Documents Show 'Serious' Gaps In Post-War Plans

[sabra]

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4865728/detail.html

Documents Show 'Serious' Gaps In Post-War Plans

WASHINGTON -- According to newly declassified documents, the State Department warned U.S. Central Command before the invasion of Iraq of "serious planning gaps" for postwar security.

In a memo dated one month before the beginning of the Iraq war, State Department officials also wrote that "a failure to address short-term public security and humanitarian assistance concerns could result in serious human rights abuses."

The memo suggested such failures could "undermine" a successful military campaign and hurt the nation's reputation.

The documents were acquired by George Washington University's National Security Archive under the Freedom of Information Act. They were posted on the research group's Web site Wednesday and first reported by NBC News.

[babylonsister]

1. Could this be the American version of the DSM?

This American memo happened before the start of the blivet's war-sounds about right to me.

[ShockediSay]

3. And they led us to the slaughter

And they led us to the slaughter

With nary a second thought

And ordered we do our duty

And on and on we fought


State Dept. Warned of Poor Iraq Planning
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701779.html

"There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1593607,00.html
(Downing St Memos)

[KoKo]

7. This info seems to be only about cautioning that there wasn't enough

planning. DSM's were about the legality of Invading Iraq. Big difference. But, at least it shows that Bush was warned. Maybe something will come of it, but I think this info was known from leaks from Colin Powell, later. At least I remember reading something somewhere about it. I just think it's interesting that these documents were released and not held by Executive Order as Classified War Information.

[central scrutinizer]

2. Here's a copy of the plans:

1. secure the Oil Ministry building
2. pull down statue of Saddam
3. accept flowers, candy, hugs and kisses from grateful Iraqi people
4. take a shower, pop a cold one, kick back and wait for orders to move on to Teheran or Damascus.

[burrowowl]

9. You forgot

looting the museum for I image Bu$hCo's rich patrons!

[Porcupine]

4. Wrong! It says "and then they lived happily ever after."...

right there in the pRezidents breifing book. That was the plan dammit and it was a good one.

[KoKo]

5. How in the heck did George Washington U get their FOIA request honored

by the State Department? :eyes: Even our Congresspersons like Waxman and Conyers and our Senate Foreign Relations Commmittees can't get our Bush Govt. to release what they want.

How could a University Research Group get access to this?

[journalist3072]

6. This is a a real shocker! Not!

After all, we already knew that on the eve of the invasion, our military leaders on the ground in Iraq were reviewing PowerPoint slides provided to them by the WH and Pentagon. When they got to the on post-war planning, it said "To Be Provided."

[gumby]

8. The War of the Memos

Seems that we are engaged in a Memo War.

One Memo sez that it's all Clenis' Fault.

The next Memo sez that it's all Jr's Fault.

The arrangement of the deck chairs is indeed getting prickly.

[Roy]

10. the perfect solution in that case then is.........

Impeach Bush and all of his impeachable henchmen, prosecute the unimpeachble, and throw them all in jail.

Oh, don't forget Clinton. we should never allow him to be President again.

Yep, I think that covers everyone.

[kurtyboy]

11. Check out when the war planning began

OKAY!!! I Know we all knew this, but here it is on paper. One month after 911, the State Department began "Transition" planning for post-war Iraq. One fucking month--we hadn't even gone to Afghanistan at that point--one fucking month.

See slide six of the State Department briefing in Document Two:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB163/iraq-state-02.pdf

"October 2001 State Department planning on the transition began"

So, yes, here it is in writing--the Administration began planning AT LEAST AS EARLY AS 10/01 for an Iraqi invasion--no mention of WMDs at that time, though....

I think I remember a time in 2002 when the President said he had no plans to invade Iraq on his desk.

[sabra]

13. bingo

nice find!

[Solly Mack]

12. There were serious gaps in pre-war planning as well

there have been serious gaps from start to current quagmire....not the least of which are the lies that brought us to this point.

[maxrandb]

14. That Damn Clenis Strikes Again!

I don't know how yet, but somehow they'll blame this on the "big-dog".

[Roland99]

15. State Dept. Warned of Poor Iraq Planning (WaPo)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701779.html

WASHINGTON -- The State Department warned U.S. Central Command before the invasion of Iraq of "serious planning gaps" for postwar security, according to newly declassified documents.

In a memorandum dated Feb. 7, 2003 _ one month before the beginning of the Iraq war _ State Department officials also wrote that "a failure to address short-term public security and humanitarian assistance concerns could result in serious human rights abuses which would undermine an otherwise successful military campaign, and our reputation internationally."

<...>

The February 2003 memo was written by three State Department bureau chiefs for Undersecretary Paula Dobriansky. The authors wrote, "We have raised these issues with top CENTCOM officials and General Garner." Retired Army Gen. Jay Garner was the first U.S. administrator in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The bureau chiefs warned that there could be "serious planning gaps for post-conflict public security and humanitarian assistance between the end of the war and the beginning of reconstruction."

What? The ideologues *really* thought the U.S. would be met with kisses and roses? I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

[liberal N proud]

16. Don't act too surprised.

This regime was warned of many things including an attack by al Quida, but they are like a 17 year old who knows better than everyone else.

[sam sarrha]

25. i think more like an old Wet Brain Alcoholic Drug Addict...arogant asshole

[Wetzelbill]

17. they finally reported this?

I read an LA Times article a little over two years ago that said as much. Way to be on the ball, WA Post.

[Roland99]

19. Oh, they probably did, too, then. This is based on newly declassified docs

Guess they figured it was ok to finally release some docs that were classified to protect their lies, now that it's plain to see how they screwed up.


But, keep in mind that NOTHING, I say NOTHING, comes out of this administration officially without some sort of political reason behind it.

[Wetzelbill]

20. adding more stuff to it

I see :)

[Roland99]

21. Just like Conyers...building the case.

;)

[leftchick]

23. Thank You. I thought I was going crazy here.

I was reading that thinking, didn't we all KNOW this two years ago? I mean we here on DU. God knows the TV was just all GO-War all the time at that point.

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Ghost of Colin Powell: You were told but you wouldn't listen.

[rodeodance]

22. This was reported--I recall reading it--esp. concern with setting up

refuge camps.

[leetrisck]

24. "Post-war" - the republicans need to quit acting

and saying we won a war. We've won nothing anywhere - Iraq or Afghanistan. There is no post-war -