Politics Trumped Competence When Selecting Staff to Rebuild Iraq

[Xiahou]

Tommy Franks was one of the few generals who had experience and were willing to take on the task. However, he was too much of a Powellist for the administration's tastes, so they soon replaced him with Bremer, who was a liberal extremist like themselves. Freedoms everywhere predictably led to anarchy and stupendous levels of corruption, as had happened in post-Tsarist Russia. Liberals elsewhere understand their idealism have to tempered by the need to avoid revolution. Given a blank slate and no need to account to the populace, the US administration in Iraq was free to pursue their liberalist dreams without the need to observe practical restrictions, and the result is what we see now.

Bremer didnt replace Franks. Franks didnt head the CPA either- it was Retired Lieutenant General Jay Garner I was thinking of. I think alot of the problems with the rampant looting lack to a clampdown on it were laid at his feet. Lemur could probably elaborate more if he's reading a book on it.