"Garner helped these Kurdish leaders win autonomy win autonomy from win autonomy from Saddam win autonomy from Saddam after win autonomy from Saddam after the win autonomy from Saddam after the" "1991 Gulf 1991 Gulf War." "It" "It was" "It was like" "It was like going" "It was like going into" "It was like going into Paris" "It was like going into Paris in" "It was like going into Paris in 1944 or or whatever, or whatever, the or whatever, the freedom or whatever, the freedom and or whatever, the freedom and so or whatever, the freedom and so forth." "forth." "There forth." "There were forth." "There were thousands forth." "There were thousands of forth." "There were thousands of people people on people on the people on the streets." "people on the streets." "The people on the streets." "The children people on the streets." "The children were were all were all dressed were all dressed up were all dressed up in were all dressed up in dresses." "were all dressed up in dresses." "There" "There were" "There were flowers" "There were flowers being" "There were flowers being thrown." "There were flowers being thrown." "Everywhere" "Everywhere we" "Everywhere we loblegd," "Everywhere we loblegd, people" "Everywhere we loblegd, people were" "Everywhere we loblegd, people were cheering cheering and cheering and -- cheering and -- looked, cheering and -- looked, people cheering and -- looked, people were cheering and -- looked, people were cheering" "cheering and cheering and there cheering and there were cheering and there were signs cheering and there were signs welcoming welcoming me welcoming me back." "welcoming me back." "It welcoming me back." "It makes welcoming me back." "It makes you welcoming me back." "It makes you feel welcoming me back." "It makes you feel good." "good." "Kurdistan" "Kurdistan after" "Kurdistan after 12" "Kurdistan after 12 years" "Kurdistan after 12 years of" "Kurdistan after 12 years of self" "Kurdistan after 12 years of self rule rule under rule under western rule under western protection rule under western protection showed rule under western protection showed what what might what might be what might be possible what might be possible in" "what might be possible in the what might be possible in the rest what might be possible in the rest of of Iraq." "of Iraq." "of Iraq." "what might be possible in the rest of Iraq." "With of Iraq." "With Saddam of Iraq." "With Saddam gone, of Iraq." "With Saddam gone, the of Iraq." "With Saddam gone, the Kurdish" "Kurdish leaders" "Kurdish leaders wanted" "Kurdish leaders wanted to" "Kurdish leaders wanted to secure" "Kurdish leaders wanted to secure their their position." "their position." "They their position." "They arranged their position." "They arranged a lake their position." "They arranged a lake side side lunch side lunch for side lunch for Garner." "side lunch for Garner." "We side lunch for Garner." "We were side lunch for Garner." "We were wondering wondering what wondering what was wondering what was the wondering what was the Iraq wondering what was the Iraq policy wondering what was the Iraq policy and and how and how they and how they would and how they would rule" "and how they would rule Iraq. and how they would rule Iraq." "I said, said, "" "said, " Look, said, " Look, I can't said, " Look, I can't let said, " Look, I can't let you said, " Look, I can't let you go" "said, " Look, I can't let you go to said, " Look, I can't let you go to Baghdad" "Baghdad and" "Baghdad and form" "Baghdad and form a Government." "Baghdad and form a Government." "I'm" "Baghdad and form a Government." "I'm the the guy the guy that the guy that is the guy that is supposed the guy that is supposed to the guy that is supposed to form the guy that is supposed to form the the guy that is supposed to form the Government."" "Jay" "Jay was" "Jay was quite" "Jay was quite clear," "Jay was quite clear, this" "Jay was quite clear, this is" "Jay was quite clear, this is not about about you about you guys about you guys taking about you guys taking a over about you guys taking a over the about you guys taking a over the Government," "Government, it" "Government, it is" "Government, it is about" "Government, it is about you" "Government, it is about you know," "Government, it is about you know, coming coming to coming to Baghdad coming to Baghdad and coming to Baghdad and engaging coming to Baghdad and engaging in coming to Baghdad and engaging in discussions, discussions, it discussions, it is" "discussions, it is about discussions, it is about recognising discussions, it is about recognising there there are there are other there are other leaders there are other leaders here there are other leaders here that there are other leaders here that we" "there are other leaders here that we have have got have got to have got to bring have got to bring into have got to bring into this." "have got to bring into this." "The" "The Kurds" "The Kurds agreed" "The Kurds agreed to" "The Kurds agreed to meet" "The Kurds agreed to meet the" "The Kurds agreed to meet the ex-Highland ex-Highland opposition ex-Highland opposition leaders ex-Highland opposition leaders in ex-Highland opposition leaders in Baghdad." "Baghdad." "Garner" "Baghdad." "Garner was" "Baghdad." "Garner was in" "Baghdad." "Garner was in a rush" "Baghdad." "Garner was in a rush to" "Baghdad." "Garner was in a rush to get" "Baghdad." "Garner was in a rush to get them them there." "them there." "He them there." "He was them there." "He was shaken them there." "He was shaken by them there." "He was shaken by what them there." "He was shaken by what he them there." "He was shaken by what he had had seen had seen in had seen in the had seen in the capital." "had seen in the capital." "Jay had seen in the capital." "Jay took had seen in the capital." "Jay took me had seen in the capital." "Jay took me aside aside and aside and said, aside and said, " I am aside and said, " I am worried." "aside and said, " I am worried." "This aside and said, " I am worried." "This is is not is not what is not what we is not what we expected."" "is not what we expected." We is not what we expected." We really is not what we expected." We really got got to got to get got to get this got to get this thing," "got to get this thing, moving, got to get this thing, moving, I said." "said." "There said." "There are said." "There are too said." "There are too many said." "There are too many vacuums said." "There are too many vacuums and" "I can't" "I can't fill" "I can't fill all" "I can't fill all the" "I can't fill all the vacuums." "I can't fill all the vacuums." "I don't don't have don't have enough don't have enough people." "don't have enough people." "His" "His words" "His words were," "His words were, " This" "His words were, " This is" "His words were, " This is slipping" "His words were, " This is slipping away away from away from us."" "away from us." Garner away from us." Garner had away from us." Garner had been away from us." Garner had been concerned concerned about concerned about Baghdad's concerned about Baghdad's essential" "concerned about Baghdad's essential services." "services." "I services." "I went services." "I went to services." "I went to the services." "I went to the hospital services." "I went to the hospital and" "I spent" "I spent a couple" "I spent a couple of" "I spent a couple of hours" "I spent a couple of hours there." "I spent a couple of hours there." "I talked talked to talked to the talked to the doctors." "talked to the doctors." "They talked to the doctors." "They didn't talked to the doctors." "They didn't have have anything." "have anything." "They have anything." "They didn't have anything." "They didn't have have anything." "They didn't have any have anything." "They didn't have any electricity electricity or electricity or anything. electricity or anything." "I went electricity or anything." "I went to electricity or anything." "I went to the the sewage the sewage facility the sewage facility and the sewage facility and there the sewage facility and there was the sewage facility and there was nobody nobody there. nobody there." "I thought nobody there." "I thought we nobody there." "I thought we have nobody there." "I thought we have got nobody there." "I thought we have got to to get to get this to get this thing to get this thing working to get this thing working and to get this thing working and if to get this thing working and if we" "to get this thing working and if we don't, don't, we're don't, we're going don't, we're going to don't, we're going to have don't, we're going to have an" "don't, we're going to have an epidemic." "epidemic." "The" "The Iraqi" "The Iraqi State" "The Iraqi State collapsed" "The Iraqi State collapsed and" "The Iraqi State collapsed and the" "The Iraqi State collapsed and the Americans" "Americans failed" "Americans failed to" "Americans failed to stop" "Americans failed to stop the" "Americans failed to stop the looters" "Americans failed to stop the looters overwhelming overwhelming Baghdad." "overwhelming Baghdad." "We" "We don't" "We don't have" "We don't have the" "We don't have the capacity" "We don't have the capacity to" "We don't have the capacity to take" "We don't have the capacity to take everybody everybody in, everybody in, especially everybody in, especially right everybody in, especially right now, everybody in, especially right now, so so we so we are" "so we are trying so we are trying to so we are trying to give so we are trying to give them so we are trying to give them the so we are trying to give them the advantage, advantage, if" "advantage, if they advantage, if they make advantage, if they make a mistake, advantage, if they make a mistake, they they correct they correct it." "they correct it." "They they correct it." "They see they correct it." "They see what they correct it." "They see what they they correct it." "They see what they did did wrong did wrong and did wrong and we did wrong and we let did wrong and we let them did wrong and we let them go." "did wrong and we let them go." "To" "To protect" "To protect their" "To protect their local" "To protect their local services," "To protect their local services, some some clerics some clerics set-up some clerics set-up Islamic some clerics set-up Islamic militias." "A" "A week" "A week after" "A week after Garner's" "A week after Garner's visit" "A week after Garner's visit to" "Kurdistan," "Kurdistan, the" "Kurdistan, the Kurds" "Kurdistan, the Kurds and" "Kurdistan, the Kurds and the" "Kurdistan, the Kurds and the exiled" "Kurdistan, the Kurds and the exiled opposition opposition leaders opposition leaders gathered opposition leaders gathered in opposition leaders gathered in Baghdad." "Baghdad." "Adnan" "Adnan Pacahachi" "Adnan Pacahachi had" "Adnan Pacahachi had been" "Adnan Pacahachi had been Foreign" "Adnan Pacahachi had been Foreign Minister" "Minister before" "Minister before Saddam" "Minister before Saddam took" "Minister before Saddam took power." "Minister before Saddam took power." "I was was happy was happy to was happy to be was happy to be back, was happy to be back, but was happy to be back, but I was was happy to be back, but I was appalled" "appalled by appalled by the appalled by the destruction appalled by the destruction that appalled by the destruction that the appalled by the destruction that the city city of city of my city of my birth city of my birth was" "city of my birth was reduced city of my birth was reduced to." "city of my birth was reduced to." "He" "He had" "He had worked" "He had worked closely" "He had worked closely with" "He had worked closely with the" "He had worked closely with the Americans" "Americans in" "Americans in the" "Americans in the run-up" "Americans in the run-up to" "Americans in the run-up to the" "Americans in the run-up to the war." "Americans in the run-up to the war." "He" "He had" "He had been" "He had been airlifted" "He had been airlifted airlifted" "He had been airlifted airlifted into" "He had been airlifted airlifted into Iraq" "Iraq with" "Iraq with his" "Iraq with his own" "Iraq with his own private" "Iraq with his own private army." "Iraq with his own private army." "We" "We lobbied" "We lobbied with" "We lobbied with the" "We lobbied with the US" "We lobbied with the US Government" "We lobbied with the US