The stream of high level people that were in the government during the planning and invasion of Iraq are coming forward. Over the weekend Gen Colin Powell clearly verifies what many other have said about the planning of this war -IT WAS A MISTAKE.
The list includes:
Gen Powell
Gen Shinsecki
Gen Zinni
Gen Trainor
Gen Franks
Ambassador Bremer
Gen McCaffery
Gen Clark
And many others.
If you read the books by Generals Zinni and Trainor you can even see how Gen Franks disagreed with Bush and Rumsfeld.
When the invasion plan was presented after Bush took over the plan called for just under 500,000 troops of all types to successfully invade and CONTROL Iraq. Under intense pressure as clearly documented in Gen Trainor's book, when Rumsfeld learned the plan required 500,000 troops he said that was not correct and told Franks it would only take 150,000. Gen Franks was instructed to revise the plan and reduce the number of troops. He returned with a requirement of 385,000 And Rumsfeld rejected it again. Gen Franks went back and came with the final number 300,000. What did Bush send? 150,000. All this advice except Ambassador Bremer's input was BEFORE the war and was TOTALLY rejected by Bush. Zinni warned a Senate committee BEFORE THE WAR that the lower troop levels WOULD NOT enable us to control IRAQ.
In addition to the list of the most senior generals there are dozens of one and two star generals that were part of this war that have said we did not sent the needed force levels to prevent the insurgency that we see today. Three Years ago Bush proclaimed, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Major Combat Operations in Iraq have ENDED. Why did we have 67 Dead last month Mr. President? Why have we lost 2,000 of the 2,400 deaths since you claimed Mission Accomplished? Why did we suffer 15,000 combat injuries AFTER Mission Accomplished? When is the needless war going to end for our brave military?
This war will be the subject of MANY autopsies and will continue to show what happens when we elect a president with NO EXPERIENCE and one that WILL NOT ACCEPT THE ADVICE FROM THOSE WITH THE EXPERIENCE!