Maybe you all know about this book, but I just heard about it last night.
Came in on the tail end of the Travis Smiley Show last night, but saw enough to be alerted to a new book by Thomas E. Ricks called 'Fiasco'. The book is about the behind scenes being played out in this Administration and the Iraq War. For example, when someone (sorry didn't get the name) went to Bremmer to discuss VietNam and the Iraq War, according to Ricks, Bremmer threw the man out of his office screaming "VietNam, Vietnam, this is not VietNam." From what I could determine, this book names names and incidents. He also says in the book that there are a few heros, like the man who told the troops
"everytime you disrespect an Iranian, you are working for the enemy."
A nephew of Sen. Max Baucus (Democrat, Montana) was killed in combat in Iraq during the weekend. In a statement, Baucus said the family was "devastated by the loss." So are over 2,500 other families.
Judith, I ordered Fiasco audio tape last week, should be here tomorrow. It looks fascinating, we should start a LC library, eh? Don't know about you but my bookshelves are bowing under the strain these last few years.
Posted by mainsailset at August 2, 2006 07:01 AMThanks for the book tip, Judith. There's going to be such a raft of work showing what a unconscionable, filthy scandal this "administration" has been that we'll never have the time to read just the most worthy efforts solely on Iraq! Quite an accomplishment, Nero!
Another new book out on Iraq is "Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq" by NYT reporter Michael Gordon and Lt Gen Bernard Trainor. In it they describe how the size of the Iraq invasion force was "chosen".
At the first meeting in late 2001 to discuss planning "beyond Afghanistan" the military presented their "contingency" plan for an invasion of Iraq. The general staff plan envisioned a large invasion force of up to 500,000 troops, which would have been traditional American doctrine as recommended by the Army War College.
Von Rumsfeld was irritated and exasperated with the plan, castigated it as a "product of old thinking and everything that was wrong with the military", saying that it would require far too many troops and supplies and take far too long to execute.
That tower of strength, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Richard Myers then asked how many troops von Rumsfeld thought would be needed(!) In high exasperation von Rumsfeld declared "that he did not see why more than 125,000 troops would be required, and even that was probably too many".
von Rumsfeld's highly considered views were passed on to Gen. Franks and we know the rest of the story. So the (now admitted) inadequate size of the invasion/occupation force was literally pulled by von Rumsfeld out of his ass in exasperation, and the generals duly and cowardly acquiesed, knowing it was hopelessly inadequate.
Another shining moment in American history.
Posted by euzoius at August 2, 2006 07:06 AMInterested in more?
Check out the article "Mindless in Iraq" by Peter Galbraith in the (utterly indispensible) New York Review of Books, available on their website.
Posted by euzoius at August 2, 2006 07:10 AMMainsailset, I know the problem. I'm still trying to find the time to finish The Confessions of an Economic Hit Man." My bookcases are full, so I have been giving my books away to those I know are interested.
Euzoius, I believe that Ricks touches upon the story of von Rumsfeld and the number of troops also. The one thing we all know for sure is these people think they are smarter and brighter than anyone else, and therefore, had absolutely no reason to listen to anyone, even experts.
Posted by Judith at August 2, 2006 07:27 AMHere's my bit: Is Lieberman channeling Nixon?
Posted by KCinDC at August 2, 2006 08:02 AMI haven't read the book, but Tom Ricks was also on On Point this morning pushing Fiasco again. The interview was riveting - the book sounds fascinating.
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 2, 2006 08:30 AMDamn - I hit Post before I was finished.
Ricks asserts that George and his crew never lied, but easily convinced themselves that the poor and old intelligence they pushed meant that Iraq had WMD's. He also called Dubya the '60's counter-radical version of Jerry Rubin - not very deep but good at getting himself on TV.'
Posted by idiosynchronic at August 2, 2006 08:36 AMAnd where is exactly is the report on the Haditha massacre? Seems like it's hit a quagmire somewhere.
Some pretty slow readers at the Pentagon.
Or else KKKarl has decreed it's a "post-election" development.
Posted by euzoius at August 2, 2006 01:29 PM