The report states:
• The British headquarters suffered from a lack of good quality officers
• Lack of planning put Britain and the US, as occupying powers, in "breach" of the Geneva Convention
• Lack of planning resulted in delays before essential reconstruction could begin
• Not enough funding was requested by senior commanders or approved by the Treasury
• British commanders were forced to work to an ideologically driven US timetable
• Restrictive operational security meant that few people in Government were involved in planning.
The report also says that the main focus of US commanders was the stabilisation of Baghdad and that they were "unresponsive" to the concerns of their British counter-parts for the worsening situation in southern Iraq.
| As if they would have listened to us. Right-o, old chap. |
One officer wrote that the Britain was committed to an ideologically driven US timetable, adding: "The train was on Grand Central station, and was leaving at a time which we did not control."
More hand wringing here and here.
A sad moment. I suspect this may be Britain's last appearance as a positive player on the world stage. Should she ever again have the will, she won't have the means. And the Argies know it. |