The author asserts that the role of McGeorge Bundy is, to a degree, neglected by authors of other works about US policy-making on Vietnam, and I agree. War Council describes with great clarity how Bundy and the NSC directed policy in this area and goes a long way towards explaining how US involvement escalated as it did. Furthermore, we learn how the upbringing and life experiences of one of the principal architects of US policy shaped his outlook and decisions; decisions that ultimately led to a disaster.

Other participants are also discussed with reference to their positions on policy, defined loosely as `doves', `soft-hawks' and `hawks', and the degree and direction to which their attitudes changed as events unfolded. A minor complaint might be that practically no mention is made of the relationship between McGeorge and his brother, William (a key figure in the State Department), which I found surprising given the autobiographical leanings of this book.

War Council is exceptionally clear and well written. Those interested in the policy-making on the Vietnam war in the early to mid 1960s must not miss this. Excellent. ( )