Newly released documents reveal that a senior U.S. official confessed that he believes President George W. Bush is on a “divine mission” against Iraqi insurgents. President Tony Blair's advisers privately questioned whether the US had “adequate political control” over military operations in Iraq.
Documents released to the National Archives show that following the US military operation to quell a large-scale riot in the city of Fallujah in April 2004, Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the then US president to take a “more measured approach”. It was necessary to “convey the difficult message'' that he wanted. Kew, West London.
In a surprisingly candid conversation recorded in a document marked “Very Carefully Protected,” Richard “Rich” Armitage, then the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, spoke with David, then the British Ambassador. -Told Lord Manning that Bush needed a “dose of reality”. It came after four private military contractors were ambushed and killed in Fallujah, and after U.S. forces engaged in bloody battles with Iraqi insurgents, he called on the U.S. military to “go all out.”
Mr Armitage urged Prime Minister Blair to use his influence on a trip to Washington scheduled for April 16 to urge President Bush to address the Fallujah issue “as part of a carefully judged political process”. I appealed.
Less than a year after the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in May 2003, the U.S. had begun “Operation Vigilant Resolve'' in Fallujah.
Initially, President Bush, under the influence of his military generals, wanted to “fight back'' against the U.S. Marines occupying the city. However, politicians from the Coalition Interim Authority, which was established after the fall of Saddam's regime, were concerned that the U.S. military's response could undermine hopes of establishing an independent Iraqi government.
President Bush backed off after “facing this 'massive reality,'” Manning reported for No. 10.
“Rich summed it all up by saying that Bush still thinks he's on some kind of God-given mission, but recent events have made him “rather sober.” is. ”
After the overthrow of Hussein by U.S.-British forces, President Bush famously declared, “Mission accomplished.'' However, the White House has previously denied that President Bush told a Palestinian delegation in 2003 that God spoke to him and told him, “George, go fight the terrorists in Afghanistan'' and “George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq.'' He has dismissed reports that he said so privately as “ridiculous.” ”
Mr Armitage dismissed claims by General John Abizaid, the commander in chief of US forces in Iraq, that the Fallujah uprising could be crushed within days as “bullshit” and “politically crude”. Mr. Armitage believes that the United States is “gradually losing on the battlefield” and that it is “inevitable” that the administration will have to send in more troops, which would be “politically ugly” for Mr. Bush. Manning reported.
No. 10 was nervous about the US military's response. A briefing paper held in advance of Blair's visit to Washington in April 2004 said that events in Fallujah had “depleted a significant portion of the Coalition's political capital''.
“Publicly, we will want to emphasize our continued commitment to seeing this mission through, but privately we will emphasize the need for a more measured approach by the U.S. military, with appropriate political oversight.” “The occupation will definitely end on July 1st.”
He added: “The Prime Minister may ask President Bush questions about whether there is adequate political control over military operations.” “and pay little attention to the impact on Iraqis and their people.” Regional Audience. ”
Lord Nigel Sheinwald, Prime Minister Blair's foreign policy adviser, said in a memo to the prime minister that Britain's main concerns were “the poor response of the United States” and “the disproportionate military tactics of the United States – their actions in Fallujah”. “What we did looked like it was collective action on Iraqi TV screens.” “Punishment” and “Apocalyptic Media Treatment.”
At the time, the United States lost 27 soldiers in Fallujah, and about 200 rebels and 600 Iraqi civilians were believed to have been killed. Allied forces captured the city in a second offensive launched in November 2004. U.S. troops remained in Iraq until 2011.
