Bremer's Discloses Letters To NYT Which Debunk Bush on Iraq Army Dissolution

[kpete]

Bremer's Letters Debunk Bush on Iraq Army Dissolution
by FishOutofWater
Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 08:51:04 PM PDT

President Bush recently was quoted in a book saying he wanted to keep the Iraqi Army intact but a series of letters proves he was briefed on the dissolution of the army by Paul Bremmer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/washington/04bremer.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 — A previously undisclosed exchange of letters shows that President Bush was told in advance by his top Iraq envoy in May 2003 of a plan to "dissolve Saddam’s military and intelligence structures," a plan that the envoy, L. Paul Bremer, said referred to dismantling the Iraqi Army.

Paul Bremer released the letters to the press because he did not want to take the blame for decisions made by the White House.

Mr. Bremer provided the letters to The New York Times on Monday after reading that Mr. Bush was quoted in a new book as saying that American policy had been "to keep the army intact" but that it "didn’t happen."

The dismantling of the Iraqi Army in the aftermath of the American invasion is now widely regarded as a mistake that stoked rebellion among hundreds of thousands of former Iraqi soldiers and made it more difficult to reduce sectarian bloodshed and attacks by insurgents. In releasing the letters, Mr. Bremer said he wanted to refute the suggestion in Mr. Bush’s comment that Mr. Bremer had acted to disband the army without the knowledge and concurrence of the White House.

“We must make it clear to everyone that we mean business: that Saddam and the Baathists are finished,” Mr. Bremer wrote in a letter that was drafted on May 20, 2003, and sent to the president on May 22 through Donald H. Rumsfeld, then secretary of defense.

As usual, Mr. Bush is trying to blame others for his decisions. He's the decider, but he's not responsible.

Update - One letter:
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/04bremer-text1.html?ref=washington

The dissolution of his chosen instrument of political domination, the Baath Party, has been very well received. Several Iraqis have told me, literally with tears in their eyes, that they have waited 30 years for this moment. While the resulting dismissal of public servants has caused some inefficiencies and griping, in most cases younger civil servants have expressed pleasure, even joy, at the measure. (At a minimum they are attracted to the prospect of promotion opportunities.) I will parallel this step with an even more robust measure dissolving Saddam's military and intelligence structures to emphasize that we mean business. We are seeing signs that the outlawed organizations are behind some of the street violence here.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/3/234041/1492

[papau]

1. The book "Dead Certain" that is used to "balance" the fact of Bush making bad decisions is

reviewed at Amazon:

From the publisher:

"In this ambitious work of political narrative, Robert Draper takes us inside the Bush White House and delivers an intimate portrait of a tumultuous decade and a beleaguered administration. Virtually every page of this book crackles with scenes, anecdotes, and dialogue that will surprise even long-time observers of George W. Bush.
With unprecedented access to all the key figures of this administration -- from six one-on-one sessions with the president, to Laura Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Karl Rove, and perhaps 200 other players, some well known, some not -- Draper has achieved what no other journalist or contemporary historian has done thus far: He has told the story of the Bush White House form the inside, with a special emphasis on how the very personality of this strong-willed president has affected the outcome of events."

and comments:

"It disturbs me that anyone would still attempt to validate this failed presidency....This book doesn't warrant a nanosecond of our attention.Instead,channel that time into helping our troops who return home to a clueless nation."

"The President cries a lot, September 4, 2007 By R. E Westgard

The NY Times story about the new Bush bio, Dead Certain, ends with the President's question about himself, "Is the world better off as a result of your leadership?'" The answer must certainly be no.
The President also states to biographer Robert Draper, "Self pity is the worst thing that can happen to a presidency. This is a job where you can have a lot of self-pity."
Born to wealth, indifferent student, starts and fails with two small Texas oil companies, becomes President with little in the way of personal accomplishment, George Bush may be one of the luckiest men alive. If that justifies self-pity, the rest of us can certainly regret our own ordinary lives."

[UTUSN]

2. Just because he's BRIEFED on crap, doesn't mean he UNDERSTANDS crap. n/t