Robert Draper

Robert Draper, Writer at Large for "The New York Times Magazine"

Robert Draper, Jake Seward

Robert Draper's *To Start a War* identifies Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz as the primary architect who shifted the Bush administration from containment to invasion, leveraging the 9/11 attacks to overcome President George W. Bush's initial hesitation regarding Iraq. The text details how flawed intelligence was amplified to secure domestic support, creating a credibility chasm that influenced subsequent presidencies while noting that Colin Powell's refusal to resign likely preserved the necessary UK coalition for the 2003 invasion. Draper concludes by analyzing the war's enduring legacy on modern foreign policy, highlighting Joe Biden's regrets over his 2002 vote and the current administration's cautious approach to intelligence and military intervention.