How much time and effort did Bush spend learning about Iraq BEFORE the invasion?

Question

Not surprising to see some neos below blaming Clinton for Bush's extremely flawed judgement.

Answer 1

None. He couldn't pronounce it, couldn't spell it and couldn't find it on a globe. Probably still can't.

Answer 2

He didn't know enough about Karbala, Nor did he watch the movie Lawrence of Arabia. If he had considered those 2 items he might have crafted a better winning the peace stratigy. At the same time I doubt he felt he'd have the terrorist's 5th column to contented with at home.

Answer 3

The military strategists would have aided in being responsible for garnering this information for the cabinet in large part. The Mid East has always been an area of roiling conflict and it is probably diffficult at best to "pin them into any category'.

Answer 4

He obviously spent ZERO time understanding Iraq or our enemies, otherwise we wouldn't be there. he would have know that Ira and Saddam's "Secular" state wwas in complete opposition to Irans Theocratic state and Al-Qaida's ideology. They wanted Saddam gone and us in Iraq more than we did. Iran had tried to get rid of Saddam for decades and he was the only dividing faction in the region that kept everyone from uniting under the same radical ideeology and Theology.


Danny BM - You sir are an idiot. He or no one else knew there was so much conflict between Sunnis and Shiite? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! This has been going on between them forever. You would have had to be frozen in about 1000 BC and Unfrozen yesteerday NOT to know that! That is how every regime and leadership change has occured over the years in Iraq. Sunnis ruled, then Shiite killed themk and took over, then Sunni killed them and took over and so on..read a book for gods sake! There are alot of books on history
Phil081943 - Wow, youmight want to do some research yourself. Clinton;s intelligence CHief Richard CLark was adamant bout his oppostion to war and everyhting he said in 2002 until now about Iraq and Al-WQaeda have all been exactly right and Bush ahs always refused to listen. G. Tenet made Bush take the Niger Document reference out of hsi speech because it wasn't true but bush put it back in when he went to congeress for autorization for war. Bush ignored him the whole time.

GZ - yeah..spreading Democracy at gunpoint to people who don't want it and don't understand our Democracy. The constitution of Iraq says Sharia law (islamic Law ) is the only true law. This is almost identical to Irans government. Where islamic and religious law comes first. Iraq has regressed in freedoms since we have been there. They had the largest number of wome proffesionals and govenrment workers in the arab world, now they are back to wearing Burquas.

Answer 5

Oh, LOTS! I mean, there were, like MONTHS to just, you know, sort of, ah... Well, just LOTS of time!

There was, like, the EXIT STRATEGY that had to be planned, considering the POWELL DOCTRINE, maintaining the INFRASTRUCTURE, and... well, just everything!

Take a look at Bob Woodward's "State of Denial." Very interesting read about blunders and ignorance about Iraq, its culture and the planning of the "war."

Answer 6

not much really. i don't think he or anyone else understood the hostility between Sunni and Shiite. I don't know if Pres. Bush even cared who the people in Iraq are.

But we must continue moving forward.

Answer 7

Enough for the information he had which a lot of came from the Clinton administration.
God Bless America our Troops and Commander in Chief !!!

Answer 8

Iraq, Iran, they look kinda the same.
Sorta in the same area.
I think he through a dart.

Answer 9

I think he had those like flip cards that have nations on the front and important stats on the back...

he was looking for the nations that had a key export of oil...

he should have read his dad's book...

Answer 10

I believe he was briefed by both his own people & Clinton old "experts". So he got the best advise there was to get. It is not his fault the " experts " didnt know anything.