'No real planning for postwar Iraq'

[UpInArms]

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/6285256.htm

WASHINGTON - The small circle of senior civilians in the Defense Department who dominated planning for postwar Iraq failed to prepare for the setbacks that have erupted over the past two months.

The officials didn't develop any real postwar plans because they believed that Iraqis would welcome U.S. troops with open arms and Washington could install a favored Iraqi exile leader as the country's leader. The Pentagon civilians ignored CIA and State Department experts who disputed them, resisted White House pressure to back off from their favored exile leader and when their scenario collapsed amid increasing violence and disorder, they had no backup plan.

Today, American forces face instability in Iraq, where they are losing soldiers almost daily to escalating guerrilla attacks, the cost of occupation is exploding to almost $4 billion a month and withdrawal appears untold years away.

"There was no real planning for postwar Iraq," said a former senior U.S. official who left government recently.

...more...

[saigon68]

1. PLANNING---WHAT PLANNING ????

The (MIC) Morons In Charge, expected the local population (3 diverse ethnic groups) to rush forward, throwing flowers, kisses and good wishes to the young soldiers from Texas,Tennessee and North Dakota.

What we got was an angry population throwing Irish Confetti (cobblestones), grenades and insults. A country with no power, no water, no sanitation, no security and no hope.

Welcome to IRAQ-NAM ca: 2003

[aquart]

5. IRAQ-NAM.

Ooooh, I like that.

Makes me think of arachnid. This is one sticky spiderweb that's caught us.

[stickdog]

2. Well, they planned on getting that oil.

And they are still planning on it.

[saigon68]

3. ARMED GUARDS NEEDED

They need an armed Guard every 100 feet to guard any pipeline that pumps the stuff.

More to stealing oil than the average person realizes. After all, its not shoplifting, where you can put it in your pocket and leave the store.

[KeepItReal]

4. Probably TOLD NOT TO MAKE A PLAN

If you plan, you have to have estimates for everything... time, resources, manpower. All those things have associated PRICETAGS.

Congress and the American people want to know this info, but Bush & Co. refuse to provide it.

Every time you see Rumsfeld or Cheney or anyone in Bush & Co. go before Congress and get asked about the true cost of Iraq, they say "that depends...." they never give a dollar figure. They wouldn't do it before the war and they are hesitant to do it now.

Congress gave these guys a blank check. An actual plan for Iraq war and occupation would have had a dollar figure attached that would have demanded accountability.

With this administration, remember 1 thing...follow the money.

[aquart]

6. Yes, follow the money as it runs away

Into sheltered offshore accounts.

[teryang]

7. great point!

They didn't want to know the costs.

Perle's comments are to the effect that if you had only listened to me this wouldn't have happened.

Feith is a slimy character also. He claims success is the source of these problems. The Iraqis adopted a scorched earth policy with respect to their society's infrastructure. This occurred after the American forces "took Bhagdad" (they never really secured control of the city) and was described in the media as looting. This was not indiscriminate anarchy. The destruction of government files, property, utilities, and social service facilities was a deliberate tactic. Americans stood dumbly by making excuses while this occurred, not having enough military manpower to stop it and not understanding its political significance.

Any governing political power which cannot provide order and services in Iraq is doomed.