[hinckley buzzard]

The mass of Iraqis appear to care about clan and tribe and which kind of moslem they are, but little else. The heady days of the purple thumb elections seem like a vanishing illusion.

[Leaning Right]

The mass of Iraqis appear to care about clan and tribe and which kind of moslem they are, but little else.

That's right, that's exactly right. And it's something Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld should have known, and prepared for.

But as far as I can see, absolutely no such planning existed. Iraq was to be occupied much like Japan and Germany were after WW II. Print up a nice constitution, and then give everybody a voting card.

But as you noted, Iraqi "society" is quite different from Japanese and German society. Any Middle east expert could have told Bush that. Heck, anyone who has traveled through the region could have told Bush that.

[Starboard]

True that. Good comment.