Government to" "We lobbied with the US Government to put put together put together a military put together a military force." "put together a military force." "We put together a military force." "We worked worked to worked to protect worked to protect whatever worked to protect whatever we worked to protect whatever we could worked to protect whatever we could from from what from what was from what was left from what was left in" "from what was left in Baghdad." "from what was left in Baghdad." "Mowaffak" "Mowaffak Rubaie" "Mowaffak Rubaie was" "Mowaffak Rubaie was an" "Mowaffak Rubaie was an Islamist." "Mowaffak Rubaie was an Islamist." "My" "My house" "My house was" "My house was confiscated" "My house was confiscated by" "My house was confiscated by Saddam" "My house was confiscated by Saddam Hussein." "Hussein." "So" "Hussein." "So I have" "Hussein." "So I have to" "Hussein." "So I have to go" "Hussein." "So I have to go to" "Hussein." "So I have to go to a hotel." "US" "US ambassador," "US ambassador, ZalMay" "US ambassador, ZalMay Kahlilzad" "US ambassador, ZalMay Kahlilzad also" "US ambassador, ZalMay Kahlilzad also arrived arrived in arrived in Baghdad." "arrived in Baghdad." "Went arrived in Baghdad." "Went up arrived in Baghdad." "Went up some arrived in Baghdad." "Went up some number number of number of floors number of floors and number of floors and there number of floors and there was number of floors and there was an number of floors and there was an oval oval shaped" "oval shaped table oval shaped table that oval shaped table that I vividly oval shaped table that I vividly recall recall and recall and there recall and there was recall and there was lots recall and there was lots of recall and there was lots of happy," "recall and there was lots of happy, but but at but at the but at the same but at the same time but at the same time tense but at the same time tense faces but at the same time tense faces because" "because they because they didn't because they didn't know because they didn't know what because they didn't know what their because they didn't know what their role role was role was going role was going to" "role was going to be." "I said" "I said we," "I said we, the" "I said we, the Iraqi" "I said we, the Iraqi opposition," "I said we, the Iraqi opposition, jointly jointly with jointly with the jointly with the people jointly with the people inside jointly with the people inside the jointly with the people inside the country, country, we country, we should" "country, we should form country, we should form an country, we should form an interim country, we should form an interim Government" "Government and" "Government and it" "Government and it is" "Government and it is a huge" "Government and it is a huge mis" "Government and it is a huge mis mistake mistake leaving mistake leaving the mistake leaving the country mistake leaving the country in mistake leaving the country in a vacuum." "vacuum." "He" "He sat" "He sat across" "He sat across the" "He sat across the table" "He sat across the table and" "He sat across the table and looked" "He sat across the table and looked at at me at me and at me and said," "at me and said, " Your at me and said, " Your idea at me and said, " Your idea for at me and said, " Your idea for a provisional provisional Government provisional Government is provisional Government is compelling." "compelling." "Everyone compelling." "Everyone has compelling." "Everyone has come compelling." "Everyone has come to compelling." "Everyone has come to accept accept it."" "accept it." We accept it." We want accept it." We want you accept it." We want you Iraqis accept it." We want you Iraqis to accept it." We want you Iraqis to dporm" "dporm an dporm an interle dporm an interle rim dporm an interle rim Government dporm an interle rim Government as dporm an interle rim Government as quickly quickly as quickly as possible." "quickly as possible." "We quickly as possible." "We had quickly as possible." "We had no quickly as possible." "We had no interest interest in interest in governing interest in governing Iraq." "interest in governing Iraq." "This" "This Government" "This Government will" "This Government will rule" "This Government will rule Iraq" "This Government will rule Iraq until" "This Government will rule Iraq until the the election the election is the election is held the election is held in the election is held in Baghdad." "the election is held in Baghdad." "We the election is held in Baghdad." "We all all welcomed all welcomed this." "all welcomed this." "We" "We discussed" "We discussed the" "We discussed the transitional" "We discussed the transitional Government." "Government." "We" "Government." "We agreed" "Government." "We agreed this" "Government." "We agreed this Government," "Government, this" "Government, this authority," "Government, this authority, ought" "Government, this authority, ought to" "Government, this authority, ought to be be from be from within be from within a -- be from within a -- ought be from within a -- ought to be from within a -- ought to be" "be from within a -- ought to be formed formed within formed within a month." "formed within a month." "The" "The ambassador" "The ambassador and" "The ambassador and General" "The ambassador and General Garner" "The ambassador and General Garner believed believed America believed America was believed America was well believed America was well on believed America was well on its believed America was well on its way believed America was well on its way to" "to accomplishing to accomplishing a mission." "to accomplishing a mission." "So to accomplishing a mission." "So apparently, apparently, did apparently, did President apparently, did President Bush." "apparently, did President Bush." "Major" "Major combat" "Major combat operations" "Major combat operations in" "Major combat operations in Iraq" "Major combat operations in Iraq have" "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended." "ended." "In ended." "In the ended." "In the Battle ended." "In the Battle of ended." "In the Battle of Iraq ended." "In the Battle of Iraq and ended." "In the Battle of Iraq and the ended." "In the Battle of Iraq and the United" "United States" "United States and" "United States and our" "United States and our allies" "United States and our allies have" "United States and our allies have prevailed." "prevailed." "APPLAUSE" "APPLAUSE But" "But in" "But in fact," "But in fact, the" "But in fact, the President" "But in fact, the President was" "But in fact, the President was already already nervous already nervous that already nervous that he already nervous that he did already nervous that he did not already nervous that he did not have already nervous that he did not have the" "the right the right team the right team in the right team in place the right team in place in the right team in place in Baghdad." "the right team in place in Baghdad." "General" "General Garner" "General Garner thought" "General Garner thought he" "General Garner thought he would" "General Garner thought he would have" "General Garner thought he would have three three months three months to three months to complete three months to complete his three months to complete his task." "three months to complete his task." "He" "He was" "He was wrong." "He was wrong." "There" "He was wrong." "There is" "He was wrong." "There is nobody" "He was wrong." "There is nobody clearly clearly in clearly in charge clearly in charge and clearly in charge and there clearly in charge and there is clearly in charge and there is a real real question real question of real question of law" "real question of law and real question of law and order real question of law and order and real question of law and order and it it causes it causes the it causes the President it causes the President to it causes the President to think," "it causes the President to think, " We" "We need" "We need to" "We need to accelerate" "We need to accelerate the" "We need to accelerate the transition" "We need to accelerate the transition from from Garner from Garner to from Garner to Gerry from Garner to Gerry Bremer." "from Garner to Gerry Bremer." "The from Garner to Gerry Bremer." "The president president had president had chosen president had chosen Gerry president had chosen Gerry Bremer president had chosen Gerry Bremer to president had chosen Gerry Bremer to take take over." "take over." "He take over." "He was take over." "He was close take over." "He was close adviser take over." "He was close adviser to take over." "He was close adviser to three three secretaries three secretaries of three secretaries of state." "three secretaries of state." "He three secretaries of state." "He had three secretaries of state." "He had a clear clear grasp clear grasp of clear grasp of Washington's clear grasp of Washington's priorities." "priorities." "The priorities." "The phone priorities." "The phone rang priorities." "The phone rang and priorities." "The phone rang and I picked picked up picked up the picked up the phone picked up the phone and picked up the phone and it picked up the phone and it was picked up the phone and it was Gerry" "picked up the phone and it was Gerry Bremer" "Bremer calling" "Bremer calling me" "Bremer calling me from" "Bremer calling me from DC." "I thought" "I thought he" "I thought he had" "I thought he had done" "I thought he had done a terrific" "I thought he had done a terrific job" "I thought he had done a terrific job under under very under very difficult under very difficult circumstances." "I was" "I was very" "I was very sensitive" "I was very sensitive to" "I was very sensitive to trying" "I was very sensitive to trying not" "I was very sensitive to trying not to to make to make the to make the transition to make the transition difficult to make the transition difficult for to make the transition difficult for him." "him." "He him." "He said," "him." "He said, " You him." "He said, " You know him." "He said, " You know the him." "He said, " You know the optics him." "He said, " You know the optics aren't aren't good." aren't good." I said," "aren't good." I said, " I'm aren't good." I said, " I'm not aren't good." I said, " I'm not sure" "I know" "I know what" "I know what you" "I know what you are" "I know what you are talking" "I know what you are talking about."" "I know what you are talking about." He" "He said" "He said the" "He said the press" "He said the press isn't" "He said the press isn't good." "He said the press isn't good." "I said, said, " said, " I don't said, " I don't control said, " I don't control the said, " I don't control the press."" "said, " I don't control the press." He" "He said," "He said, " But" "He said, " But you" "He said, " But you need" "He said, " But you need to" "He said, " But you need to give" "He said, " But you need to give that a lot a lot of a lot of thought." a lot of thought." A few a lot of thought." A few days a lot of thought." A few days before" "a lot of thought." A few days before Bremer" "Bremer set" "Bremer set out" "Bremer set out for" "Bremer set out for Baghdad," "Bremer set out for Baghdad, the" "Bremer set out for Baghdad, the President" "President invited" "President invited him" "President invited him to" "President invited him to lunch." "President invited him to lunch." "He" "President invited him to lunch." "He doesn't doesn't usually doesn't usually do doesn't usually do lunch doesn't usually do lunch alone doesn't usually do lunch alone with doesn't usually do lunch alone with people." "people." "I people." "I said people." "I said to people." "I said to the people." "I said to the President, people." "I said to the President, "My people." "I said to the President, "My experience experience is experience is in experience is in business experience is in business and experience is in business and you experience is in business and you have have to have to have" "have to have one have to have one guy have to have one guy in have to have one guy in charge."" "have to have one guy in charge." The have to have one guy in charge." The President" "President says" "President says to" "President says to Gerry," "President says to Gerry, "You" "President says to Gerry, "You have" "President says to Gerry, "You have got got to got to get got to get over got to get over