[lit-ideas] Re: Piggy-eyed wonder
- From: "Stan Spiegel" <writeforu2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 16:52:05 -0400
>"I still don't understand why it was so difficult for those in the
positions of planning to SEE that they ought to >have thought of all sorts
of possibilities which might have occurred and then to have set in place
various >contingency plans. (I'm always creating plans A, B, and C in my own
little life...<wry look>) "
* * * * * * *
Marlena's comment above kinda shocks me. I thought everyone knew about
the"Future of Iraq" project that was in process for over a year before we
went to war .This planning was done in the State department.
Iraqi-Americans, among others, in a wide spectrum of fields, --the law, the
military, planning, etc. -- were brought together and broken up into
subgroups to plan for and anticipate just what would happen in the aftermath
of the war. It was done just the way war planning was done -- and just as
thoroughly.
So what happened? Rumsfeld and the Pentagon told everyone to throw it in the
garbage. All the meetings and planning, discussions and reports that led up
to planning for the chaos after the war was ignored. This was another
instance of where the real battle was taking place: among 3 different
groups. No, it wasn't the Sunnis, the Kurds and the Shiites. It was the
State Dept, the Defense Dept and the White House. Anchored in the real
world, we had done the planning for the aftermath. Colin Powell didn't
assert himself and acted like the good soldier he is. All the dummies with
no inkling about what happens in war took over.
Colin Powell thought the same way you do, Marlena. When planning a giant
enterprise like a war, you need to anticipate the"what if's" and plan for
them. This wasn't a gender issue. It was a dumbo issue. The dumbos were in
charge. And they still are. The nice thing about dumbos is they never seem
to learn from experience.
Stan Spiegel
----- Original Message -----
From: <Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx>
To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 1:23 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Piggy-eyed wonder
> Hi,
> I still don't understand why it was so difficult for those in the
positions of planning to SEE that they ought to have thought of all sorts of
possibilities which might have occurred and then to have set in place
various contingency plans. (I'm always creating plans A, B, and C in my own
little life...<wry look>)
>
> I still think there are several scenarios which could be set in place
which would be very creative and not only 'salvage' what is left of Iraqi
culture but which would actually create something new for everyone. The lack
of creativity which keeps coming out of those who actually have the
power/control to do something about what is happening--it stuns me.
>
> Side question: Did anyone else see the CEO of Exxon on television a
couple of weeks ago? Was kind of interesting...he was very good at dodging
questions. (One would assume that he would be in order to be where he
was--obviously has had media spin training <wry look>)
>
> Another side note: I'll be in Houston next week and also the last week in
June if there are any who live in that area and would like to meet for
dinner/drinks. (Most of my evenings will be free) There is also the only
graduate program in the U.S. for Future Studies there, as well, and that
will be intriguing to explore. <g> I do like the Futurist magazine...
>
> Warmly,
> Marlena
>
> In a message dated 5/26/2004 12:49:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
andreas@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> > "I'm willing to say policy was still correct, but I'm not willing to
take
> > the blame for people's inability to carry it out in an
> > effective fashion."
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