[endthematrix]

There was varying opinions on troop strength needed to topple the regime. Gen Downing (ret) really only wanted Iraqi exiles and expatriates with SOCOM cover to invade and cause a coupe. Gen Zinni (ret) thought it was a joke. Gen. Shinseki thought about 300,00 would do.

[jmc1969]

I actually think looking back the coup (with US air support and some US ground support) would have worked best.

The vast majority of the Iraqi military would have been loyal to someone like Allawi if we placed him there and bribed the right people.

But, it is like crying over spilled milk, it is fun to talk about counterfactuals, but you can never tell 100% what would have happened if X was changed in the past.

There turned out to be unexpected benifits going the hard way as we ended up doing. Zarqawi has managed to turn the Arab world against al-Qaeda in a way that would have never happened if the war had been over quickly.

[LegendHasIt]

Well, given that the regime was toppled VERY quickly with comparatively tiny losses compared to what was predicted, I'd say that they did it just about right.

Oh, by the way, my first post wasn't particularly directed at you, I was just spouting off and yours was the last post, so I clicked on it to reply.