoo’s book is an exercise in defending the neo-con attitude that the executive branch should hold all power in the United States. It’s to be expected that Yoo, the infamous “torture lawyer” who worked in the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel and did shoddy legal research for the Bush White House giving the legal green light to “enhanced interrogation techniques” amounting to torture, would try to excuse his actions by pointing out that even Lincoln ignored Congress in wartime. But we’re not taken in by this argument. Just because Lincoln and other presidents have violated the Constitution doesn’t excuse their actions. The framers of the Constitution gave Congress power to impeach the President if he breaks the law. Yoo used his position in the OLC to give Bush illegal authority to break the law, including wiretapping U.S. citizens without warrants, detaining people and eliminating their habeus corpus rights, and treating detainees inhumanely, including waterboarding them. While Bush wasn’t impeached, hopefully Yoo will be prosecuted for his treason. He is a war criminal. Don’t buy his book.
Rating: 1 / 5
As a Marine with extensive combat experience I am disgusted by John Yoo and his lies. In this book he attempts to justify his boot licking subservience to the Cheney/Bush organization. He had no trouble complying with their demands to justify torture. None at all. They could have found someone else had he refused but I doubt that thought ever entered his mind as he devised loopholes to accepted military and legal process regarding torture.
Anyone in the military knows torture and abuse of prisoners is illegal and there are consequences should it take place. Well there are supposed to be anyway. Miltiary law is quite clear about this. Torture does not work. It also demeans the torturer and it makes military good order and discipline impossible. Torture has damaged and weakened this country immeasurably. It has cost lives. John Yoo apparently has no problem with that. Now Yoo wants to make money from his abuses by writing this book. He follows a long line of Cheney/Bush incompetents in this insult to the intelligence of Americans.
For the weak minded simpletons who think torture is just great I suggest you walk a mile in my shoes. Get off your couch and join the military, Fight in combat. We will see how tough you are and how loud you talk then.
Torture is for cowards.
Rating: 1 / 5
Straightforward, compelling, this book puts to the lie the crazy criticisms of those who support the current administration.
Rating: 5 / 5
Outstanding read. John Woo has the insight that only few have. Take a look at the reviews here. Either 1-2 stars or 5 stars. That was what attracted me to the read. Glad I did. Thanks for the eye opener Mr Woo.
Rating: 5 / 5