We received a considerable response - some good, some bad, some downright nasty - to our story about a study by Dr. Joseph J. Collins of the National Defense University of the Bush administration's decision to go to war against Iraq and the planning and aftermath of the March 2003 invasion. Here's what the author himself had to say about the version of our story published in the Miami Herald, which declined to print his letter.
Joseph J. Collins
3909 Franconia Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22310
April 21, 2008
To the Editor:
The Miami Herald story about my paper ("Pentagon Study: War is a 'Debacle'," April 18, 2008) distorted the nature and intent of its subject. The paper in question, Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and its Aftermath, was not a “National Defense University” study, nor was it a “Pentagon Study.” The disclaimer on page vi of the study clearly identifies this work as unofficial and personal, not a government “report,” as you portrayed it.
This study examines how the United States chose to go to war in Iraq, how the U.S. decision-making process functioned, and what can be done to improve that process. The implication of the Herald story was that this study was mostly about current events or future policy. Such is not the case.
The study is about reforming decision-making, not apportioning blame. It does not "lay much of the blame" on Secretary Rumsfeld for problems in the conduct of the war, nor does it say that he "bypassed the Joint Chiefs of Staff." It does not single out "Condoleeza Rice and Stephen Hadley" for criticism, nor does it blame them for faulty decisions.
Your readers deserve a better summary of this paper than you gave them. I urge them to download the study (www.ndu.edu/inss/Occasional_Papers/OP5.pdf ) and read it for themselves.
Joseph J. Collins
Professor, National War College
I saw this letter last week. He musta got into some trouble.
I am sure he is happy to accept the imprimatur of ndu and the pentagon when listing this on his resume.
Look at the front page, it has their brand all over it.
Posted by: pontificant | April 29, 2008 at 04:51 PM
Today, May 1st, is the fifth anniversary of GW declaring victory in Iraq, all dressed up in his tailored flight suit aboard an aircraft carrier. How is the Pentagon going to spin that. I suggest we celebrate May 1st as an annual tribute to bozos and all dress in tailored flight suits.
Posted by: ward | May 01, 2008 at 03:51 PM
I wish people would stop harping on the "Mission Accomplished" thing. It's five years old. Find something more recent that Bush did to complain about...it's not like doing that is particularly difficult.
Posted by: Nick | May 02, 2008 at 11:01 PM