there." "got to get over there." "You got to get over there." "You have got to get over there." "You have got got to get over there." "You have got to to establish to establish your to establish your authority." "to establish your authority." "And to establish your authority." "And you to establish your authority." "And you have have got have got to have got to bring have got to bring some have got to bring some law have got to bring some law and have got to bring some law and order have got to bring some law and order to" "to that to that place."" "to that place." He to that place." He is to that place." He is an to that place." He is an athlete. to that place." He is an athlete." "I am am an am an athlete, am an athlete, but am an athlete, but we am an athlete, but we do am an athlete, but we do different am an athlete, but we do different sports" "sports and sports and I said sports and I said to sports and I said to him." "sports and I said to him. "This sports and I said to him. "This is sports and I said to him. "This is going going to going to be going to be more going to be more like" "going to be more like a marathon going to be more like a marathon than than a than a sprint." "than a sprint." "It than a sprint." "It is than a sprint." "It is going than a sprint." "It is going to than a sprint." "It is going to take than a sprint." "It is going to take time." "time." "Fixing time." "Fixing a country time." "Fixing a country is time." "Fixing a country is not time." "Fixing a country is not something something you something you do something you do overnight."" "something you do overnight." This" "This challenge" "This challenge to" "This challenge to the" "This challenge to the policy" "This challenge to the policy of" "This challenge to the policy of a quick quick handover quick handover to quick handover to Iraqis quick handover to Iraqis was quick handover to Iraqis was then quick handover to Iraqis was then debated debated by debated by the debated by the National" "debated by the National Security debated by the National Security Council." "Council." "The" "Council." "The discussion" "Council." "The discussion was" "Council." "The discussion was around" "Council." "The discussion was around the the question the question of the question of how the question of how quickly the question of how quickly we the question of how quickly we were the question of how quickly we were going going to" "going to get going to get an going to get an interim going to get an interim Government going to get an interim Government in in place." "in place. as in place. as often in place. as often in in place. as often in the in place. as often in the Bush in place. as often in the Bush cabinet, cabinet, the cabinet, the Secretary" "cabinet, the Secretary of cabinet, the Secretary of State cabinet, the Secretary of State and cabinet, the Secretary of State and the the vice the vice president the vice president clash." "the vice president clash." "Colin" "Colin Powell," "Colin Powell, like" "Colin Powell, like Bremer," "Colin Powell, like Bremer, wanted" "Colin Powell, like Bremer, wanted a slower slower approach." "slower approach." "Dick slower approach." "Dick Cheney slower approach." "Dick Cheney pushed slower approach." "Dick Cheney pushed the the speed. the speed." "I thought the speed." "I thought the the speed." "I thought the idea the speed." "I thought the idea of the speed." "I thought the idea of a provisional provisional government provisional government was provisional government was a good provisional government was a good one one and one and one one and one of one and one of the one and one of the prime" "one and one of the prime objectives one and one of the prime objectives would would be would be to would be to establish would be to establish a democratically democratically elected democratically elected government democratically elected government as democratically elected government as soon" "soon as soon as possible." "soon as possible." "We soon as possible." "We had soon as possible." "We had the soon as possible." "We had the concerns, concerns, because concerns, because who concerns, because who are concerns, because who are you concerns, because who are you going concerns, because who are you going to to turn to turn it" "to turn it over to turn it over to to turn it over to and to turn it over to and how to turn it over to and how will to turn it over to and how will they to turn it over to and how will they protect" "protect the protect the people protect the people and protect the people and have protect the people and have security?" "security?" "Are security?" "Are you security?" "Are you going security?" "Are you going to security?" "Are you going to succumb security?" "Are you going to succumb to to the to the United to the United States to the United States Army to the United States Army to to the United States Army to some to the United States Army to some Iraq" "Iraq fellow" "Iraq fellow you" "Iraq fellow you brought" "Iraq fellow you brought in" "Iraq fellow you brought in from" "Iraq fellow you brought in from London?" "London?" "Bush" "London?" "Bush lent" "London?" "Bush lent towards" "London?" "Bush lent towards Bremer" "London?" "Bush lent towards Bremer and" "London?" "Bush lent towards Bremer and Powell." "Powell." "It" "Powell." "It wasn't" "Powell." "It wasn't so" "Powell." "It wasn't so much" "Powell." "It wasn't so much that" "Powell." "It wasn't so much that there" "Powell." "It wasn't so much that there was was a was a conscious was a conscious decision was a conscious decision made, was a conscious decision made, but was a conscious decision made, but if if you if you didn't" "if you didn't do if you didn't do anything, if you didn't do anything, then if you didn't do anything, then those those arguing those arguing for those arguing for not those arguing for not setting" "those arguing for not setting up those arguing for not setting up a provisional provisional government provisional government won, provisional government won, they provisional government won, they would would prevail." "would prevail." "The would prevail." "The president would prevail." "The president said would prevail." "The president said to would prevail." "The president said to Bremer," "Bremer, you" "Bremer, you should" "Bremer, you should feel" "Bremer, you should feel comfortable" "Bremer, you should feel comfortable changing changing direction." "changing direction." "When changing direction." "When you changing direction." "When you get changing direction." "When you get there there and there and see there and see the there and see the situation, there and see the situation, you there and see the situation, you may there and see the situation, you may have" "have to have to call have to call audible have to call audible is, have to call audible is, an have to call audible is, an American have to call audible is, an American football football term" "football term for football term for one football term for one quarterback football term for one quarterback changes changes play changes play at changes play at the changes play at the last changes play at the last minute." "changes play at the last minute." "With" "With those" "With those words," "With those words, the" "With those words, the President" "With those words, the President gave" "With those words, the President gave Bremner" "Bremner the" "Bremner the authority" "Bremner the authority he" "Bremner the authority he needed" "Bremner the authority he needed to" "Bremner the authority he needed to drop drop the drop the plan drop the plan for drop the plan for a quick drop the plan for a quick handover." "drop the plan for a quick handover." "We" "We are" "We are in" "We are in the" "We are in the process" "We are in the process of" "We are in the process of discussing" "We are in the process of discussing an an appropriate an appropriate transition an appropriate transition to an appropriate transition to an an appropriate transition to an Iraqi" "Iraqi government," "Iraqi government, at" "Iraqi government, at a timeline" "Iraqi government, at a timeline that" "Iraqi government, at a timeline that still still has still has to still has to be still has to be determined. still has to be determined." "A month still has to be determined." "A month after after the after the fall after the fall of after the fall of Baghdad, after the fall of Baghdad, Bremer after the fall of Baghdad, Bremer set set up set up his set up his headquarters" "set up his headquarters in set up his headquarters in Saddam set up his headquarters in Saddam 's set up his headquarters in Saddam 's old old Republican old Republican Palace." "old Republican Palace." "He old Republican Palace." "He called old Republican Palace." "He called a meeting meeting with meeting with the meeting with the group meeting with the group exiled meeting with the group exiled leaders." "leaders." "All leaders." "All of leaders." "All of these leaders." "All of these people leaders." "All of these people who leaders." "All of these people who had leaders." "All of these people who had been been fighting been fighting Saddam been fighting Saddam for been fighting Saddam for many been fighting Saddam for many years, been fighting Saddam for many years, the the Kurdish the Kurdish leaders," "the Kurdish leaders, the the Kurdish leaders, the Shia the Kurdish leaders, the Shia leaders, leaders, and leaders, and some leaders, and some Sunni leaders, and some Sunni leaders, leaders, and some Sunni leaders, this" "this Bremer, this Bremer, nobody this Bremer, nobody had this Bremer, nobody had heard this Bremer, nobody had heard of, this Bremer, nobody had heard of, he this Bremer, nobody had heard of, he shows" "shows up. shows up." "I can shows up." "I can understand shows up." "I can understand that shows up." "I can understand that a number number of number of these number of these people number of these people had number of these people had been number of these people had been given given the given the impression given the impression that" "given the impression that they given the impression that they were given the impression that they were about about to about to become about to become the about to become the Government. about to become the Government." "I knew knew my knew my job knew my job was knew my job was to knew my job was to give knew my job was to give them knew my job was to give them a cold knew my job was to give them a cold shower." "shower." "I shower." "I had shower." "I had to shower." "I had to say, shower." "I had to say, openquote shower." "I had to say, openquote It shower." "I had to say, openquote It is is not is not going is not going to is not going to be is not going to be that is not going to be that way is not going to be that way close" "is not going to be that way close quote." "quote." "And quote." "And then quote." "And then I said, quote." "And then I said, you quote." "And then I said, you do quote." "And then I said, you do not quote." "And then I said, you do not represent represent Iraq, represent Iraq, there represent Iraq, there is represent Iraq, there is not represent Iraq, there is not a woman represent Iraq, there is not a woman among" "among you." "among you." "There among you." "There is among you." "There is no among you." "There is no Christian among you." "There is no Christian here." "here." "This here." "This group here." "This group does here." "This group does not here." "This group does not represent here." "This group does not represent an an accurate an accurate portrayal an accurate portrayal of an accurate portrayal of Iraq." "They" "They were" "They were asking" "They were asking us" "They were asking us to" "They were asking us to form" "They were asking us to form an" "They were asking us to form an Iraqi interior interior government. interior government." "I said, interior government." "I said, Mr interior government." "I said, Mr Ambassador," "Ambassador, what" "Ambassador, what are" "Ambassador, what are your" "Ambassador, what are your responsibilities responsibilities and responsibilities and authorities? responsibilities and authorities?" "I was was to was to exercise was to exercise all was to exercise all legislative was to exercise all legislative and was to exercise all legislative and judicial judicial authority