Ties to GOP trumped skill on Iraq team

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Wasington Post

After the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in April 2003, the opportunity to participate in the U.S.-led effort to reconstruct Iraq attracted all manner of Americans -- restless professionals, Arabic-speaking academics, development specialists and war-zone adventurers. But before they could go to Baghdad, they had to get past Jim O'Beirne's office in the Pentagon.

To pass muster with O'Beirne, a political appointee who screens prospective political appointees for Defense Department posts, applicants didn't need to be experts in the Middle East or in post-conflict reconstruction. What seemed most important was loyalty to the Bush administration.

O'Beirne's staff posed blunt questions to some candidates about domestic politics: Did you vote for George W. Bush in 2000? Do you support the way the president is fighting the war on terror? Two people who sought jobs with the U.S. occupation authority said they were even asked their views on Roe v. Wade.

Many of those chosen by O'Beirne's office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq's government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance -- but had applied for a White House job -- was sent to reopen Baghdad's stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq's $13 billion budget, even though they didn't have a background in accounting.

The decision to send the loyal and the willing instead of the best and the brightest is now regarded by many people involved in the 3 1/2 -year effort to stabilize and rebuild Iraq as one of the Bush administration's gravest errors. Many of those selected because of their political fidelity spent their time trying to impose a conservative agenda on the postwar occupation that sidetracked more important reconstruction efforts and squandered goodwill among the Iraqi people, according to many people who participated in the reconstruction effort.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14868608/

[patricks 0]

Yeah, I just read the article in today's (Sunday) Washington Post, front section.

The situation "was and is" pathetic!

Now, how do we get out of the mess that this incompetent, supreme court appointed, leader got us into?

P

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yeah, I just read the article in today's (Sunday) Washington Post, front section.

The situation "was and is" pathetic!

Now, how do we get out of the mess that this incompetent, supreme court appointed, leader got us into?

P

Unfortunately, I think whoever is going to get elected next President will inherit this mess. Hopefully though, it will be someone who actually listens to expert advice and they will change the course we're on.

[mmmbop1976 1]

Yeah, I just read the article in today's (Sunday) Washington Post, front section.

The situation "was and is" pathetic!

Now, how do we get out of the mess that this incompetent, supreme court appointed, leader got us into?

P

Unfortunately, I think whoever is going to get elected next President will inherit this mess. Hopefully though, it will be someone who actually listens to expert advice and they will change the course we're on.

just curious steve, what course do you think we should be on in Iraq?

[patricks 0]

Let THEM fight it out, it's their country.

There will be a Civil War, let the "chips fall"

OR

Pump more $$$ and more young American men and women

I choose the former...........

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The sectarian violence has to be stopped and some stability restored to that country before we can even think about pulling out.

I read the other day that troops were being pulled out of the main insurgent controlled province to stop the violence in Baghdad, and that calls for increasing the number of ground troops have been rejected by the administration.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

just curious steve, what course do you think we should be on in Iraq?

Start by getting rid of every hack that was given a position in the rebuilding of Iraq and replace them with qualified people.

Give the Iraqi's what they've been asking us for - a timeline for the gradual withdrawal of troops. Work on diplomatic relations with Iran to help stabilize Iraq. Acknowledge to the world community our transgressions and mistakes and offer transparency and accountability.

Edited September 17, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky