WP: Pentagon Blamed for Lack of Postwar Planning in Iraq(Rand Corp. study)

[DeepModem Mom]

Pentagon Blamed for Lack of Postwar Planning in Iraq

By Bradley Graham and Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, April 1, 2005; Page A03


A study of U.S. military operations in Iraq, prepared for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, sharply criticizes Pentagon attempts to plan for the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion two years ago, saying stabilization and reconstruction issues "were addressed only very generally" and "no planning was undertaken to ensure the security of the Iraqi people."

The study, done by the Rand Corp., an independent research group that was created by the U.S. government and frequently does analyses for the Pentagon, also says the experience in Iraq has underscored the Pentagon's tendency "not to absorb historical lessons" when battling insurgencies. It notes a lack of political-military coordination and of "actionable intelligence" in the counterinsurgency campaign, and urges creation in the Army of a "dedicated cadre of counterinsurgency specialists."

The study highlights shortcomings as well in the conduct of the invasion. It cites inflated expectations at the outset about airstrikes in toppling the Baghdad government, poor performance by Apache helicopters in attack missions, delays in bomb damage assessments, gaps in tactical intelligence for battlefield commanders, disruptions in supply lines and inadequate coordination between Special Operations units and conventional forces.

Although the report notes that Iraq's poorly trained and ill-equipped forces proved "no match" for U.S. troops, it says the conflict exposed some important problem areas for the U.S. military that need fixing....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16942-2005Mar31.html

[w4rma]

1. The Republican leadership pushed out/fired any generals who understood

the situation in Iraq, and therefore could have successfully planned operations there. Only GOP toadies are allowed to be Generals.

[Synnical]

2. That's exactly correct

And it's what the report/article ever so politely states:

The report recommends setting up "some process for exposing senior officials to possibilities other than those being assumed in their planning."

[Rose Siding]

3. The buck's really flying now

When does it land on leadership?

[oldcoot]

6. It doesn't

Bush defenders will explain this away like they do everything else.

[VegasWolf]

4. We all know that the Bush cabal had absolutely nothing to do with

anything. Whitest wash of all.

[LynnTheDem]

5. "Iraq's poorly trained and ill-equipped forces..."

OH MY GOD THOUGH IRAQ WAS SUCH A HUGH* THREAT TO AMERICA THE WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER-POWER!!!

Rightwingnuts; stupidest most corrupt inept idiotic MFing morans on the planet.

* Rightwingnut speeling. :D