And then a discussion, with authors and after that, mark on his book, 1941, fighting the shadow war, later a conversation on the involve meant of the middle east. Washington journal live everyday with news and policy issues. Coming up thursday morning, Natural Resources editor will join us to discuss the 1900th anniversary of the park service. And the series. An interview with mike reynolds, for the National Park service. Hell talk about the National Park service, and the supportive cast, from the government and public. Michael, Washington Post investigative reporter, and mark fisher for the post, will discuss their biography, trump revealed. It is the light of the republican nominee. It was published this week. Be sure to watch the journal. 7 eastern thursday morning. Now a former state Department Official talks about u. S. Foreign policy since the nine 11 attacks. He spoke at politics and prose bookstore in washington. Were very pleased to have call weston. He joined the state department shortly after the september 11th attacks and he was involved with u. S. Efforts at the u. N. Security council to freeze assets link told alqaeda, and, he ended up in baghdad, among the First American diplomats sent to the iraqi capital. And then he went onto spend 7 years, in either iraq or afghanistan, advising u. S. Forces and working with a local authorities, and, others. His service for which he received the secretary of states medal for heroism was uncommon. Not only for the amount of time that he was there, but also for the range of his contacts and the depth of his involvement with american troops, and local civilians. His new book, the mirror test, recounts his journey and provides a close up emotion al portrait of the wars that america has been engaged in now for well over a decade. He is very critical of the failures, in both conflicts and makes a point of highlighting the human coasts of the conflicts. Dead and wounded troops and the many civilian casual wallties. Hes haunted by one u. S. Military mission, in iraq, in early 2005 that ended in a helicopter crash. It remains the single largest casualty incident, in the war, and one for which he feels personally responsible. He reminds us from the title of the book, through to the last pages, how important it is for all of us, for reflect on what being involved in these extend edwards has meant. His work serves as its own kind of mirror test for americans, compelling us to look and to come to terms, much as a wounded soldier, with a disfigured face views the damage. So ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming, kale weston. [applause] thank you, for all of you who came out a tuesday evening. Its been awhile since ive been in washington, and you have put me to the humidity test. And to say a more serious subject which was just outlined, the test that, we talk about in the book is a medical term. Sometimes, im trying to read part of my book that goes into more detail about what a marine, dime terms with after he was badly wounded by an i. E. D. , in iraq. But rather than read his words i would just urge you to spend a minute, if you have bought the book because hes as eloquent as anyone on what it means to look at howard has changed you. And maybe expand it a bit to our nation and many nations that have been effected. I want to thank the veterans, i recognize many faces here. You, more than anyone have lived these wars than i have. I include veterans from other wars. My dad and uncles, and, cousins and my service came in the form of the state department. Id like to thank all of you readers, that is citizen type test. Its not a easy book. Its a thick book, and its a very heavy book. I dont think war books necessarily should be anything other than all those adjectives. My goal is not to do a monologue and ill open by telling you more about myself. The bio, and the real story is my first job was at dairy queen. I worked, also cleaning toilets. So i tell you, if you want to join the state department, you can ab dairy queen guy and represent the United States. The book itself, the structure, and hue book gets sold, i can talk to some of you after. But, now is the time i think for people to continue to write about these wars. For all the naysayers, about theres enough war books, i think they have yet to be written. So, to the cspan audience, if you are living, in iowa, and idaho and keep on writing. Theres a lot more good writing out there. So what is the mirror test. Its a medical term we heard a good overview. But its a National Mirror test. And, some chapters maybe are easier than others, and the whole journey raises questions that our veterans, and the people deserve best to think hard about. Were not just any country. Wherever a overstretched super power but it has affected millions of lives. Its not at antiwar book. Im anti wrong war. So i try not to the preach, and be an an honest guide. Whether i succeed or fail ill leave up to you. I was in meetings that a lot of our veterans were not in. I tried not to do a drive by book, and it took a lot of editing, but i think by the end of it, we did. Finally on one point before i get into the structure of the book, as a overview, while you, i hope read my book, i need to tip my that the veterans and other writers who have produced a lot of good literature, veterans, and Matt Gallagher and lee carpenter. And my book is just one part of a pile of books. Someone who doesnt get shouted out is katie shuttle, she did a fiction book and she does a very good job for someone who hasnt been to war writing about war. With you that said, let me get into the structure of the book. 608 pages. My contract was for 100,000 words, they let me go long. The first section is the wrong war. Iraq. The second section is the right war, afghanistan. And the third section is home. Probably my favorite section, is the additional part which is after war. I was inteufd this week on radio, and fresh air, and, teary gross and me, why i ended the book with not my words, basically. The walt whitman quote. The real war will never get into the books. Ill and some veterans to come up. Quick question, to lead us into that last part. When i say United States of america, today, what words do you associate with our nation. My mother taught me the value after pop quiz. Dont have to write it down but i hope, you will think about some words that come to mind. Whatever. Any word that comes to mind. And then i would and a second part, which words do you think iraqs, afghans or non americans, associate with us today. Have they changed . Are they the same. Ill probably ask some of you to help there, at the end and tell me what words do you associate with us. I would be negligence against if i didnt ask, what does memorial daymeion to you. The things of the book are complicated. Its like a tapestry, presenting that image and for anyone in afghanistan, if looks a certain way from far, but as you get closer you get to pick up on how they weave the threads, and, in a year of thinking about how to write the book, the weave is complex but hopefully readable. Its been 15 years since 9 11, and i think its time for our nation to think about how they got started and the fought, and still ongoing and what issues we have succeeded at. This is not just an indictment on the wars. And somethings that we can feel good b. But its also a very frank look into the mirror. Where the mirror is craked. I try and show that we need to recognize that. U. S. Power is not influence. Thats another thing for our veterans, probably in uniform saw as well. Just because you carry a rifle doesnt mean you can always get your way. Accountability, these wars have not led to enough national and the ability. Ill leave that up to you about your politics. But, at time of ongoing warfare i would put that out, to think b. Are we doing our job Holding People accountable for the decision thats we empower them to make. Its about reflection and, then education. Sometimes the value of non fix, is that you let other voices expeek you do your best to step to the side. If im fortunate enough to have you read the book, i hope its not just a good journey but you have learned something. A big part of the audience i wrote for, is for students. I really did as the son after fifth grade school teacher, try to write a book for the student who was a teen or younger or add cousin in the mill fair or state department. Final thing, this is not us versus them book. I think it is to tell our story as americans, and there have been some very good books, who have focused t. My book is trying to widen the lens. You will meet iraqis and afghans, and marines and soldiers. Thats the most accurate mirror. Its not a us versus them book in terms of the political side of the issue, and the military side of the issue. The fact that i have some military friends here, i think attest to the fact that we did our best, and i think that the tribal warfare that goes on, in washington, in conference room, really undercut us. These are the people whose home front continue to be our war front. As we read books, and engage in discussions about these wars we should keep that in mind. I want to switch to the photos in the book. Its not a picture book. But the pictures are a very important part of the reading experience. My editor, and the great team up in new york, who helped me go three 500, and we bolted it down to 95. We used about 3, 4 department of defense photos. So they were specifically picked to be previewed for the stories and i always look at the photos first and hopefully some of the photos will stay with you. A few. Theres a photo of fallujah, and it is being cleared, again, this time by the Iraqi Government, with our air power. If you look at the photos, theyre pretty devastating, as far as destruction, and a city that we didnt level all of it but we probably leveled about half of it. Dave you may want to speak to that. Theres a photo toaf of iraqs. Asked me hard questions about woormt there . Thats the hardest part of war, is what happens when you have a humanitarian situation, and health with bodies on the street and how do we deal with that . Photo, i wanted to put at face, whether you call it enhance interrogation or torture. The marine corps, youll know. Afghan people, and at a time when the longest war in American History is going on and on and on. We lose sight that these were people that we have partnered with and still partnering with. The last photos, ill mention, is i went to the george w. Bush library, and i did not know what i would see there. Hopefully, as a guy i walked you through how a president remembers his own role as commanderinchief. Topaz, the camp is a photo i went there. Why . I needed a big long road trip and the subject who have fear brings out the worst aspect of the american character. And today thats relevant. Finally, ground spiro in new york city. I once lived in new york city for four years, and i felt like i owned a little bit of that story. I believe this booked intoed to end in new york. Start in america, and end in america. So, jason is a great marine, and he and i, were looking for closure that no one will ever get and we went to the nine 11 memorial together. And so, i have opted not to read part of my book, mirror test, and 22 hours, of me, if you want me. The team in l. A. Were incredible working me through the audio. I was in very good hands. But ill end with that, those questions i had. What words do you associate with the United States . If you can raise your hand ill repeat what those words are. Just a few and then ill go to the second one. Well meaning. Good contracted word. Freedom. I heard that. Powerful. Any other words that you associate with the United States . Naive. Guilty, selfserving. Unsuccessful. These are all good words. And im going shift, to what words, do you think the iraqi, and, afghanistan people and, japanese. Dangerous. Crusader. Loaded word. Anyone else . Disappointing. Leader. Wrong. No right or wrong answer. I heard great words, and i heard not so great words. I heard about drones, and, freedom. Election, and, so the book talks about what that balance was. And, i like to avoid wars, but, when it comes to what are we shouldnt so i think if the book succeeds, you will see that i try and do a good balance, about what failed. And some of the things that worked. Iraq, the worst battle of the war. My lens is very red. Afghanistan, theres still some experiences, and money that resulted in positive things. The indictment book would have been easier. I tried to be pretty balanced. Memorial day. What does memorial day mean to you . Talked about the cynicism that were not fair. Millions of people who served over hundreds of years. Its not just these wars, it is wars back to the first club. Good. What else . My father, neves combat as a private. So for its a very personal family member. Migrate uncle was in the battle of the bumpg. The sem men terry. And, i have a chapter, and i end it by just signaling that there are very few nations in the world who still bury your military overseas. And, normandy is probably one of the most moving examples of that. That gets to the power influence equation. We are still powerful but our story speaks to our strengths as well. I talk about that, that, im still moved by that, because i didnt hear about neil arm strongs dealt, from many americans. But my dad was in vietnam when he put his first step on the moon. Now, he looks up and hears drones and then he sees the moon, and what story are we telling to the world . What does memorial daymeion to me . It means accountability, responsibility, and it means who is our commander it chief . Not just military . But our commanderinchief. I dont see that just because were six months out from president ial election. But when you go to a sem men terry, and you are visiting, killed in action, its amazing e number of over veterans youll see from corey, a world war ii and one. We have a local memorial but no National Memorial for world war i and also the civil war. This is just me, talking about memorial day. Its not just about the death, in past wars, and remembering the sacrifice today. Its about how many more tombstones are going to be there. The chief will determine whether they are more forthright wars or more for the wrong wars. So, when i walkthrough the graveyards, and i have been to more than i ever wanted to, but in wyoming and, utah, and heres the sacrifice so far. There will be future. Is the policy going to be deserving of that future sacrifice. Ill leave it at that. Dave, please come up briefly, and bail lynn, who is, was kind enough to let me use part of his juryna. Its one of the most important part of the book. And carter, is also here. And then alex, if you would come up. I would like to open it up to the veterans that are here. Because i found in colorado, people enjoy hearing from the veterans. Because the people who truly are in the hardest parts of the war were not me and my colleagues. It was the veterans. If you will come up. Dave is a southerner, and alex is a southerner, and i try not to hold that against him. So if you have questions for two marines and a soldier, please direct it towards them. Carter probably wont come up. But hes a civilian. Im going to use my time so you will tell us a story from the book. Mine is the story of okay i will. Ill tell you one story from the book. We have 30 minutes or so. I know why you picked it up. Many fal lou gentleman, the story is about how collaboration. People decided when the americans showed up they were going to collaborate with us. And what the costs are. He opted to not only collaborate but to take a very tough decision, many tough decisions at a time when czar cow we was intimidating him. Saying please help us and then you have zarqawi and his henchmen trying to strangle you. That was his world. Untouchable for awhile. But not untouchable forever. The reasons that his story is tragic. What we did, but also, a dealt force team. I love our special operations forces. Sometimes they screw up, too. And my book gets into that. I hope in a very fairway. But what the effect was, was that is we made life more dangerous, in fallujah, and when they asked, who killed it, we did. I love the general. Hes a partner with me. The stories that really demanded i think a 608 book, is the afghanistan stories. Thank you for giving me five more minutes and ill open it up to all of us. Any question, if you will come up to the microphone. I know that helps with the recording, or yell at me ill repeat it in the microphone. My question is for you, im old enough to be your mother. My war was vietnam. I was married to an antiwar activist. And i became a physician. I retired only recently. So i have met lots of marines coming from the warzone. My question is, it appeared, as soon as we got into iraq, that no one in the government had any idea who was in iraq or their history. And similarly with afghanistan. You were in the state department, i once interned a long time ago. Your whole function, people who knows what going on. The lesson from vietnam is, its not a good idea to support an unpopular government. You cant. You sid heeder things that the people carrying the way, didnt hear. So what did you hear and did they really, just know what they were doing and not communicate it. Read my next book because people going tackle it. Its a very important question. My dad uncles were in vietnam. My dad was there when neil arm strong landed on the moon. When he brings up his experience i think that was unfair. For your question of what we didnt know. We