UK 'warned of US mess'

[Christa]

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1897531,00.html

London - Top British officials warned Prime Minister Tony Blair that the United States plan for postwar Iraq was a mess and outlined major blunders made once the coalition took control, revealed leaked memos on Tuesday.

According to reports, John Sawers, Blair's envoy in Baghdad immediately after the March 2003 invasion, sent a series of confidential messages to London in May and June of that year.

Michael Gordon co-wrote Cobra II: the Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq with General Bernard Trainor. Extracts of the book had also been published in the newspaper.

In the memos, Sawers reportedly described the US postwar administration in Iraq, led by the retired general Jay Garner, as "an unbelievable mess".

[Bridget Burke]

1. Who needs "top officials"?

I & several other middle-aged ladies at work had some questions.

We didn't agree with invading Iraq, but figured Saddam could be defeated. But--then what?