Bremer reveals the process
by SottoVoce
Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 06:38:32 AM PDT
In today's NYTimes, L. Paul Bremer explained in clear prose, with unmistakable and justifiable anger, the process he took for dismissing the Iraqi army.
On May 9, two weeks before the decision was made, I sent a draft order based on these discussions to Mr. Rumsfeld, copied to Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the Central Command, and other senior defense officials. A copy went to Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to the commander of the coalition forces in Iraq.
All had ample opportunity to comment on this and subsequent drafts of the order before it was issued on May 23. Defense Department civilian leaders and military staffs provided only minor suggested revisions.
On May 22, I briefed the president at a National Security Council meeting attended by Condoleezza Rice, then the national security adviser; Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage; Secretary Rumsfeld; and General Myers.
No one raised concerns or objections. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/world/middleeast/17bremer.html?scp=1&sq=bremer&st=nytIt is clear that the Bush team chose to make him take the blame for a disastrous decision in which all the honchos (except for Colin Powell) were fully complicit.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/24/93112/1163/997/483097
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