'An unbelievable mess': Memo from John Sawer-Blair's special envoy to Iraq

[kpete]

'An unbelievable mess': Memo from John Sawer, Blair's special envoy to Iraq after Saddam's overthrow

Tuesday March 14, 2006
The Guardian

Confidential
Personal from special rep for Iraq

For:

No 10: Powell, Manning, Campbell, Rycroft

FCO: PS/SOS, PS/O'Brien, PUS, Ricketts, E m, Chaplin, Chilcott

Subject: Personal: Iraq: What's Going Wrong?

1. A Baghdad First strategy is needed. The problems are worst in the capital, and it is the one place we can't afford to get it wrong. But the troops here are tired and are not providing the security framework needed. We need a clear policy on which Ba'athists can return, a more concerted effort on reconstruction, and an imaginative approach on the media. For all this, money needs to be released by Washington. The clock is ticking.

Detail

2. Four days in Iraq has been enough to identify the main reasons why the reconstruction of Iraq is so slow. The Coalition are widely welcomed, but are gradually losing public support.

3. Garner's outfit, ORHA, is an unbelievable mess. No leadership, no strategy, no coordination, no structure, and inaccessible to ordinary Iraqis. Bremer's arrival is not a day too soon. Garner and his top team of 60-year old retired generals are well-meaning, but out of their depth. Tim Cross is widely seen as the only senior figure offering direction ...

4. It is clear that Baghdad is the biggest problem. Other parts of Iraq are getting organised: there are minimal Shia/Sunni tensions; town councils have been agreed in the sensitive cities of Mosul and Kirkuk; and so on. But Baghdad has the worst security, a poor level of essential services and no information flow ...

More Memos at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1730423,00.html

[OzarkDem]

1. When do we call in NATO & UN troops?

When do we start letting Iraqis handle this with their own police?

[rodeodance]

2. another DSM

[magellan]

3. This memo is from shortly after we invaded Iraq and needs to be read!

Another horrible illustration of how there weren't enough troops on the ground to do the job right and keep ALL troops rested and in control. This for instance:

6. A big part of the problem is the US Third Infantry Division. They fought a magnificent war and now just want to go home. Unlike more mobile US units they are sticking to their heavy vehicles and are not inclined to learn new techniques. Our Paras company at the embassy witnessed a US tank respond to (harmless) Kalashnikov fire into the air from a block of residential flats by firing three tank rounds into the building. Stories are numerous of US troops sitting on tanks parked in front of public buildings while looters go about their business behind them. Every civilian who approaches a US checkpoint is treated as a potential suicide bomber. Frankly, the 3rd Inf Div need to go home.

[rodeodance]

4. I agree-that is why I said DSM. should be DSMs (plural)

[magellan]

17. Just trying to clarify

There's no date on the memo and I myself wasn't sure what timeframe this was from till I saw Bremer mentioned.

[rodeodance]

5. maybe about the same time as "mission accomplished" occurred?

[rodeodance]

6. k

[rodeodance]

7. k

[rodeodance]

8. k

[rodeodance]

9. n

[rodeodance]

12. k

[rodeodance]

13. k

[rodeodance]

14. k

[rodeodance]

15. k

[mod mom]

10. we gotta stay the course...freedom is on the march...blah blah blah

[rodeodance]

11. 3 years after these memos were written--

[rodeodance]

16. k

[kpete]

18. I want to know what you are on today

I think its rubbing off...