Iraq report: Secret papers reveal blunders and concealment

[n2doc]

The “appalling” errors that contributed to Britain’s failure in Iraq are disclosed in the most detailed and damning set of leaks to emerge on the conflict.

By Andrew Gilligan
Published: 9:58PM GMT 21 Nov 2009

On the eve of the Chilcot inquiry into Britain’s involvement in the 2003 invasion and its aftermath, The Sunday Telegraph has obtained hundreds of pages of secret Government reports on “lessons learnt” which shed new light on “significant shortcomings” at all levels.
They include full transcripts of extraordinarily frank classified interviews in which British Army commanders vent their frustration and anger with ministers and Whitehall officials.


The reports disclose that:
Tony Blair, the former prime minister, misled MPs and the public throughout 2002 when he claimed that Britain’s objective was “disarmament, not regime change” and that there had been no planning for military action. In fact, British military planning for a full invasion and regime change began in February 2002.

The need to conceal this from Parliament and all but “very small numbers” of officials “constrained” the planning process. The result was a “rushed”operation “lacking in coherence and resources” which caused “significant risk” to troops and “critical failure” in the post-war period.

much more:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6625415/Iraq-report-Secret-papers-reveal-blunders-and-concealment.html

[malaise]

1. Tony Blair should be locked up in the Hague

for war crimes. Instead he was running for EU President after hiding under the Pope's garments. Up is down - lies are truth. The planet has been completely fugged.

[n2doc]

2. Along with crashcart, AWOL, Rummy, Condi and the rest of the BFEE n/t

[malaise]

3. 100% correct

:hi:

[SpiralHawk]

6. "Smirk." - xCommander AWOL (R)

[SpiralHawk]

7. "Sneer." - xVP Dickie 'Five-Military-Deferments' Cheney (R)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvCLjsWq_UU/SQGpsqD2FtI/AAAAAAAAAek/RuNJ7WpKBQE/s400/cheney.+sneer.jpg

[Kolesar]

4. Make him drive in a truck convoy outside of the Green Zone

Watch his smug jack-o-lantern grin disappear

[malaise]

5. I'd pay to see that

with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al sitting in the back.

[n2doc]

8. kick n/t