Saddam and 9/11 - Page 9

gunnut · 04-29-2008, 19:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astralis

ba,

that's true only because the execution of the war has been a complete mess. had the war gone even half as smoothly as the neo-conservatives were betting it would go, the Iraq War would have been hailed as a stroke of strategic genius.

Actually the war went great. It was the occupation phase that went bad. No one in the west knew just how much this sectarian thing influenced local politics. But we're learning. Even if it's 2 years late, we're learning to do a better job. It's better late than never.

**Shek** · 04-29-2008, 22:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnut

No one in the west knew just how much this sectarian thing influenced local politics.

We knew. It was just ignored.

**Shek** · 04-29-2008, 22:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rj1

Can you give us the Cliff Notes version please for those of us that hadn't read it for the military's problems?

I read Assassin's Gate in 2005 not long after it was released. Obviously it's dated a few years. But it places the lack of post-invasion planning solely on the feet of Franks and the State Dept/Defense Dept powerbrokers cause each of them thought the other was doing it. And then when they got to the post-war, everyone realized they were ill-prepared and started blaming everyone else for what was going on.

Assassin's Gate provides a snapshot of the issues, but not to the degree that Fiasco does. Follow the link to the Amazon.com website and there's an interview with Thomas Ricks that covers some of the ground that's in the book.

astralis · 04-29-2008, 22:21 PM

gunnut,

Quote:

Actually the war went great. It was the occupation phase that went bad. No one in the west knew just how much this sectarian thing influenced local politics. But we're learning. Even if it's 2 years late, we're learning to do a better job. It's better late than never.

i'd say given how saddam planned to use the iraqi resistance as a means to get back into power....the occupation was very much a part of the war. that's part of the reason why the US called the 21-day march on baghdad phase I, and why the british are on Operation Telic 11 (IIRC).

JAD_333 · 04-29-2008, 22:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shek

We knew. It was just ignored.

Or to take it a step further, it was underestimated.

JAD_333 · 04-29-2008, 23:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnut

Actually the war went great. It was the occupation phase that went bad.

If 1000 years from now history allows three lines to tell about the Iraq war, it will be your two and a line yet to be written--about the
outcome.

cuba · 04-30-2008, 00:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnut

Actually the war went great. It was the occupation phase that went bad. No one in the west knew just how much this sectarian thing influenced local politics. But we're learning. Even if it's 2 years late, we're learning to do a better job. It's better late than never.

Well said.

**Shek** · 04-30-2008, 06:00 AM

If you want to read more into what we knew about the role that sectarianism could potentially play, here are three posts with links to other sources

OIF Research Library - Reconstructing Iraq authored out of the Army War College

OIF Research Library - Future of Iraq Project headed by Warwick from State, and promptly excluded by SecDef Rumsfeld from participating in planning despite being sent by SecState Powell to assist

Iraq in Books - Review Essay - A potpourri of books on Iraq, but the specific book that I would recommend as the very first book for anyone that wants to take a serious look Iraq would be the first book listed by Ahmed Hashim. If you want a shorter version, you can go to some articles that the Jamestown Foundation has: Ahmed Hashim

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04-30-2008, 06:00 AM	#128 (permalink)
Shek Moderator Join Date: 02-23-05 Location: Krblachistan Posts: 7,253 Country:	If you want to read more into what we knew about the role that sectarianism could potentially play, here are three posts with links to other sources OIF Research Library - Reconstructing Iraq authored out of the Army War College OIF Research Library - Future of Iraq Project headed by Warwick from State, and promptly excluded by SecDef Rumsfeld from participating in planning despite being sent by SecState Powell to assist Iraq in Books - Review Essay - A potpourri of books on Iraq, but the specific book that I would recommend as the very first book for anyone that wants to take a serious look Iraq would be the first book listed by Ahmed Hashim. If you want a shorter version, you can go to some articles that the Jamestown Foundation has: Ahmed Hashim

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