Test by Fire

ROBERT SWANSBROUGH is Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Science and Professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, USA.

"George W. Bush s fateful foreign policy decisions pose questions that historians and political scientists will be trying to answer for decades to come. Using the conceptual tools of political science and the best information currently available, Robert Swansbrough gives this enterprise a strong start with this thorough, nuanced examination of both Bush and his administration s decision-making processes. Test by Fire is an excellent choice for courses on the presidency as well as enlightening reading for anyone seeking to understand the Bush presidency." - Gary Jacobson, Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego "This book tells a story that is a must-read for all Americans. Swansbrough s analysis of George Bush s abuse of power, and the implications for the nation of his ill-conceived plan to invade Iraq, greatly aids our understanding of the subversion of the Constitution since 9/11." - David Gray Adler, Professor of Political Science, Idaho State University

• * Foreword: Professor Loch Johnson * Preface * Introduction A War President’s Decisions: Seeking Insights * Section I: Path to the White House * Star-Spangled Eyes: The Fortunate Son * Lone Star Challenger: A Taste of Power * White House Quest: Selling of the Son * Section II: A War President Emerges * The Early Months: Clear-Eyed Realism * Ignored Warnings: A Call to Destiny * New Kind of War: Breaking the Rules * March to War: Vision or Vengeance? * Bush’s War: Break it…and It’s Yours * Section III: Pursuing a Vision * Axis of Evil: An Inverted Threat Matrix? * Ending Tyranny: Bush’s Democracy Agenda * Conclusion * Tested by Fire: Standards for Greatness