Operation Iraqi Liberation

[swallow]

Just came across Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast when I was stuck in the city for a few hours the other day when rummaging through Borders. There were a few interesting tidbits that I didn't know about the Iraqi war and was wondering whether they were common knowledge.

Plan A: Colin Powell's three days in and out
The original plan was for tanks to crash the palace gates, marines would parachute in, the U.S. would give their man Saddam's moustache, they would hold elections within 90-days and everything would remain hunky-dory.

Plan B: Operation Iraqi Liberation
The current (still ongoing plan) - to give tax breaks to the rich, privatise Iraqi assets and make them more internationally friendly. Time frame of 270 to 360 days. When the Bush's chief economist Lindsey claimed it would cost over $100 billion - Bush did the practical thing of firing him.

Plan C: Disregard Little Georgie and try Diplomacy
Jay Garner the guy they put in place to originally lead the invasion decided to ignore all his instructions which he considered baloney and had already set up a joint meeting with the Sunni, Khurdish and Shia factions before all hell would broke loose. Except he was fired before he got to Iraq.

Or...

Plan D: I'm a Dumbass just like my Boss
Jerry Bremer decided not to meet with the Iraqi factions, proceeded to bomb the hell out of the country, and nineteen billion dimar mysteriously find their way onto a plane in Lebanon.

Tis a great little book, lots of odd things I didn't know about, and also stuff on elections and whatnot, though I haven't been through all of it yet.