Richard Haass, a member of the National Security Council staff in the George H. W. Bush administration and the State Department director of policy planning for George W. Bush, reviews the causes and strategies of the first and second Iraq wars while providing a thoughtful examination of the means and ends of U. S. foreign policy. War of Necessity, War of Choice--part history, part memoir--provides invaluable insight into some of the most important recent events in the world. Additionally, this book provides a much-needed compass for how the United States can apply the lessons learned from the two Iraq wars so that it is better positioned to put into practice what worked and avoid repeating what so clearly did not. In this compelling, honest, and challenging book by one of the country's most respected voices on foreign policy, Haass's assessments are critical yet fair and carry tremendous weight.