didnt know a lot. I didnt know a lot. Im not here to just point fingers at my government. And, supported me, and could have fired me a number of times. But i think we were naive. And go back to 9 11 and when youre afraid watch out. My real fear is that we couldnt to be a fearful nation. Its the most beautiful way of talking about fear. It can become that virus that is makes us do things that we wouldnt do. So i go back to what happened open 9 11, we are at the height of our power, no such thing as a overstretched military empire. I love reu67 charred holbrook, and he was on the iraq bandwagon. Where were we . Were we shopping . So when it comes to accountability, i include myself, naive question. Once we were on the ground we learned. They learn, when youre being shot at is pretty quick. If youre deployed, in conference room, it is not quick. So we didnt communicate well internally, and there have been some very good books written. We didnt understand that it was the bigger problem. The infighting was a big problem. Ill end with this, the chapter was the hardest for me, is when the senators and generals talk. I felt for our veterans and families, they are owed an insight when they come to the warzone. Some who voted for, a few voted against, what they do, what they say. I have to be honest they showed up, because a lot of them did not. So that part of the book required multiple edits. Because i didnt want it to be, the most ridiculous things we heard. Teeth at the beginning, and i name him, and then ive weve weve it through to john warner who led the iraq war, authorization. And i show that, you know, whether youre republicans or democrat, or veteran or not, these wars did start to sink in and john warner comes across, when the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jaber. We heard way too many parrots. So, i would just point out we try and show that disconnect. But always learning curve. He represented, someone who understood when it was not going well, he didnt just shut his mouth. And they were worried, when they said timeout. Afterward i hope we have time, did we learn anything from vietnam . We the draft. We never the draft for these wars. That makes war easier. It makes it is easier to continue from the politicianses. Other questions . I dont have any question. Tell us about yourselves, and your experiences. How did you get into this . The question is, well, i want to make sure the people can hear it on t. V. She asked for an introduction for each of our veterans. Come up. So this is how he operates. He will just ambush you, and youre sitting in the back, and youre about to and your question. Come up. None of you want to hear from us. I was he were doing this solely out of affection for this man. I was a marine. I was with another marine in the back. Todd, come up here. And, no, you can stay there. We served together and there was this unusual fellow that i saw on the military base, he kept getting excluded, from the chow hall, and he wasnt fought eat, but, kale was always trying to include the perspectives from the lowest level. I worked with him in afghanistan as well. You are a marine. Yes. Thank you. Ill second that. Its a good thing for kale that i have no problem speaking to people because i wasnt supposed to be doing this. So i met kale when i was going for school. One of his former associates, and, he was talking about the things that we had in the middle east. And he was talking, made some connections, he knew some people that i knew. And we talked afterwards. And he was asking for somethings and i just happened to have kept a journal when i was in iraq. I dont know why. I kept it, days, depending on the mission that i wouldnt keep it. I was involved in a mission that he was writing about, that took place, so he was asking me about it. Heres like some journal entries. Take it. I had no idea at the time that it would be in the book. So if you flip to the end of the book. Amount soldiers journal. So thats an email that i sent to him a couple years ago. Im honored its in there. Tell them about the journal. What you were writing about. I mean, really, i just wrote about whatever was happening. Theres no, when, it wasnt for a plan. It was just, i was young, i was 18. I got out when i was 22. And i had never been to war before. Whatever ill write about it. I have actually never rered reread it. And, the only parts i ever revisited is when i was picking out some pieces, to send to him, and when i read it again from his book. So there was no plan. Its just, and you can see that, if you go through, theres no attempt to keep the grammar clean. To keep the language clean. Or filling in like that. So its rough to read, and you have to read through. Thats what makes it so good. Because i think, the writing is pure writing. I am looking back on the wars, and im filtering, wanting to make it word perfect. But what his journal highlights, and, teary zeroed in, the real war will never get in the books. His journal is the real war. The grammar and the spelling, and are you sure you dont want to correct it. This is a guy living there, explaining what it is like. I think thats what makes the book so powerful. It precedes the family and friends comments about the 31, that will last for as long as i live about the decision that i would tal back if i could. There are family and friends who are just humanizing the troops and sons and brothers who were killed, and it is him looking back on what was going on. So theres a reflects going on. It is like a mirror test. He was kind enough to let me use it, and if we sale few books, youll get your due. Introduction, nothing else. Youre the talker. How much more time . Im dave, i have known kale since december 2004. He didnt remember our first meeting. We met in if a fallujah, when we the First City Council meeting and we tried to bring back together