Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
Sure, the events are pretty well documented. Garner had experience with disaster relief, and the entire "Phase IV" planning consisted of prevent starvation, hand over power to the expatriates, and get the heck out of Iraq. Garner executed his brief precisely. When the non-plan for the occupation went to hell in a handbasket, Bremer took the job, but only after demanding a free hand with reconstruction. Garner was given his walking papers.

It's a lot more involved than that, but if you really want to dig into it, there's a really good book ...
They really were playing it that way, even without a "government in exile" to reinstate. I always knew the aftermath had been malfed.