Supreme Command

Mr Bush is not known for being well-read

In an HARDtalk interview on 9 October Eliot Cohen, Author, Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime talks with Tim Sebastian.

Click here to watch the full interview

Eliot Cohen is a Professor of Strategic Studies and Political Science at the Johns Hopkins University.

A former policy advisor to the US Defence department, Professor Cohen also served as an intelligence officer in the US Army Reserves.

His latest book, "Supreme Command" examines the complex relationships between civilian rulers and their military officers during times of conflict.

He argues that assertive civilian leadership in wartime is more important than giving freer rein to the military.

US President George W Bush is said to have read this book and admire its thinking.

The interview can be watched in full on Wednesday 9 October on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in BST) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 0830, 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330