On Iraq, U.S. Turns to Onetime Dissenters

[Chris Albon]

On Iraq, U.S. Turns to Onetime Dissenters (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/13/AR2007011301372.html)


The decision to send Carney back to Iraq -- and to abandon the policies that so rankled him in 2003 -- represents a fundamental shift in the Bush administration's approach to stabilizing the country. Desperate for new approaches to stifle the persistent Sunni insurgency and Shiite death squads that are jointly pushing the country toward an all-out civil war, the White House made a striking about-face last week, embracing strategies and people it once opposed or cast aside.

[SWJED]

On Iraq, U.S. Turns to Onetime Dissenters (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/13/AR2007011301372.html)

Chris,

Good catch for the Council - I saw this article this morning and linked from the SWJ Daily News Links (http://smallwarsjournal.com/news/daily/070114.htm). Very interesting and important - hope this is a trend and not too late. As dismal as the CPA may have performed there were a lot of good people who wanted to do the right thing - got caught up in BS bureaucracy, lack of a defined end-state and a Phase IV plan that was realistic, etc... and simply gave up after time. Many of the "best and brightest" who spoke up were PNG'd from government work. Maybe things are different now - maybe - let's hope. My personal favorite to bring back into the fold (dissented before the war began) is General Tony Zinni. Still, I am encouraged by the fact that General Dave Petraeus is taking over day to day operations in Iraq. Tough job - but he is the right man for it.

Dave

[Chris Albon]

Thanks Dave,

I figured since the SWC has supplied me with so many good reading from the military side of COIN I'd contribute something from my neck of the woods (civilian / political science).

If you want to know more about the CPA in 2003 check out Imperial Life in the Emerald City (http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Life-Emerald-City-Inside/dp/1400044871) by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. The title is misleading, the book is really a history of the CPA in 2003 and discusses Timothy M. Carney's work in more depth.

About Petraeus, what are your impressions of him? FM 3-24 is on my reading list but I haven't had the time to dig through it yet.

[SWJED]

... About Petraeus, what are your impressions of him?

Quite good - from everything I've read. I have heard him speak (at meetings) briefly twice - he "gets it".

BREAK.

I put together a seminar on the interagency slice of OIF I and it was an eye-opener. Had long talks with COL Paul Hughes and Mr. Dayton Maxwell (ORHA / CPA). Both are exceptionally talented and dedicated and I learned a lot about how to do interagency operations right if ever given the chance and resources. I also got to talk with COl (USA Ret.) / Dr. Gordon Rudd quite a bit - he works down the hall from me in my day job. Dr. Rudd was the official historian for ORHA / CPA, and again, I learned quite a bit. He authored the book Operation Provide Comfort: A Template for Humanitarian Intervention.