http://www.thinkprogress.org/Bremer Whitewashes His Record In Iraq »
Today, Paul Bremer, the former head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, releases a new book on his year in Iraq. Bremer is currently embarking on a media tour to pitch the book, and in doing so, is contradicting many of the false assertions he made about Iraq while he was in a position of authority.
ON U.S. TROOP LEVELS
Bremer Now: I Wanted More Troops
B. WILLIAMS: Just days after he got the job, Bremer says he saw an alarming report from a think tank, concluding it would take three times more US troops to stabilize Iraq than had actually been sent. He says he tried to get the attention of his direct boss—Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. You’ll need a half million soldiers. It’s a piece of paper you sent to Secretary Rumsfeld. How did he react to that?
BREMER: So I sent a summary of it around to Rumsfeld and just said, “I thought you should take a look at this.” I never had any reaction from him.
Bremer Then: I Have Enough Troops
Q: Is the current troops strength adequate to produce the security that you’ll think is need now?
BREMER: Yeah I think it is.
ON THE IRAQI INSURGENCY,,,,,,,,,,