judicial authority in judicial authority in Iraq. judicial authority in Iraq." "I said, judicial authority in Iraq." "I said, then then you then you are then you are the then you are the Viceroy." "then you are the Viceroy." "And then you are the Viceroy." "And he then you are the Viceroy." "And he was then you are the Viceroy." "And he was really, really, really really, really upset." "really, really upset." "These really, really upset." "These leaders really, really upset." "These leaders were were having were having a difficult were having a difficult time were having a difficult time understanding understanding what understanding what international understanding what international law understanding what international law made made clear, made clear, which" "made clear, which is made clear, which is that made clear, which is that we made clear, which is that we were made clear, which is that we were the the governors the governors of the governors of Iraq." "the governors of Iraq." "He the governors of Iraq." "He said, the governors of Iraq." "He said, I will will listen will listen to will listen to views, will listen to views, but will listen to views, but they will listen to views, but they are will listen to views, but they are all" "all advisory." "all advisory." "When all advisory." "When I left all advisory." "When I left there, all advisory." "When I left there, I spoke spoke for spoke for myself. spoke for myself." "I said spoke for myself." "I said this spoke for myself." "I said this is spoke for myself." "I said this is a real real occupation." "real occupation." "Bremer real occupation." "Bremer was real occupation." "Bremer was taking real occupation." "Bremer was taking charge charge of charge of a nation charge of a nation of charge of a nation of some charge of a nation of some 25 charge of a nation of some 25 million million people." "million people." "One million people." "One of million people." "One of his million people." "One of his first million people." "One of his first decisions decisions would decisions would antagonise decisions would antagonise some decisions would antagonise some of decisions would antagonise some of the the most the most dangerous." "He" "He had" "He had authorised" "He had authorised emergency" "He had authorised emergency payments of of $20 of $20 to of $20 to state of $20 to state employees." "of $20 to state employees." "The of $20 to state employees." "The equivalent equivalent of equivalent of six equivalent of six months equivalent of six months salary." "equivalent of six months salary." "But equivalent of six months salary." "But no no payments no payments were no payments were made no payments were made to no payments were made to the no payments were made to the soldiers soldiers and soldiers and officers soldiers and officers of soldiers and officers of Iraq" "soldiers and officers of Iraq 's soldiers and officers of Iraq 's army." "Before" "Before the" "Before the war," "Before the war, President" "Before the war, President Bush" "Before the war, President Bush had approved approved this approved this document." "approved this document." "It approved this document." "It said approved this document." "It said it approved this document." "It said it would would be would be dangerous would be dangerous to would be dangerous to immediately would be dangerous to immediately demobilised demobilised 250-300,000 demobilised 250-300,000 armed demobilised 250-300,000 armed men demobilised 250-300,000 armed men and and put and put them" "and put them on and put them on the and put them on the streets." "and put them on the streets." "So and put them on the streets." "So the and put them on the streets." "So the Iraqi" "Iraqi army" "Iraqi army was" "Iraqi army was to" "Iraqi army was to be" "Iraqi army was to be employed" "Iraqi army was to be employed as" "Iraqi army was to be employed as a national national reconstruction national reconstruction force." "national reconstruction force." "The national reconstruction force." "The Americans" "Americans had" "Americans had promised" "Americans had promised the" "Americans had promised the Iraqi" "Americans had promised the Iraqi soldiers soldiers that soldiers that if soldiers that if they soldiers that if they lay soldiers that if they lay down soldiers that if they lay down their soldiers that if they lay down their arms" "arms during arms during the arms during the fighting, arms during the fighting, they arms during the fighting, they would arms during the fighting, they would be be looked be looked after." "be looked after." "Many be looked after." "Many went be looked after." "Many went home." "be looked after." "Many went home." "They" "They now" "They now faced" "They now faced ruin." "They now faced ruin." "Some" "They now faced ruin." "Some officers" "They now faced ruin." "Some officers from from Saddam from Saddam 's from Saddam 's General from Saddam 's General staff from Saddam 's General staff secretly secretly contacted secretly contacted an secretly contacted an American secretly contacted an American colonel" "colonel at colonel at the colonel at the coalition colonel at the coalition headquarters." "headquarters." "They headquarters." "They were headquarters." "They were all headquarters." "They were all in headquarters." "They were all in civilian civilian clothes, civilian clothes, they civilian clothes, they knew civilian clothes, they knew if civilian clothes, they knew if they civilian clothes, they knew if they put put on put on a uniform" "put on a uniform they put on a uniform they would put on a uniform they would be put on a uniform they would be in put on a uniform they would be in trouble." "They" "They said," "They said, we" "They said, we have" "They said, we have not" "They said, we have not been" "They said, we have not been paid" "They said, we have not been paid in" "They said, we have not been paid in many many months, many months, what many months, what do many months, what do we many months, what do we have many months, what do we have to" "many months, what do we have to do many months, what do we have to do to to get to get the to get the $20?" "I" "I wanted" "I wanted to" "I wanted to know" "I wanted to know their" "I wanted to know their names," "I wanted to know their names, their ranks, ranks, what ranks, what units ranks, what units they ranks, what units they worked ranks, what units they worked with." "ranks, what units they worked with." "And" "And as" "And as the" "And as the counts" "And as the counts came" "And as the counts came forward," "And as the counts came forward, we" "And as the counts came forward, we eventually eventually were eventually were pushing eventually were pushing 100,000." "eventually were pushing 100,000." "Colonel" "Colonel Hughes" "Colonel Hughes told" "Colonel Hughes told his" "Colonel Hughes told his bosses" "Colonel Hughes told his bosses that" "Colonel Hughes told his bosses that these these soldiers these soldiers were these soldiers were ready these soldiers were ready to these soldiers were ready to work these soldiers were ready to work for for the for the coalition." "for the coalition." "They for the coalition." "They just for the coalition." "They just needed for the coalition." "They just needed pain." "pain. --pain." "pain. --pain." "He pain. --pain." "He spoke pain. --pain." "He spoke to pain. --pain." "He spoke to Walt pain. --pain." "He spoke to Walt Slocombe," "Slocombe, in" "Slocombe, in charge" "Slocombe, in charge of" "Slocombe, in charge of Iraq" "Slocombe, in charge of Iraq 's" "Slocombe, in charge of Iraq 's Defence" "Defence Ministry." "Defence Ministry." "He" "Defence Ministry." "He managed" "Defence Ministry." "He managed to" "Defence Ministry." "He managed to annoy annoy a annoy a somewhat annoy a somewhat by annoy a somewhat by saying annoy a somewhat by saying we annoy a somewhat by saying we should annoy a somewhat by saying we should make make good" "make good on make good on the make good on the pavement make good on the pavement that make good on the pavement that Saddam" "Saddam had" "Saddam had not" "Saddam had not paid" "Saddam had not paid since" "Saddam had not paid since February." "Saddam had not paid since February." "My" "My joke" "My joke is," "My joke is, what" "My joke is, what is" "My joke is, what is the" "My joke is, what is the Arabic" "My joke is, what is the Arabic for" "My joke is, what is the Arabic for chutzpah?" "chutzpah?" "He chutzpah?" "He decided chutzpah?" "He decided he chutzpah?" "He decided he was chutzpah?" "He decided he was not chutzpah?" "He decided he was not ready ready to ready to make ready to make the ready to make the commitment ready to make the commitment to ready to make the commitment to pay ready to make the commitment to pay the" "the $20 the $20 already the $20 already back the $20 already back wages." "the $20 already back wages." "He the $20 already back wages." "He thought thought it thought it was thought it was not thought it was not in thought it was not in America thought it was not in America 's thought it was not in America 's interests interests to" "interests to recall interests to recall Iraq interests to recall Iraq 's interests to recall Iraq 's army interests to recall Iraq 's army or interests to recall Iraq 's army or ministry ministry of ministry of defence." "ministry of defence." "I told ministry of defence." "I told them, ministry of defence." "I told them, getting getting rid getting rid of getting rid of Saddam getting rid of Saddam 's getting rid of Saddam 's army, getting rid of Saddam 's army, particularly particularly getting particularly getting rid" "particularly getting rid of particularly getting rid of the particularly getting rid of the formal formal institutions, formal institutions, was formal institutions, was a part formal institutions, was a part of formal institutions, was a part of a general" "general policy general policy of general policy of making general policy of making clear general policy of making clear that general policy of making clear that the the old the old Saddam the old Saddam system the old Saddam system was" "the old Saddam system was being the old Saddam system was being dismantled dismantled and dismantled and would dismantled and would not dismantled and would not be dismantled and would not be allowed dismantled and would not be allowed to to come" "to come back to come back as to come back as such." "to come back as such." "Walt to come back as such." "Walt Slocombe to come back as such." "Walt Slocombe said said the said the prewar said the prewar plan said the prewar plan has said the prewar plan has gone, said the prewar plan has gone, we said the prewar plan has gone, we have" "have do have do basically have do basically start have do basically start from have do basically start from scratch, scratch, we scratch, we have scratch, we have to scratch, we have to build scratch, we have to build an" "scratch, we have to build an army." "scratch, we have to build an army." "Starting" "Starting the" "Starting the army" "Starting the army from" "Starting the army from scratch" "Starting the army from scratch meant" "Starting the army from scratch meant reversing reversing a reversing a presidential reversing a presidential decision." "reversing a presidential decision." "Bremer" "Bremer had" "Bremer had to" "Bremer had to tell" "Bremer had to tell the" "Bremer had to tell the National" "Bremer had to tell the National Security" "Security Council." "Security Council." "Jerry" "Security Council." "Jerry Bremer" "Security Council." "Jerry Bremer was" "Security Council." "Jerry Bremer was brought brought into brought into the brought into the meeting brought into the meeting by brought into the meeting by videoconference." "videoconference." "He videoconference." "He said videoconference." "He said to videoconference." "He said to the videoconference." "He said to the president president that president that he president that he was president that he was about president that he was about to president that he was about to sign president that he was about to sign an an order" "an order which an order which was an order which was going an order which was going to an order which was going to disband an order which was going to disband the the regular the regular Iraqi the regular Iraqi armed" "the regular Iraqi armed forces." "the regular Iraqi armed forces." "There" "There was" "There was a moment" "There was a moment of" "There was a moment of shocked" "There was a moment of shocked silence silence around silence around the silence around the table." "silence around the table." "This silence around the table." "This was, silence around the table." "This was, of of course, of course, completely of course, completely contrary of course, completely contrary to of course, completely contrary to the the view the view is the view is that the view is that we" "the view is that we had the view is that we had been the view is that we had been operating operating under." "operating under." "The operating under." "The problem operating under." "The problem was operating under." "The problem was the operating under." "The problem was the role role of role of the role of the army role of the army as role of the army as Saddam role of the army as Saddam 's role of the army as Saddam 's primary" "primary instrument primary instrument of primary instrument of repression." "primary instrument of repression." "The" "The political" "The political gesture" "The political gesture of" "The political gesture of recalling" "The political gesture of recalling the the army the army itself the army itself would the army itself would have the army itself would have been the army itself would have been a disaster, disaster, and disaster, and my" "disaster, and my view disaster, and my view was disaster, and my view was that disaster, and my view was that I wanted wanted to wanted to hold wanted to hold Iraq wanted to hold Iraq together." "wanted to hold Iraq together." "So wanted to hold Iraq together." "So the wanted to hold Iraq together." "So the president president paused president paused for president paused for what president paused for what was president paused for what was probably probably the probably the longest probably the longest ten probably the longest ten seconds probably the longest ten seconds of" "probably the longest ten seconds of my my life my life and my life and said, my life and said, well, my life and said, well, Jerry, my life and said, well, Jerry, you" "my life and said, well, Jerry, you are are the are the guy are the guy on are the guy on the are the guy on the ground, are the guy on the ground, you are the guy on the ground, you do" "are the guy on the ground, you do what what is what is right." "what is right." "The" "The old" "The old army" "The old army was" "The old army was a part" "The old army was a part of" "The old army was a part of the" "The old army was a part of the old" "The old army was a part of the old regime." "regime." "The regime." "The old regime." "The old military regime." "The old military needed regime." "The old military needed to regime." "The old military needed to be be formally be formally disbanded, be formally disbanded, so be formally disbanded, so that be formally disbanded, so that it be formally disbanded, so that it could could be could be replaced" "could be replaced by could be replaced by new could be replaced by new military could be replaced by new military organisations organisations Armed organisations Armed Forces organisations Armed Forces suited organisations Armed Forces suited to a democratic a democratic nation." "I was" "I was standing" "I was standing there," "I was standing there, just" "I was standing there, just dumbstruck, dumbstruck, thinking," "dumbstruck, thinking, " how dumbstruck, thinking, " how could dumbstruck, thinking, " how could he dumbstruck, thinking, " how could he have have done have done this?" "have done this?" "Closed. have done this?" "Closed." "I was have done this?" "Closed." "I was using have done this?" "Closed." "I was using stronger stronger language stronger language in stronger language in my stronger language in my mind." "stronger language in my mind." "You stronger language in my mind." "You don't don't take don't take men don't take men who don't take men who know don't take men who know how don't take men who know how to don't take men who know how to use" "don't take men who know how to use weapons weapons and weapons and nowhere weapons and nowhere munitions weapons and nowhere munitions stored weapons and nowhere munitions stored all all over all over Iraq all over Iraq and all over Iraq and say," "all over Iraq and say, you all over Iraq and say, you guys all over Iraq and say, you guys are all over Iraq and say, you guys are no no longer no longer relevant." "no longer relevant." "In no longer relevant." "In the no longer relevant." "In the week no longer relevant." "In the week before before the before the order before the order to before the order to dissolve before the order to dissolve the before the order to dissolve the army, army, no army, no coalition army, no coalition forces" "army, no coalition forces were army, no coalition forces were killed killed by killed by hostile killed by hostile action." "killed by hostile action." "The killed by hostile action." "The week killed by hostile action." "The week after, after, five after, five were." "The" "The effect" "The effect grew" "The effect grew worse" "The effect grew worse and" "The effect grew worse and worse" "The effect grew worse and worse and worse worse with worse with each worse with each successive worse with each successive week." "worse with each successive week." "The worse with each successive week." "The first first week, first week, there first week, there were first week, there were small first week, there were small demonstrations demonstrations after demonstrations after Friday demonstrations after Friday prayers." "demonstrations after Friday prayers." "They" "They grew" "They grew the" "They grew the next" "They grew the next week." "They grew the next week." "The" "They grew the next week." "The third" "They grew the next week." "The third or or fourth or fourth week, or fourth week, I literally or fourth week, I literally had or fourth week, I literally had to or fourth week, I literally had to stand stand on" "stand on a wall stand on a wall with stand on a wall with a megaphone stand on a wall with a megaphone in stand on a wall with a megaphone in Mosul" "Mosul and" "Mosul and faced" "Mosul and faced 10,000" "Mosul and faced 10,000 or" "Mosul and faced 10,000 or so" "Mosul and faced 10,000 or so former" "Mosul and faced 10,000 or so former soldiers." "It" "It happened" "It happened that" "It happened that I flew" "It happened that I flew to for for the for the ceremony for the ceremony in for the ceremony in which for the ceremony in which General for the ceremony in which General Sanchez" "Sanchez was" "Sanchez was promoted" "Sanchez was promoted to" "Sanchez was promoted to three" "Sanchez was promoted to three stars" "Sanchez was promoted to three stars and and took and took command and took command of and took command of the and took command of the military and took command of the military headquarters headquarters overseeing headquarters overseeing the headquarters overseeing the effort" "headquarters overseeing the effort in in Iraq." "in Iraq." "At in Iraq." "At the in Iraq." "At the reception in Iraq." "At the reception afterwards, afterwards, Petraeus, afterwards, Petraeus, who afterwards, Petraeus, who I knew, afterwards, Petraeus, who I knew, came came up came up to came up to me." "came up to me." "I was came up to me." "I was quite came up to me." "I was quite blunt came up to me." "I was quite blunt with with him." "I said" "I said to" "I said to him," "I said to him, Walt," "I said to him, Walt, your" "I said to him, Walt, your policy" "I said to him, Walt, your policy is" "I said to him, Walt, your policy is killing killing our killing our soldiers." "killing our soldiers." "That killing our soldiers." "That got killing our soldiers." "That got his killing our soldiers." "That got his attention." "attention." "He attention." "He said attention." "He said this attention." "He said this is attention." "He said this is a serious attention." "He said this is a serious problem, problem, it problem, it is problem, it is putting problem, it is putting my problem, it is putting my people problem, it is putting my people in" "problem, it is putting my people in danger." "danger." "There danger." "There has danger." "There has to danger." "There has to be danger." "There has to be measures danger." "There has to be measures to danger." "There has to be measures to make make sure make sure the make sure the soldiers make sure the soldiers are make sure the soldiers are given make sure the soldiers are given stipends." "stipends." "But stipends." "But they stipends." "But they can stipends." "But they can have stipends." "But they can have provisions provisions to provisions to feed provisions to feed their provisions to feed their families provisions to feed their families and and there and there will and there will be and there will be some and there will be some respect" "and there will be some respect for and there will be some respect for them." "them." "And them." "And I said, them." "And I said, I will them." "And I said, I will take them." "And I said, I will take that them." "And I said, I will take that very very seriously, very seriously, I will very seriously, I will do very seriously, I will do what very seriously, I will do what I can." "Four" "Four days" "Four days later," "Four days later, Baghdad" "Four days later, Baghdad saw" "Four days later, Baghdad saw the" "Four days later, Baghdad saw the most most violent most violent protest most violent protest yet." "coalition." "He was not interested in that discussion that discussion he that discussion he wanted that discussion he wanted to that discussion he wanted to discuss that discussion he wanted to discuss the the way the way in the way in which" "the way in which the the way in which the Iraqi the way in which the Iraqi constitution constitution would constitution would be" "." "." "Sergio" "." "Sergio de" "." "Sergio de Mello" "." "Sergio de Mello said," "." "Sergio de Mello said, yes, understand understand that understand that the understand that the constitution understand that the constitution will will have will have to will have to be will have to be written will have to be written by" "will have to be written by Iraqis, will have to be written by Iraqis, and and at and at that and at that point, and at that point, Ayatollah and at that point, Ayatollah Sistani and at that point, Ayatollah Sistani interrupted" "interrupted him interrupted him and interrupted him and said, interrupted him and said, not interrupted him and said, not only interrupted him and said, not only Iraq" "Iraq is," "Iraq is, but" "Iraq is, but elected" "Iraq is, but elected Iraqis." "We" "We spent" "We spent most" "We spent most of" "We spent most of our" "We spent most of our conversation" "We spent most of our conversation on the the need the need to the need to ensure the need to ensure what the need to ensure what the the need to ensure what the new the need to ensure what the new Constitution" "Constitution of" "Constitution of Iraq" "Constitution of Iraq is," "Constitution of Iraq is, one" "Constitution of Iraq is, one that" "Constitution of Iraq is, one that is" "Constitution of Iraq is, one that is elaborated elaborated and elaborated and improved elaborated and improved by elaborated and improved by elected elaborated and improved by elected representatives representatives of representatives of the representatives of the Iraqi representatives of the Iraqi people." "representatives of the Iraqi people." "Sistani" "Sistani issued" "Sistani issued a fatwa," "Sistani issued a fatwa, insisting" "Sistani issued a fatwa, insisting that that elected that elected Iraqis that elected Iraqis must that elected Iraqis must write that elected Iraqis must write the that elected Iraqis must write the constitution." "constitution." "That constitution." "That way, constitution." "That way, he constitution." "That way, he would constitution." "That way, he would secure secure the secure the interests secure the interests of secure the interests of the secure the interests of the Shia secure the interests of the Shia majority majority permanently." "majority permanently." "The majority permanently." "The fatwa majority permanently." "The fatwa was majority permanently." "The fatwa was issued issued from issued from outside issued from outside the issued from outside the Ayatollah issued from outside the Ayatollah 's issued from outside the Ayatollah 's has has and has and was has and was shared" "has and was shared by has and was shared by hundreds has and was shared by hundreds of has and was shared by hundreds of mosques mosques around mosques around the mosques around the country." "mosques around the country." "Bremer mosques around the country." "Bremer gathered gathered his gathered his team." "gathered his team." "We gathered his team." "We realised gathered his team." "We realised this gathered his team." "We realised this was was a was a very was a very important was a very important fatwa, was a very important fatwa, but was a very important fatwa, but we was a very important fatwa, but we didn't" "didn't appreciate didn't appreciate that didn't appreciate that it didn't appreciate that it would didn't appreciate that it would be didn't appreciate that it would be a showstopper." "showstopper." "There showstopper." "There was showstopper." "There was a sense showstopper." "There was a sense that, showstopper." "There was a sense that, maybe maybe this maybe this can maybe this can be maybe this can be worked maybe this can be worked around, maybe this can be worked around, maybe maybe it maybe it can" "maybe it can be maybe it can be mass maybe it can be mass arched." "maybe it can be mass arched." "Sergio maybe it can be mass arched." "Sergio de de Mello de Mello went de Mello went to de Mello went to see de Mello went to see Bremer." "I said" "I said to" "I said to Sergio," "I said to Sergio, look," "I said to Sergio, look, we" "I said to Sergio, look, we can't" "I said to Sergio, look, we can't hold hold elections hold elections now, hold elections now, there hold elections now, there has hold elections now, there has been hold elections now, there has been no" "no sensors no sensors for no sensors for 40 no sensors for 40 years, no sensors for 40 years, there no sensors for 40 years, there are no sensors for 40 years, there are no no electricals," "no electricals, no no electricals, no party no electricals, no party political no electricals, no party political laws, laws, no laws, no constituent laws, no constituent boundaries." "laws, no constituent boundaries." "When" "When you" "When you went" "When you went down" "When you went down the" "When you went down the list," "When you went down the list, there" "When you went down the list, there was was nothing was nothing in was nothing in place was nothing in place from was nothing in place from which was nothing in place from which to was nothing in place from which to have" "have elections." "have elections." "So have elections." "So we have elections." "So we had have elections." "So we had to have elections." "So we had to find have elections." "So we had to find some some way some way to some way to select some way to select a group some way to select a group of some way to select a group of Iraq some way to select a group of Iraq is" "is to is to write is to write a constitution." "is to write a constitution." "Iraqis." "Iraqis." "Bremer" "Iraqis." "Bremer appointed" "Iraqis." "Bremer appointed an" "Iraqis." "Bremer appointed an advisory advisory group, advisory group, the advisory group, the governing advisory group, the governing Council." "Council." "In" "Council." "In their" "Council." "In their first" "Council." "In their first meeting," "Council." "In their first meeting, he" "Council." "In their first meeting, he set set them set them an set them an impossible set them an impossible challenge." "set them an impossible challenge." "They" "They would" "They would select" "They would select a group" "They would select a group of" "They would select a group of Iraqis" "They would select a group of Iraqis to to figure to figure out to figure out how to figure out how to to figure out how to get to figure out how to get a constitution constitution in constitution in place," "constitution in place, but constitution in place, but also constitution in place, but also respect respect the respect the Sistani's respect the Sistani's fatwa." "We" "We had" "We had no" "We had no intention" "We had no intention of" "We had no intention of putting" "We had no intention of putting you in in a position in a position where in a position where you in a position where you had in a position where you had to in a position where you had to disobey" "disobey a disobey a fatwa. disobey a fatwa." "I suggested disobey a fatwa." "I suggested to disobey a fatwa." "I suggested to them disobey a fatwa." "I suggested to them that that they that they set that they set themselves that they set themselves a deadline that they set themselves a deadline for for August for August 30th, for August 30th, giving for August 30th, giving themselves" "for August 30th, giving themselves six six weeks six weeks to six weeks to figure six weeks to figure out six weeks to figure out how six weeks to figure out how to six weeks to figure out how to do" "six weeks to figure out how to do this." "this." "The this." "The one this." "The one man this." "The one man able this." "The one man able to this." "The one man able to mediate this." "The one man able to mediate between between the between the macro between the macro --people-macro between the macro --people-macro and between the macro --people-macro and the the American the American delegates the American delegates was the American delegates was Sergio" "the American delegates was Sergio de the American delegates was Sergio de Mello." "Mello. " "Mello. -- between" "Mello. -- between the" "Mello. -- between the Shia" "Mello. -- between the Shia and" "Mello. -- between the Shia and the" "Mello. -- between the Shia and the American" "American delegates." "American delegates." "They" "American delegates." "They were" "American delegates." "They were very" "American delegates." "They were very interested, interested, because interested, because they interested, because they knew interested, because they knew we interested, because they knew we were were an were an independent, were an independent, trustworthy" "were an independent, trustworthy partner." "I" "I was" "I was meeting" "I was meeting with" "I was meeting with UN" "I was meeting with UN officials" "I was meeting with UN officials who were were experts were experts on were experts on how were experts on how we were experts on how we could were experts on how we could integrate integrate the integrate the former integrate the former Iraqi" "integrate the former Iraqi members integrate the former Iraqi members of of the of the Army of the Army back of the Army back into of the Army back into civilian of the Army back into civilian life." "I drove" "I drove out" "I drove out of" "I drove out of the" "I drove out of the UN," "I drove out of the UN, drove" "I drove out of the UN, drove down" "I drove out of the UN, drove down the the road the road and the road and my the road and my car the road and my car lurched the road and my car lurched forward." "I pulled" "I pulled over" "I pulled over and" "I pulled over and I got" "I pulled over and I got out" "I pulled over and I got out of" "I pulled over and I got out of the" "I pulled over and I got out of the car car and car and I looked car and I looked back car and I looked back at car and I looked back at the car and I looked back at the UN." "car and I looked back at the UN." "car and I looked back at the UN." "car and I looked back at the UN." "That" "That was" "That was really" "That was really the" "That was really the first" "That was really the first of" "That was really the first of these" "That was really the first of these big big attacks." "big attacks." "So big attacks." "So it big attacks." "So it took big attacks." "So it took a little big attacks." "So it took a little bit big attacks." "So it took a little bit of of time of time to of time to sink of time to sink in." "of time to sink in." "of time to sink in. of time to sink in." "A suicide of time to sink in." "A suicide bomber of time to sink in." "A suicide bomber had had destroyed had destroyed the had destroyed the UN had destroyed the UN building had destroyed the UN building in had destroyed the UN building in Baghdad" "Baghdad killing" "Baghdad killing 21" "Baghdad killing 21 include" "Baghdad killing 21 include including" "Baghdad killing 21 include including Sergio" "Sergio de" "Sergio de Mello." "Sergio de Mello." "The" "Sergio de Mello." "The UN" "Sergio de Mello." "The UN mission" "Sergio de Mello." "The UN mission left" "Sergio de Mello." "The UN mission left Iraq." "Iraq." "Al-Qaeda" "Iraq." "Al-Qaeda would" "Iraq." "Al-Qaeda would later" "Iraq." "Al-Qaeda would later claim" "Iraq." "Al-Qaeda would later claim responsibility responsibility for responsibility for the responsibility for the bomb responsibility for the bomb bombing." "responsibility for the bomb bombing." "The" "The rebuilding" "The rebuilding of" "The rebuilding of Iraq" "The rebuilding of Iraq by" "The rebuilding of Iraq by the" "The rebuilding of Iraq by the Iraqi" "The rebuilding of Iraq by the Iraqi people people is people is going people is going to people is going to go people is going to go on." "people is going to go on." "It people is going to go on." "It is people is going to go on." "It is not people is going to go on." "It is not going going to going to be going to be stopped going to be stopped by going to be stopped by this going to be stopped by this act going to be stopped by this act or going to be stopped by this act or any" "any such any such acts." "any such acts." "But" "But without" "But without the" "But without the UN," "But without the UN, Bremer" "But without the UN, Bremer was" "But without the UN, Bremer was stuck." "stuck." "He stuck." "He had stuck." "He had been stuck." "He had been in stuck." "He had been in Iraq stuck." "He had been in Iraq for stuck." "He had been in Iraq for over stuck." "He had been in Iraq for over three three months three months and three months and was three months and was no three months and was no closer three months and was no closer to three months and was no closer to handing" "handing over handing over to handing over to Iraqis." "handing over to Iraqis." "On handing over to Iraqis." "On the handing over to Iraqis." "On the morning morning of morning of 8th morning of 8th September morning of 8th September 2003, morning of 8th September 2003, Washington's" "Washington's policy" "Washington's policy makers" "Washington's policy makers got" "Washington's policy makers got a shock." "shock." "They shock." "They opened shock." "They opened their shock." "They opened their newspapers shock." "They opened their newspapers to to find to find an to find an article to find an article by to find an article by Bremer to find an article by Bremer setting to find an article by Bremer setting out out his" "out his plans." "out his plans." "He out his plans." "He said out his plans." "He said that out his plans." "He said that beforehanding beforehanding over, beforehanding over, he beforehanding over, he would beforehanding over, he would need beforehanding over, he would need to beforehanding over, he would need to get get a get a constitution" "get a constitution written, get a constitution written, hold get a constitution written, hold a referendum, referendum, and referendum, and an referendum, and an election." "referendum, and an election." "It referendum, and an election." "It was referendum, and an election." "It was all all going all going to all going to take all going to take a long all going to take a long time. all going to take a long time." "I got all going to take a long time." "I got to to the to the Pentagon." "to the Pentagon." "One to the Pentagon." "One of to the Pentagon." "One of the to the Pentagon." "One of the first to the Pentagon." "One of the first things things that things that day things that day was things that day was the things that day was the daily things that day was the daily meeting meeting with meeting with the meeting with the secretary." "meeting with the secretary." "So meeting with the secretary." "So Secretary" "Secretary Rumsfeld" "Secretary Rumsfeld got" "Secretary Rumsfeld got up" "Secretary Rumsfeld got up and" "Secretary Rumsfeld