A Story that I think fits the situation with Iraq today

[rpannier]

The scholar Tsao Jin-ri looked out at the rubble that was left from the fires and devastation wrought by the army of General Hsiang-Yu upon the once wealthy and abundant lands of Chi. Jin-ri turned to Lord Hsiang-Yu, "Is this really what we wanted? The city is in ruins. The homes are destroyed. The people either dead, or they have fled the lands to safety in the south. The fields destroyed, there is no food to feed any people. There are no more walls to protect the city from the Hsiung-Nu (Mongol) invaders. Is this really what we wanted?"
"Of course." replied the ever confident general. "The buildings are destroyed, so we can build them how we want them. The people are gone, so now we can fill this city with the people we want. We can grow the crops we want. Yes, this perfect." the mighty general puffed his chest with a look of immense satisfaction.
"But how do we protect ourselves from the Hsiung-Nu?" insisted Jin-ri.
A puzzled look crossed the face of the General. "Oh! Well, this land was no good anyway. I never wanted it." and he walked away.

"A battle plan is only as good as the preparation that goes into planning for the victory afterward." This story and quote is attributed to Korean Admiral Yi around the 16th Century.