Wargame: Iraq (MSNBC's simulation of a National Security Council Meeting on Iraq)

Monday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m. ET Go inside the highest levels of the U.S. government as it prepares for a possible war with Saddam Hussein

Secaucus, NJ, Nov. 18 — In a unique special event, MSNBC presents “Wargame: Iraq,” a look at how President George Bush and his top advisors might decide to attack Iraq. “Wargame: Iraq,” airing Monday, Nov. 25, 10 p.m.-12 a.m. ET, is an intense, dramatic look at simulated meetings of the National Security Council, enacted by veterans of past administrations and experts in foreign policy, as they decide the parameters for going to war.

NBC NEWS and experts from the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations collaborated to create a scenario based upon real-life circumstances currently in play. The scenario begins with United Nations weapons inspectors on the ground in Baghdad, 50,000 U.S. troops in the region and a declaration by Saddam Hussein that he is not in possession of any weapons of mass destruction. The United States has ambiguous information to the contrary. In two separate sessions, the mock Council must cope with a series of increasingly difficult fictional developments in Iraq and around the world, and at each turn decide: what are the President’s options? Is Iraq in material breach of its obligations to the United Nations? And should the President proceed with military action?

“‘Wargame: Iraq’ provides the viewer with a unique look at how the president’s top advisors may decide whether our nation goes to war,” says Mark Lukasiewicz, Executive Producer, “Wargame: Iraq,” and Executive Producer, Special Projects, NBC News. “It’s an in-depth look at how the toughest decisions in the world could be made.”

“National Security Council meetings - many of which I attended during my government service - are messy, tough and intense, all of which you get to see in this wargame,” says Council President Leslie H. Gelb.

Did anyone else watch this. I found it very interesting plus a little frustrating to watch.

The timeline of the simulation started in December 2002 and ended 3 weeks later, roughly Christmas time.

Here come spoilers, so if you want to catch a repeat dont read any further.....

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Inspectors are on the ground in Iraq when during a NSC meeting evidence comes in that Iraq is cheating and while stalling inspectors at a pharmacoutical plant, it sends bus loads of equipment out the back as well as through a secret tunnel complex to a neighboring hospital. This is caught on satellite photos.

The NSC meeting has all the players representing Condi, Powell, Rumsfeld, Joint Chief, CIA director, Ridge, UN Ambasador, and the Energy Secretary. The players in this simulation are taking on the personalities and politics of their actual counterparts.

Right away there is conflict between Rumsfeld and Powell with Rumsfeld having no confidence in the inspectors or the process. Powell and the UN ambassador are pushing for more diplomatioc efforts and time to build a stronger case for material breach.

Later in the meeting, we see further efforts by Iraqis to block inspections using equipment to block roads. We see additional evidence of Iraqis torching and sanitizing evidence in buildings. Later as the UN Inspectors head towards a site, the Republican Guard follows them. As the UN is about to discover a cache of weapons, the Iraqis turn over a cache of VX which they claim was manufactured by a renegade faction of the Republican Guard.

Noone buys this story in the meeting, but before the Iraqis can be questioned by the UN inspectors, 18 Iraqi soldiers are summarily executed. Meanwhile, tension, bombing and fighting is on the increase in Israel. Powell bitches about how we should have spent more time dealing with Israel and forcing a solution. The energy secretary begins to also chime in calling for a token gesture to pacify the Palestinians and arab allies like Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Ridge informs the NSC that a recent detainee after being interrogated reveals a threat against US energy interests, specifically natural gas carriers and ports. Ridge is frustrated as he does not have enough assets to cover everything and aks for the president to make a priority on what to watch. he wants to raise the threat condition to Orange for the industry. The Energy Secretary says the oil companies wil freak out, and this warning will be leaked to the press within 2 hours.

After additional fighting in Israel, Israeli tanks move into Ramallah. Immediately complaints come in from the French, Syria, Russia, Turkey, etc. threatening to issue a UN resolution condemning Israel. Again we see more fights between Powell, Rumsfeld and the UN ambassador calling for more diplomacy. Even the Energy Secy is calling for a show of support for the Palestinians to keep the coalition together. The Joint Chiefs throughout is confident he can carry out a military operation.

Meanwhile US troops are building up in the Gulf.

A terrorist attack is carried out against the Alaskan pipeline and a full tanker in the Gulf of Mexico 200 miles from Houston. The pipeline is knocked out, the tanker is hit by a suicide boat and is leaking oil, and immediately the Energy Secy says the price of oil will rise $5 a barrel greatly impacting the economy. Oil reserves have already been tapped.

Riots are breaking out in Qatar and there are huge concerns that the ruling regime will be overthrown. It is recommended that Bush call Qatar to offer his support.

Iraq issues an additional threat saying that anyone who attacks the US will be a great ally of Iraq.

At this point, Arafat is gravely injured when israeli tanks fire on his compound in Ramallah after terrorist bombings. The buidling Arafat is in collapses and he is rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He is in surgery. Powell and the UN amsassador's faces look ashen and they say this the most serious thing they have discussed today.

At this point the doves on the NSC are coming to the conclusion that there is notthing to be gained by waiting any more. Rumsfeld insists we cannot wait a year to attack Iraq as we will look weak and be subject to further terrorist attacks. Powell agrees that the time for diplomacy may be other.

And thats how the show ends.......

btw, where is James Bond, the evil guys cat and bin laden purring "killing you would be too easy"? I'm sure it is in there somewhere... and the 30-second self-destruct button?

From HOW TO BE AN EVIL OVERLORD
Or The 100 Things One Ought To Do After They've Conquered The Universe
by Peter Anspach

4. Shooting is not too good for my enemies.

6. I will not gloat over my enemies' predicament before killing them.

7. When I've captured my adversary and he says, ``Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?'' I'll say, ``No.'' and shoot him. No, on second thought I'll shoot him then say ``No.''

9. I will not include a self-destruct mechanism unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary, it will not be a large red button labeled ``Danger: Do Not Push''. The big red button marked ``Do Not Push'' will instead trigger a spray of bullets on anyone stupid enough to disregard it. Similarly, the ON/OFF switch will not clearly be labeled as such.

10. I will not interrogate my enemies in the inner sanctum -- a small hotel well outside my borders will work just as well.

15. I will never employ any device with a digital countdown. If I find that such a device is absolutely unavoidable, I will set it to activate when the counter reaches 117 and the hero is just putting his plan into operation.

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