British Defense Secretary claims Cheney is calling the shots on Iraq

[Poiuyt]

According to former British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, Vice President Dick Cheney has been calling the shots in Iraq, and has even overridden decisions by President Bush and former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"A catalogue of errors over planning for Iraq after the invasion, and an inability to influence key figures in the US administration, led to anarchy in Iraq from which the country has not recovered, the British defence secretary during the invasion admits today," Patrick Wintour writes for The Guardian. "In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Geoff Hoon reveals that Britain disagreed with the US administration over two key decisions in May 2003, two months after the invasion - to disband Iraq's army and 'de-Ba'athify' its civil service. Mr Hoon also said he and other senior ministers completely underestimated the role and influence of the vice-president, Dick Cheney."

Hoon tells the paper, "Sometimes ... Tony had made his point with the president, and I'd made my point with Don and Jack had made his point with Colin and the decision actually came out of a completely different place. And you think: what did we miss? I think we missed Cheney."

more -

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Former_British_defense_secretary_claims_Cheney_0502.html

[kwassa]

1. No kidding? This has been Cheney's war from the beginning.

[Kagemusha]

2. Overridden is not really the correct word... but that's quibbling.

The end result is the same.

[Roland99]

3. Here's the full article >>>>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2070256,00.html


But, it's a good thing Hoon has "reconciled" his mind.


:eyes:

[Nikki Stone1]

4. SInce when does the VP override the President and the Secy of Defense?

The VP is usually there to attend state funerals and wave the gavel in Senate every once in a while. No, the fault for this thing lies on Shrub's shoulders.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Since Jan 2001.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. I don't buy it.

Sorry, just don't

[DearAbby]

6. Support Kucinich bill #333 -nt

[Robbien]

8. Well duh!

They have already reported that all information coming into the WH passes through Cheney staffers first.

Bush gets to play leader on TV while Cheney does all the work.