2 thoughts on ““Damned Lies and Statistics”, Al-Qaeda Edition”
pre-Boomer Marine brat
I can make a logical case (though perhaps not win the debate) that one American — L. Paul Bremer III — did more then any other person to bring about the formation of Al-Qaida In Iraq/ISIS (and in the long run, to empower its growth into Islamic State.)
Yes, other elements are crucial, such as Saddam’s 1990s “Return to Faith Campaign”. But Bremer created the chaotic societal environment which laid Iraq at Izzat al-Douri’s and Haji Bakr’s feet. Rational policies toward the post-Saddam armed forces and Ba’athist bureaucracy would have made al-Douri and Bakr’s job more difficult (not to mention Iran’s), putting them face-to-face with majority public opinion which wanted everything “Saddam” to disappear into the sunset.
Bremer doesn’t have blood merely on his hands. He’s drenched in it, from many different angles.
Kyle Orton's Blog 
I can make a logical case (though perhaps not win the debate) that one American — L. Paul Bremer III — did more then any other person to bring about the formation of Al-Qaida In Iraq/ISIS (and in the long run, to empower its growth into Islamic State.)
Yes, other elements are crucial, such as Saddam’s 1990s “Return to Faith Campaign”. But Bremer created the chaotic societal environment which laid Iraq at Izzat al-Douri’s and Haji Bakr’s feet. Rational policies toward the post-Saddam armed forces and Ba’athist bureaucracy would have made al-Douri and Bakr’s job more difficult (not to mention Iran’s), putting them face-to-face with majority public opinion which wanted everything “Saddam” to disappear into the sunset.
Bremer doesn’t have blood merely on his hands. He’s drenched in it, from many different angles.
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(And I have a copy of Bremer’s book “My Year In Iraq”)
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