General admits Iraq mistakes (Garner - Inter-departmental rivalry)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=39885&pt=n

The American general put in charge of the administration of Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the war today admitted mistakes were made.

Jay Garner said that part of the problem was ``inter-agency rivalry`` in Washington, which meant the Pentagon and State Department did not work together on plans to rebuild the country.

He acknowledged that failings in the administration of the occupation had attracted foreign terrorists to Iraq to fight the coalition, but added: ``That`s not all bad. Bring them all in there and we will kill them there.``

Gen Garner was replaced by civilian administrator Paul Bremer within weeks of beginning his work in Iraq, amid claims that he had failed to restore essential services or impose order quickly enough.

But months after his departure, about 30 attacks are still taking place against coalition troops each day, and electricity, water and access to health care is still erratic in many parts of the country.
<snip>

[maddezmom]

1. let's hope more will start talking about the failings

great article. BBC is going with this as their lead story this am.

[Spazito]

2. Kick

*

[htuttle]

3. "Mistakes were made"

Damn those lousy mistakes!

:eyes:

[priller]

4. Sounds like he actually wanted to help the Iraqis

He tried to get someone from the State dept, who had worked on post-war planning for a year, to help out. No wonder Rummy canned him, Garner was talking to one of Colin's boys, rather than talking exclusively to the Neocon cabal.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. While I'm sure some of this is self-justification

it's good to get confirmation of things like this directly from Garner:

"Gen Garner said that communications between his bosses at the Pentagon and the State Department were so bad that he did not even know until weeks before war began that Colin Powell`s team had carried out a year-long project to plan for post-conflict Iraq.

When he learned of the existence of the project by chance in February, he immediately co-opted one of its senior planners on to his team.

But he said he was ordered against his will by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to sack him.

``There`s enormous rivalries between the agencies, but that didn`t start with this war,`` he told Today. ``That is just part of Washington.``"

It's all about power - even in the different departments. Democracy be damned, we want to be in charge!

[54anickel]

6. Here's a link to on-line Frontline program, Truth, War & Consequences

Most have probably seen it.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/truth/view/