those tribal leaders and wanted to come back to the city, after we finished. Rebuilding, and bringing everybody back in the city. Hes a fluent arabic speaker. It doesnt mean you know anything about the place. No matter how much you study it, i think kale said, in 2006 you dont know fallujah, you know 1 of whats going. Thats pretty damn accurate. Can i say that on cspan. [laughter] im still active duty. It didnt matter how fluent you are, and if you understood the history of iraq going back to the 19 20s and before that, post world war i, it helped you understand what was going on. And but at the same time, were americans, and theyre iraqs, and they know, what is going on. Ill adams bit more. If there were one marine or american, who the if a lou januaries, came to love the most, its not me. Its dave. And it shows you the value of an american, who is wearing a uniform and a trained killer, but, where the people knew him as the american, who spoke their language. I didnt. My First Impression was not very good. I made up for it. But my First Impression was not what the state department guy should be doing. Dave working with colonels, and generals, made it safer. And i tell people, there was a captain, in eastern afghanistan, and when i got there the afghans, in one of the most difficulties tricks. Kept saying bar, bar, bar. And if was hurting my ego. Well, this captain, was legendary, and what they said it bring him back. Bring marines back like him. Wherever he is, promote him and bring him back. I had seen how one american could have such a positive affect. Alex, did some things, in fallujah that he wont talk about, because hes half humble. You know, there was, before the potato factory, alex, had to deal with the bodies around one, and that was even more difficult than what happened later. So, hes fairly humble, but he would never tell you that the role he had, was extremely critical, and i would add, on the Civil Affairs side, most marines are perceived as being trigger pullers, and also, they are Civil Affairs officer. A lot of my work involved both sides. Please read his juryna. Its the cleanest accounting of war. Hes too humble to give himself credit. As the writing progresses in these wars and for all the people watching, if your veteran, living in iowa or illinois, and youre not close to the publishing world, pull out your journals and diaries, because they have translate need tremendously powerful stories that come out, over time. I think the american reader ship is still willing to hear your stories. Other questions . Todd, you should come up here. No, okay. I have a question four. Kale is a not what people expect after state Department Political adviser, not now and not then. He was a peculiar political animal, he was adopted by this tribe, the marine corps, and, unashamed of that. But, he was never, i never thought he was coopted, and i never thought he wanted to be a marine. He was very proudly a diplomat. How did you do that . For someone so effective, who would go in the room, no money. And, three star generals would ask him what to do. So give us some pointers, and some insight into that. Well, you stick a round the war, you get to know your neighborhood. There are a lot of people in the state department, foreign service, that have done also incredible work. War is too important on the frontend,. I know that, the marine corp is spurred by the generals, and they were not behind closed doors, plotting to tell everyone they had all the answers. In a place like, fallujah, and, with the generals, we were all trying to reach the best implementation we could. I wont name this general, but i will always remember them. Im in the wilderness, and this general said we dont do this, we just dont invade countries because we can. And that comment stayed with me. I felt part of these wars evolved into go, win the war. Fight the war. He is ska late the war. Surge the war and then come back and tell us how it is going. So, to your question about my role, well, i come from stock thats military. I feel that policy should match the sacrifice. I think the adventure of being on the ground, youre all being shot at together. Where the marines go tend to be the most difficult. Whether you were a general or corporal, we all wanted to make these wars less red, and, less awful and not as long as they have become. I think the nem washington, had their own challenges. But i would have rather been in the chow hall, being kicked out. There were a lot of Good Team Members who fought these wars, far, far, away. What are the lessons of iraq, and afghanistan, that should be applied. What lessons could we apply . Thats a topic for another book. Its a good question. These lessons were hard, and, the cost and lives, and limbs goes on still. And we open the paper and hear that the car bombs have not ended. Were on round, and i think that the biggest lessons to start out with is how we operate. The they undercut us. People did not play well together in our capital. There have been other books. From my perspective, i would go back to what carter did well, in his book, who are the people on the ground na were partnering with . The arrogance, of the american way of doing business, is theres no challenge too great. Whereas i think the biggest lesson is that we need to invest in those relationships, and show them that the American Power is not this, lets surge up and drop down quickly. Its more after enduring role. I think we have reached that point in afghanistan, and, to obamas credit, hes acknowledging that hes not going to end the logiest war, in his second term. Thats a very important lesson. The instinct, in washington is to say the war is over, when theyre not. I also think that it goes to what dave represented in fallujah. If you listen, and speak hatch as often your partners will tell you what you need to know. I think