Russ Kick at The Memory Hole proves once again the value of the Freedom of Information Act. Using its provisions, he has obtained copies of reports from the State Department describing detailed plans for rebuilding Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein—plans which the Bush Administration has almost completely ignored.
Starting in October 2001, about a year and a half before the US and its allies invaded Iraq, the State Department spearheaded an effort called the Future of Iraq Project. Dozens of Iraqi exiles and international experts were brought together to figure out how to create a new Iraq should Saddam Hussein somehow be taken out of power.Now Dubya tells us that bringing the troops home will be some future President’s problem. He sees no reason to even attempt to bring home our soldiers. That means that American sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives will continue to die in Iraq for the remainder of George W. Bush’s term, and beyond. He had no plan when he went into Iraq, he had no plan to rebuild Iraq after we went in, and he has no plan to get out.Within the project, seventeen working groups covered such areas as the justice system, local government, agriculture, media, education, and oil. The various working groups began meeting in July 2002 and continued through March/April 2003. Twelve of the groups released reports. The project cost $5 million.
The project’s observations and recommendations were almost wholly ignored by the administration during its pre-war planning for the occupation.
The United States will be paying for the debacle in Iraq for decades, perhaps centuries to come. We and our children will all have to live with the legacy of shame and death that Bush and his cronies have bequeathed to this country.
Hat tip to firedoglake.
No comments
Comments feed for this article