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Almost but not quite

Reader comment on item: Limping away from a Shattered Iraq

Submitted by Wallace Edward Brand (United States), Jul 8, 2009 at 21:43

An immediate turnover of power to Iraq was planned by Doug Feith, the Defense Department's man in charge of policy planning and agreed to by Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush. Why didn't it happen? According to Feith's account in War and Decision, supported by many contemporaneous notes and correspondence, it was stymied by infighting from the CIA and the State Department who intensely disliked Ahmed Chalabi, the man the Department of Defense had selected to play a very temporary but key role in getting the new government started. Feith, in his book War and Decision spends many pages bemoaning this disaster that Daniel Pipes also points out now and had predicted earlier.

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Reader comments (43) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Iraq [93 words]williamAug 7, 2009 07:38159783
The Message is Clear Indeed-Why Iraq Cannot Function Under an American Style Democracy [331 words]M. ToveyJul 20, 2009 15:30159073
One disillusioned American [136 words]KathyJul 17, 2009 13:38158958
To Kathy, from one tired American [383 words]JeffAug 7, 2009 08:47158958
If you're damned either way, do nothing [115 words]Charles MartelJul 17, 2009 11:29158953
Vote for Corruption [47 words]Jon DaviesJul 17, 2009 05:00158943
revert to type... [77 words]donvanJul 15, 2009 19:19158894
DOES HOLBROOK KNOW WHAT HE HAS DONE [75 words]BIGEJul 15, 2009 18:32158893
The Eastern front is Back [118 words]yuval Brandstetter MDJul 15, 2009 15:50158881
Have to take the bad with the good [300 words]David S.Jul 15, 2009 02:15158856
OT, but., what do you think of Xinjiang? [84 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Peter HerzJul 14, 2009 16:55158846
The message is clear!! [165 words]MansoorJul 14, 2009 08:09158830
Hey Mansoor, you are finally back!!! ASK YOUR PRESIDENT & PM WHEN IS US LEAVING PAKISTAN?? [182 words]Proud IndianJul 19, 2009 06:53158830
Iraqi Ship of Fools [572 words]Lou from Queens,NYC,USAJul 21, 2009 11:44158830
Should never have invaded in the first place [58 words]John SmithJul 13, 2009 13:22158803
Good piece [70 words]Peter HerzJul 11, 2009 14:40158759
more than oil [17 words]Peter, ScotlandJul 10, 2009 20:38158734
Liberation (finally!) [56 words]Francis BrookeJul 10, 2009 17:46158728
Saddam's Babylon [157 words]UgriJul 10, 2009 01:40158711
So, America has produced another Viet Nam. The American no longer has the stomach to fight the battles before they appear on their own streets. [543 words]kmanJul 9, 2009 23:15158707
Ungrateful Iraqis - Let them sort their own problems. [101 words]M.D.Jul 9, 2009 18:04158695
I Would Extend Dr. Pipes' Argument Further [81 words]AlexJul 9, 2009 17:19158687
Sad situation in Iraq [157 words]Rebecca MouldsJul 9, 2009 14:48158671
Many reasons why ? [206 words]John BJul 9, 2009 13:59158670
Who will they blame???? [75 words]FroikeJul 9, 2009 13:07158668
Glad We Are Leaving [314 words]ShaynaJul 9, 2009 11:47158667
Lessons not learned [178 words]Barry GoldbergJul 9, 2009 11:14158666
re US withdrawal from Iraq [17 words]edith cordJul 9, 2009 11:06158664
limping away from Iraq [148 words]IsaacJul 9, 2009 09:48158659
Limping Away [225 words]Arif Jayish al AmrikiJul 9, 2009 09:23158656
Well then, Mr. Pipes. [79 words]LynnJul 9, 2009 09:00158655
I advised: "Turn power over to the Iraqis. !!!! [101 words]Nicola Russo - Roma - ItalyJul 9, 2009 08:56158654
Iraq [174 words]Hans NeumannJul 9, 2009 05:34158651
Handing Iran a victory at the cost of thousands of American lives [41 words]bernie naglerJul 9, 2009 01:20158644
Almost but not quite [112 words]Wallace Edward BrandJul 8, 2009 21:43158640
Limping away from a Shattered Iraq [3 words]jebJul 8, 2009 21:17158639
D***ed If We Didn't, And D***ed That We Did [359 words]orange yonasonJul 8, 2009 21:13158638
Iraqis celebrated the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraqi cities on July 1. [259 words]YnnatchkahJul 8, 2009 20:03158635
And what of Iran? [73 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JamesJul 8, 2009 19:06158632
who will control US involvement [118 words]rodney allsworthJul 8, 2009 19:05158631
Limpin away froma shatterred Iraq - or going back to sleep? [369 words]DavidJul 8, 2009 18:59158630
Can't blame it on the settlements. [251 words]batya daganJul 8, 2009 18:56158629
Iraqi Future [319 words]Jim LopeyJul 8, 2009 18:22158626

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