carter, demonstrated that. I could not speak their language. So, i was always being filtered and that came at price too. And then the final point i would say, with the Islamic State is that, the sunnies, i believe, were willing to partner with the terrorists if they felt they had no future in their country. That said, Iraqi Government had some concerns about them. So my argument, to ford, and also robert ford was we need an. Yes. Im, like you, military family, back to my grand fever ever father, and ill skip the rest. One thing i remarked upon, is the inability to notice what happened in the past when we start into vietnam, korea, you name it, and here we are today. It seems to be, its not at question of people not being smart enough. Some of these people are princeton, and law school, but they dont seem to know that something went on before. Is there any way, in which you could, from your experience, suggest that we look over our shoulder. The question is, the long coming from a military background, why have we forgotten so much . I majored in history. That was one of my double majors. Im a big believer in reading the stories, that dont need to be made current. Ill give you my sense of that. I go back to what happened on 9 11. I think what happened, enabled quick decisions to happen at time when our checks and balances were all out of whack. You were in the media, with the Washington Post, and whatever it was, so i think that when we were struck, certain agendas had an ability to get traction. Vietnam had huge lessons to draft. Top link governments and my uncle who was almost killed is doing what our special force says now, embedding in some remote places. It took a lime ever long time to get there. I think that washington, is always a shortterm place. The cycle of elections, money, and i dont want to shift this conversation. Wars arlongterm endeavor, and longterm challenge. Building partnerships, like carter did, take time. He spent two years. We were never prepared to think longterm because the incentives were shortterm. And the incentives in war are surge, spend a ton of money and say were getting out and handing off. The last part, i should have put it in, transfer. We were very, very focused on, here it is all yours. Without remembering that we were in the ones in the case of iraq invaded. So use our twitch muscles and not use our marathon muscles. A good question. We have a kind of political diplomatic resource and tools. We have military which these gentlemen were present about the development work. Its the state Department Daily like an army soldier, no, its that what they told me is the Development Arm and the projects and that your money is particularly wellsuited for. The problem is that we are still in active combat zones. I know we have a lot of work in the Development Field as well. I think that we are always hoping you did not require infantry battalions and divisions and people forget we had the headquarters at once we had two star generals and three star because thstars because thl was so high. How many representatives do we have their, one, maybe one and a half. When the ambassador sent me off he said two things, a legendary diplomat he said when you need to generals, told them you work for me and i know now why he said that because they are used to say in the take but then the ambassador was saying your line is through the Political Council and the other thing he says be careful because hes had been to get in vietnam to the final point it was getting worse over time generally speaking not getting better. And Development Arm they dont want to be bear hugging or bailing the military that is one final thing in the host provin province. The commander david adams did an incredible job prioritizing u. S. Money. 53 million went quite far. They are half functioning which is not bad in afghanistan. The most we spent was 5,000 how much does a drone cost and the tank and the salary . 5,000 to do what . We provided the provide them ace province to get at an suv to come down from the mountains and go to the host university. It can make sure the drivers dropped them off at the university and took them back. Its trying to be y. Is more than smart. And as they get more gray hair i can relate to that. That. The time for other questions, one more. Spinnaker sounds like you did the best you could over there. I was taken by this one here that shows the cereal bowl at the white house on display at the bush library with the badges and bracelets. The hardest question comes at the end. I went to the museum and i saw what i saw. So he had a run up into the war and was a president ial dog when the city had the annual White House TelevisionCorrespondents Dinner and they had a spoof in the office. I was in iraq at the time and that would have made me sick. The powers that be about the weapons of mass destruction when i went to texas, i didnt know what i was going to see. If i succeeded, you still respect. But when i got to the main hall in the museum, there are many different cabinets, some gifts for him the asian people in the south American People and then there is one cabinet from the American People and these were items that president bush and perhaps the first lady decided to put in the cabinet and it did strike me as a hard thing to see the. I also want to say at the time when fear was rampant he went to a mosque and he said they are not the enemy, its who we are. So to be fair and to be accountable this book isnt antibush. Its to say he put that in the cabinet for his own reasons why all at the same time proven to his credit he didnt do the easy thing which is instigate fear. You put your fingers on one that we talked a long time about because they show focus and what stories you are highlighting. I didnt want the photos in that my editor wanted. He probably was right to save the ugly side needs to be here