got up and he" "Secretary Rumsfeld got up and he had" "Secretary Rumsfeld got up and he had this this article this article from this article from the this article from the Washington this article from the Washington Post" "Post in" "Post in his" "Post in his hand" "Post in his hand and" "Post in his hand and he" "Post in his hand and he was" "Post in his hand and he was not" "Post in his hand and he was not happy." "happy." "He happy." "He went happy." "He went around happy." "He went around the happy." "He went around the table happy." "He went around the table and happy." "He went around the table and said, said, "" "said, " Did said, " Did anybody said, " Did anybody here said, " Did anybody here see said, " Did anybody here see this, said, " Did anybody here see this, know" "know that know that it know that it was know that it was going know that it was going to know that it was going to be know that it was going to be published?" "published?" """ "" This" "" This is" "" This is a major" "" This is a major blueprint" "" This is a major blueprint for" "" This is a major blueprint for the" "" This is a major blueprint for the future future of future of Iraq future of Iraq that future of Iraq that has future of Iraq that has been future of Iraq that has been announced announced by announced by Gerry" "announced by Gerry Bremer announced by Gerry Bremer without announced by Gerry Bremer without consultation, consultation, not consultation, not only consultation, not only with consultation, not only with the consultation, not only with the principals," "principals, but principals, but without principals, but without consultation principals, but without consultation of of the of the president of the president of of the president of the of the president of the United of the president of the United States." "States." "If" "If the" "If the Iraqis" "If the Iraqis disagree," "If the Iraqis disagree, we" "If the Iraqis disagree, we are" "If the Iraqis disagree, we are stuck" "If the Iraqis disagree, we are stuck in in our in our position in our position for in our position for a long in our position for a long time in our position for a long time and in our position for a long time and that's" "that's not that's not acceptable. that's not acceptable." "I just that's not acceptable." "I just remember remember it remember it was remember it was a stunner remember it was a stunner and remember it was a stunner and the remember it was a stunner and the prospect prospect of prospect of having prospect of having this" "prospect of having this continue prospect of having this continue for prospect of having this continue for another another two another two years, another two years, which another two years, which was another two years, which was what" "another two years, which was what was was implied was implied in was implied in that, was implied in that, I thought was implied in that, I thought potentially potentially a potentially a fatal potentially a fatal mistake." "potentially a fatal mistake." "Bremer's" "Bremer's bosses" "Bremer's bosses ordered" "Bremer's bosses ordered him" "Bremer's bosses ordered him to" "Bremer's bosses ordered him to find a way a way to a way to hand a way to hand over a way to hand over sovereignty a way to hand over sovereignty as a way to hand over sovereignty as soon" "soon as soon as possible." "soon as possible." "He soon as possible." "He saw soon as possible." "He saw no soon as possible." "He saw no option, soon as possible." "He saw no option, but but to but to give but to give in but to give in to but to give in to Sistani." "but to give in to Sistani." "He but to give in to Sistani." "He promised promised elections." "promised elections." "It promised elections." "It was promised elections." "It was a promise promised elections." "It was a promise he he would he would later he would later regret." "A" "A few" "A few days" "A few days days" "A few days days later," "A few days days later, Bremer" "A few days days later, Bremer visited visited the visited the Iraqi visited the Iraqi Symphony visited the Iraqi Symphony Orchestra." "Orchestra." "A" "Orchestra." "A brief" "Orchestra." "A brief pleasure" "Orchestra." "A brief pleasure on" "Orchestra." "A brief pleasure on a difficult difficult day." "difficult day." "That difficult day." "That night, difficult day." "That night, he difficult day." "That night, he would difficult day." "That night, he would have have to have to break have to break his have to break his promise have to break his promise to have to break his promise to the have to break his promise to the Shia." "Shia. ." "Shia. ." "Bremer" "Bremer had" "Bremer had been" "Bremer had been told" "Bremer had been told he" "Bremer had been told he must" "Bremer had been told he must end" "Bremer had been told he must end the" "Bremer had been told he must end the occupation occupation by occupation by 30th occupation by 30th June occupation by 30th June 2004." "occupation by 30th June 2004." "That occupation by 30th June 2004." "That didn't didn't leave didn't leave enough didn't leave enough time didn't leave enough time to didn't leave enough time to organise didn't leave enough time to organise elections." "elections." "I elections." "I would elections." "I would always elections." "I would always prefer elections." "I would always prefer elections, elections, but elections, but if elections, but if we elections, but if we can't elections, but if we can't pull elections, but if we can't pull it" "elections, but if we can't pull it off off then off then what off then what happens?" "off then what happens?" "We off then what happens?" "We slide off then what happens?" "We slide past off then what happens?" "We slide past the the June the June 30th the June 30th date." "the June 30th date." "We the June 30th date." "We start the June 30th date." "We start to the June 30th date." "We start to get the June 30th date." "We start to get into into the into the American into the American political into the American political season, into the American political season, it it was it was an it was an election it was an election year." "it was an election year." "Who it was an election year." "Who knows it was an election year." "Who knows what what falls what falls off what falls off that what falls off that edge what falls off that edge of what falls off that edge of the what falls off that edge of the cliff." "cliff." "Bremer's cliff." "Bremer's alternative cliff." "Bremer's alternative to cliff." "Bremer's alternative to elections elections was elections was locally elections was locally appointed elections was locally appointed councils." "councils." "They councils." "They would councils." "They would select councils." "They would select the councils." "They would select the Government." "Government." "In" "Government." "In America," "Government." "In America, this" "Government." "In America, this system" "Government." "In America, this system is is called is called a caucus." "is called a caucus." "Bremer is called a caucus." "Bremer tried is called a caucus." "Bremer tried to is called a caucus." "Bremer tried to sell sell the sell the caucus sell the caucus plan sell the caucus plan to sell the caucus plan to the sell the caucus plan to the governing governing council. governing council." "I said," "governing council." "I said, " Look, governing council." "I said, " Look, I lived lived in lived in the lived in the United lived in the United States lived in the United States and lived in the United States and I followed followed their followed their political" "followed their political system followed their political system for followed their political system for many many years many years and many years and I still many years and I still don't many years and I still don't understand understand the" "understand the caucus understand the caucus system." "understand the caucus system." "It understand the caucus system." "It is understand the caucus system." "It is so so complicated so complicated and so complicated and I think so complicated and I think it so complicated and I think it would so complicated and I think it would be be a be a non-starter be a non-starter in" "be a non-starter in Iraq."" "I" "I spent" "I spent a lot" "I spent a lot of" "I spent a lot of time" "I spent a lot of time with" "I spent a lot of time with these" "I spent a lot of time with these people." "people." "Now, people." "Now, he people." "Now, he left people." "Now, he left the people." "Now, he left the meeting people." "Now, he left the meeting and people." "Now, he left the meeting and walked walked outside walked outside in walked outside in the walked outside in the middle walked outside in the middle of walked outside in the middle of the walked outside in the middle of the meeting" "meeting and meeting and I followed meeting and I followed him meeting and I followed him out meeting and I followed him out and meeting and I followed him out and I explained explained what explained what the explained what the stakes" "explained what the stakes were explained what the stakes were and explained what the stakes were and this this was this was the this was the moment this was the moment where this was the moment where all this was the moment where all of" "this was the moment where all of this this could this could come this could come together." "I remember" "I remember very," "I remember very, very" "I remember very, very clearly" "I remember very, very clearly him" "I remember very, very clearly him looking looking at looking at me looking at me and looking at me and with looking at me and with a face looking at me and with a face that looking at me and with a face that I now" "now realise now realise was, now realise was, you now realise was, you know, now realise was, you know, this now realise was, you know, this face now realise was, you know, this face saying," "saying, "" "saying, " It saying, " It is saying, " It is not saying, " It is not going saying, " It is not going to saying, " It is not going to change."" "change." Saying," "change." Saying, " We change." Saying, " We are change." Saying, " We are not change." Saying, " We are not going change." Saying, " We are not going to" "to be to be able to be able to to be able to go to be able to go forward to be able to go forward with to be able to go forward with this to be able to go forward with this plan."" "plan." Bremer's plan." Bremer's failure plan." Bremer's failure alienated plan." Bremer's failure alienated millions millions on millions on the millions on the streets." "millions on the streets." "It millions on the streets." "It would millions on the streets." "It would bring bring a bring a new bring a new threat bring a new threat to bring a new threat to America's bring a new threat to America's entire entire project." "entire project." "In entire project." "In the entire project." "In the holy entire project." "In the holy cities entire project." "In the holy cities of of Najaf of Najaf and of Najaf and Karbala of Najaf and Karbala in of Najaf and Karbala in the of Najaf and Karbala in the Shia of Najaf and Karbala in the Shia south south and" "south and in south and in the south and in the slums south and in the slums of south and in the slums of Baghdad, south and in the slums of Baghdad, Muqtada" "Muqtada al-Sadr" "Muqtada al-Sadr was" "Muqtada al-Sadr was the" "Muqtada al-Sadr was the rising" "Muqtada al-Sadr was the rising star." "Muqtada al-Sadr was the rising star." "Al-Sadr" "Al-Sadr came" "Al-Sadr came from" "Al-Sadr came from a revered" "Al-Sadr came from a revered Shia" "Al-Sadr came from a revered Shia family." "family." "He family." "He offered family." "He offered an family." "He offered an alternative family." "He offered an alternative to family." "He offered an alternative to the the stalled the stalled politics the stalled politics particulars the stalled politics particulars in the stalled politics particulars in Baghdad." "Baghdad." "His" "Baghdad." "His message" "Baghdad." "His message was" "Baghdad." "His message was simple" "Baghdad." "His message was simple - the the Americans the Americans must the Americans must leave." "Muqtada's" "Muqtada's Shia" "Muqtada's Shia army" "Muqtada's Shia army grew." "Muqtada's Shia army grew." "But" "Muqtada's Shia army grew." "But what" "Muqtada's Shia