Bush lied about Iraqi de-Baathification being unintentional

What a wild rhetorical ride this has been over the last few days!

Late last week, I cited evidence that the Bush Administration encouraged looting after the fall of Saddam Hussein in order to help downsize government and privatize it for defense contractors. 

According to a book on newsstands starting today, Bush said his policy all along was "to keep the (Iraqi) army intact" -- in other words, Bush was never kept in the loop about de-Baathification.

That turns out to be a lie.  Paul Bremer, the former had of the Coalition Provisional Authority, saw Bush's quote and disputes it.  Bremer says Bush gave him the OK to fracture the remaining elements of the Baath government:

A previously undisclosed exchange of letters shows that President Bush was told in advance by his top Iraq  envoy in May 2003 of a plan to “dissolve Saddam’s military and intelligence structures,” a plan that the envoy, Paul L. Bremer, said referred to dismantling the Iraqi Army.

Mr. Bremer provided the letters to The New York Times on Monday afterreading that Mr. Bush was quoted in a new book as saying that Americanpolicy had been “to keep the army intact” but that it “didn’t happen.”

“We must make it clear to everyone that we mean business: that Saddamand the Baathists are finished,” Mr. Bremer wrote in a letter that wasdrafted on May 20, 2003, and sent to the president on May 22 through Donald H. Rumsfeld, then secretary of defense.

One day later, Mr. Bush wrote back a short thank you letter. “Yourleadership is apparent,” the president wrote. “You have quickly made apositive and significant impact. You have my full support andconfidence.”

In the end, both Bush and Bremer are guilty.  But by leaking this information to the New York Times, Bremer is reminding everyone that this was Bush's decision too.  He had complete control over what happened, and was in constant contact with Bremer.  It was not as if Bremer screwed him over.

Lastly, the words, "You have my full support and confidence" really underscore Bush's indifference to detail.  Disbanding the Iraqi army was a huge decision.  Where were the tough questions?

Comments

[Jon]

Sounds to me like a very late admission that it wasn't a good idea but in a way that denies all responsibility. For a lame duck president he sure is annoying as ever.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

The thing that makes me laugh is that Freedom Institute he wants to set up! I mean, for crying out loud, Mr. Bush, stay away from foreign policy matters when you leave! Stay in Crawford. Enjoy your life. Just stay out of politics forever.