"Temptations of Power" examines the new security dilemma which confronted President George W. Bush when terrorists proved for the first time on 9/11 that they could seriously wound even the greatest of military powers on its home ground. In their indictment, the authors argue that the response was influenced by neo-conservative exaggeration of the efficacy of military power and belief in the US ability to change the world and its own image. The new security dilemma needs to be addressed by new politics but not those Washington has adopted since 2001.