George W. Bush – författare

In this candid and gripping account, Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life. A groundbreaking new brand of presidential memoir, "Decision Points" will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on eight remarkable years in American history--and on the man at the center of events. 512 pp. (Biography/Autobiography)

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America's 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life. In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President George W. Bush brings readers inside the Texas Governor's Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on September 11, in the hours after America's most devastating attack since Pearl Harbour; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century. President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family. A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history - and the man at the centre of events.

Since the September 11 attacks, America is safer, but we are not yet safe. We have done much to degrade al-Qaida and its affiliates and to undercut the perceived legitimacy of terrorism. Our Muslim partners are speaking out against those who seek to use their religion to justify violence and a totalitarian vision of the world. We have significantly expanded our counter terrorism coalition, transforming old adversaries into new and vital partners in the War on Terror. We have liberated more than 50 million Afghans and Iraqis from despotism, terrorism, and oppression, permitting the first free elections in recorded history for either nation. In addition, we have transformed our governmental institutions and framework to wage a generational struggle. There will continue to be challenges ahead, but along with our partners, we will attack terrorism and its ideology, and bring hope and freedom to the people of the world. This is how we will win the War on Terror.

Since the turn of the millennium, our Nation has endured history's deadliest attack of international terrorism and the most destructive natural disaster to strike American soil. In the face of these challenges, America has responded courageously, with focus and clarity of purpose, and today we are safer, stronger, and better prepared to address the full range of catastrophic events, including man-made accidents and natural disasters, that threaten us. Our work, however, is far from over. We remain resolute in our commitment to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks in the Homeland, protect the American people and the Nation's critical infrastructure and key resources, and effectively respond to and recover from those incidents that do occur. Working together, our Nation will secure the Homeland in order to sustain our way of life--now and for generations to come.

Our success in preventing future terrorist attacks depends upon our ability to gather, analyze, and share information and intelligence regarding those who want to attackus, the tactics that they use, and the targets that they intend to attack. Our NationalStrategy for Combating Terrorism, issued in September 2006, recognizes that the War on Terroris a different kind of war, which requires a paradigm shift and the application of all elementsof our national power and influence. The intelligence and information sharing structures thatonce enabled the winning of the Cold War now require greater flexibility and resilience toconfront the threats facing our Nation from a transnational terrorist movement determinedto destroy our people, our freedoms, and our way of life.

Overview of America'sInternational Strategy ""Our Nation's cause has always been larger than our Nation's defense. We fight, as we always fight, for a just peace--a peace that favors liberty. We will defend the peace against the threats from terrorists and tyrants. We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers. And we will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent."" President Bush, West Point, New York, June 1, 2002

The challenges America faces are great, yet we have enormous power andinfluence to address those challenges.The times require an ambitious nationalsecurity strategy, yet one recognizing the limits to what even a nation as powerfulas the United States can achieve by itself. Our national security strategy isidealistic about goals, and realistic about means. There was a time when two oceans seemed to provide protection from problemsin other lands, leaving America to lead by example alone.That time has longsince passed.America cannot know peace, security, and prosperity by retreatingfrom the world. America must lead by deed as well as by example.This is howwe plan to lead, and this is the legacy we will leave to those who follow.