"A Shelf Full of Books Chronicle Iraq Policy, Strategy"

NPR: Steve Inskeep's discussion with George Packer (October 24, 2006) The website provides streaming audio of the discussion as well as transcript and links.

"A slew of recently released books examine U.S. policy and military strategy behind the Iraq war. Steve Inskeep discusses them with George Packer, author of 2005's highly acclaimed The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq."

Comment: It is important for the government to have knowledge and understanding of situations for good decisions to be made. It is also important that the knowledge and understanding be brought to bear on the decisions. It is important for decisions to be made well utilizing the knowledge and understanding that can be brought to bear. In the case of Iraq, what little I know suggests that there was unfortunately little knowledge and understanding in the government of the country, nor of how an occupying power maintains order, nor of nation building. It seems that what knowledge and understanding there was was not brought to bear on many important decisions. It also seems that the process of decision making was often faulty, making decisions in Washington that should have been made in Iraq, in the Green Zone that should have been made by Iraqis, in the civilian ranks rather than the military, etc. JAD