INVADING IRAQ WILL BE A CAKEWALK

Remember those exciting days when the war first started? Remember the confidence and national pride? Remember how our troops were going to be cheered as liberators? Remember how we were going to be out of there in ninety days? Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution remembers, and he seems pretty angry about the White House's massive self-delusion:

In response, defenders of postwar planning in essence ask, "Who knew . . . ?"

Who knew Iraq's oil industry was so decrepit? Who predicted guerrilla war? Who knew it would cost so much? Who knew that the Iraqi army, which we disbanded back in May, would have been so useful in keeping peace?

Well, a lot of people knew. The administration simply did not listen.

And

But perhaps the most perceptive work was done by the U.S. Army War College, the military's own think tank. Its report, issued in February, reads like an after-the-fact autopsy:

• "Having entered into Iraq, the United States will find itself unable to leave rapidly, despite the many pressures to do so."

• "A small number of terrorists could reasonably choose to attack U.S. forces in the hope that they can incite an action-reaction cycle that will enhance their cause and increase their numbers."

• "If the United States assumes control of Iraq, it will assume control of a badly battered economy."

• "To tear apart the [Iraqi] army in the war's aftermath could lead to the destruction of one of the only forces for unity within the society."

For the entire essay, click here.

Thanks to Eschaton for the link.

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