army grew." "But what happened happened in happened in the happened in the Sunni happened in the Sunni city happened in the Sunni city of happened in the Sunni city of Fallujah" "Fallujah raised" "Fallujah raised Iraqi" "Fallujah raised Iraqi resistance" "Fallujah raised Iraqi resistance to" "Fallujah raised Iraqi resistance to an an uncontainable an uncontainable level." "an uncontainable level." "In an uncontainable level." "In March an uncontainable level." "In March 2004, 2004, four 2004, four American" "2004, four American contractors 2004, four American contractors were" "2004, four American contractors were murdered murdered and murdered and their murdered and their bodies murdered and their bodies desecrated." "desecrated." "The desecrated." "The US desecrated." "The US Marines desecrated." "The US Marines hit desecrated." "The US Marines hit back." "desecrated." "The US Marines hit back." "desecrated." "The US Marines hit back." "desecrated." "The US Marines hit back." "For" "For ten" "For ten days," "For ten days, the" "For ten days, the images" "For ten days, the images of" "For ten days, the images of dead" "For ten days, the images of dead civilians civilians in civilians in Fallujah civilians in Fallujah led civilians in Fallujah led the civilians in Fallujah led the news." "civilians in Fallujah led the news." "civilians in Fallujah led the news." "civilians in Fallujah led the news." "The" "The governing" "The governing council" "The governing council is" "The governing council is in" "The governing council is in imploding." "imploding." "Several imploding." "Several members imploding." "Several members told imploding." "Several members told me imploding." "Several members told me they they are they are going they are going to they are going to resign." "they are going to resign." "The they are going to resign." "The President" "President has" "President has a very" "President has a very difficult" "President has a very difficult decision decision to decision to make decision to make which decision to make which is decision to make which is if decision to make which is if we decision to make which is if we continue" "continue this continue this operation continue this operation much continue this operation much longer, continue this operation much longer, it it is it is likely it is likely that it is likely that his it is likely that his entire" "it is likely that his entire political political goal political goal of political goal of passing political goal of passing sovereignty sovereignty to sovereignty to a creditable sovereignty to a creditable Iraqi sovereignty to a creditable Iraqi Government" "Government on" "Government on 30th" "Government on 30th June" "Government on 30th June will" "Government on 30th June will be" "Government on 30th June will be in" "Government on 30th June will be in jeopardy." "jeopardy." "The" "The Americans" "The Americans stopped" "The Americans stopped the" "The Americans stopped the assault" "The Americans stopped the assault without without taking without taking a Fallujah." "without taking a Fallujah." "Three without taking a Fallujah." "Three weeks weeks later, weeks later, these weeks later, these photos weeks later, these photos leaked." "weeks later, these photos leaked." "American" "American soldiers" "American soldiers abusing" "American soldiers abusing Iraqis" "American soldiers abusing Iraqis in" "American soldiers abusing Iraqis in Abu" "Abu Ghraib" "Abu Ghraib Prison." "Abu Ghraib Prison." "The" "Abu Ghraib Prison." "The insurgency" "Abu Ghraib Prison." "The insurgency received received a received a massive received a massive boost." "A" "A line" "A line had" "A line had been" "A line had been crossed." "A line had been crossed." "America's forces forces in forces in Iraq forces in Iraq now forces in Iraq now faced forces in Iraq now faced insurgency forces in Iraq now faced insurgency on on a on a massive on a massive scale." "on a massive scale." "The on a massive scale." "The Sunni on a massive scale." "The Sunni Brigades," "Brigades, add" "Brigades, add sadder's" "Brigades, add sadder's " "Brigades, add sadder's -- sadder's" "Brigades, add sadder's -- sadder's brigade brigade officers brigade officers and brigade officers and Al-Qaeda." "brigade officers and Al-Qaeda." "Bremer" "Bremer was" "Bremer was still" "Bremer was still under" "Bremer was still under orders" "Bremer was still under orders to" "Bremer was still under orders to hand hand over hand over to hand over to Iraqis hand over to Iraqis by hand over to Iraqis by the hand over to Iraqis by the end hand over to Iraqis by the end of" "hand over to Iraqis by the end of June." "June." "Two" "June." "Two months" "June." "Two months awayle." "June." "Two months awayle." "Even" "June." "Two months awayle." "Even caucuses caucuses would caucuses would take caucuses would take too caucuses would take too long." "caucuses would take too long." "He caucuses would take too long." "He would would have would have to would have to appoint would have to appoint the would have to appoint the Government." "Government." "I" "Government." "I thought" "Government." "I thought the" "Government." "I thought the best" "Government." "I thought the best man" "Government." "I thought the best man to to be to be secretary to be secretary of to be secretary of defence to be secretary of defence was to be secretary of defence was -- to be secretary of defence was -- he" "to be secretary of defence was -- he had had the had the right had the right background had the right background for had the right background for a tough had the right background for a tough job." "job." "During" "During his" "During his exile" "During his exile in" "During his exile in London," "During his exile in London, he" "During his exile in London, he had" "During his exile in London, he had worked worked with worked with western worked with western intelligence." "worked with western intelligence." "He worked with western intelligence." "He survived survived an survived an attempted survived an attempted axe survived an attempted axe murder survived an attempted axe murder thought thought to thought to have thought to have been thought to have been ordered thought to have been ordered by" "thought to have been ordered by Saddam" "Saddam Hussein." "Saddam Hussein." "Bremer" "Bremer came" "Bremer came to" "Bremer came to see" "Bremer came to see me" "Bremer came to see me and" "Bremer came to see me and said," "Bremer came to see me and said, we" "Bremer came to see me and said, we want want you want you to want you to be want you to be the want you to be the Minister want you to be the Minister of want you to be the Minister of defence." "defence." "I defence." "I said, defence." "I said, I don't defence." "I said, I don't know defence." "I said, I don't know who defence." "I said, I don't know who is defence." "I said, I don't know who is the the Prime the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, what the Prime Minister, what kind the Prime Minister, what kind of the Prime Minister, what kind of government?" "government?" "He government?" "He said, government?" "He said, I want government?" "He said, I want to government?" "He said, I want to be government?" "He said, I want to be sure sure that sure that the sure that the defence sure that the defence minister sure that the defence minister has sure that the defence minister has the the following the following authorities... the following authorities..." "Basically," "Basically, the" "Basically, the authorities" "Basically, the authorities he" "Basically, the authorities he headlined headlined with headlined with authorities headlined with authorities of headlined with authorities of the headlined with authorities of the Prime" "Prime Minister." "Prime Minister." "The" "Prime Minister." "The Americans" "Prime Minister." "The Americans got" "Prime Minister." "The Americans got what what they what they wanted, what they wanted, a Western what they wanted, a Western friendly, friendly, nonsectarian friendly, nonsectarian Prime friendly, nonsectarian Prime Minister." "Minister." "Ayad" "Minister." "Ayad Allawi." "Minister." "Ayad Allawi." "The" "The exit" "The exit strategy" "The exit strategy that" "The exit strategy that the" "The exit strategy that the coalition" "The exit strategy that the coalition has has produced." "I" "I could" "I could see" "I could see a lot" "I could see a lot of" "I could see a lot of frustration" "I could see a lot of frustration and" "I asked" "I asked him," "I asked him, what" "I asked him, what was" "I asked him, what was up," "I asked him, what was up, Mr" "I asked him, what was up, Mr Prime" "I asked him, what was up, Mr Prime Minister?" "Minister?" "I" "Minister?" "I said," "Minister?" "I said, imagine" "Minister?" "I said, imagine you" "Minister?" "I said, imagine you are" "Minister?" "I said, imagine you are running running a running a country running a country that running a country that has running a country that has nothing." "running a country that has nothing." "No" "No army," "No army, no" "No army, no police," "No army, no police, no" "No army, no police, no money," "No army, no police, no money, nothing nothing at nothing at all. nothing at all." "A month nothing at all." "A month later, nothing at all." "A month later, this nothing at all." "A month later, this feeble feeble new feeble new state feeble new state faced feeble new state faced its feeble new state faced its first feeble new state faced its first test." "test." "Grand test." "Grand Ayatollah test." "Grand Ayatollah Sistani test." "Grand Ayatollah Sistani left test." "Grand Ayatollah Sistani left Iraq" "Iraq for" "Iraq for medical" "Iraq for medical treatment" "Iraq for medical treatment in" "Iraq for medical treatment in London." "London." "In" "London." "In Najaf," "London." "In Najaf, Muqtada" "London." "In Najaf, Muqtada al-Sadr" "London." "In Najaf, Muqtada al-Sadr and and his and his Mahdi and his Mahdi Army and his Mahdi Army took and his Mahdi Army took over and his Mahdi Army took over the and his Mahdi Army took over the city" "city and city and its city and its holy city and its holy shrines." "city and its holy shrines." "Iraq's city and its holy shrines." "Iraq's government government risked government risked losing government risked losing control." "In" "In Baghdad," "In Baghdad, Prime" "In Baghdad, Prime Minister" "In Baghdad, Prime Minister Allawi summoned summoned the summoned the coalition summoned the coalition commander. summoned the coalition commander." "I said, said, Prime said, Prime Minister, said, Prime Minister, this said, Prime Minister, this is said, Prime Minister, this is a difficult difficult situation difficult situation but difficult situation but I believe" "difficult situation but I believe that that Saddam that Saddam may that Saddam may have that Saddam may have given that Saddam may have given this that Saddam may have given this new that Saddam may have given this new government" "government an government an opportunity government an opportunity to government an opportunity to demonstrate demonstrate that demonstrate that it demonstrate that it can demonstrate that it can protect demonstrate that it can protect the demonstrate that it can protect the Iraqi" "Iraqi people." "Iraqi people." "I said" "Iraqi people." "I said that" "Iraqi people." "I said that the" "Iraqi people." "I said that the Government" "Government should" "Government should be" "Government should be in" "Government should be in control" "Government should be in control and" "Government should be in control and American" "American forces" "American forces should" "American forces should not" "American forces should not be" "American forces should not be engaged engaged at engaged at all engaged at all in engaged at all in this engaged at all in this fight, engaged at all in this fight, because because of because of the because of the holiness" "because of the holiness of because of the holiness of the because of the holiness of the city." "Some" "Some Iraqi" "Some Iraqi forces" "Some Iraqi forces were" "Some Iraqi forces were sent" "Some Iraqi forces were sent to" "Najaf." "But" "But the" "But the US" "But the US Marines" "But the US Marines provided" "But the US Marines provided the" "But the US Marines provided the real" "But the US Marines provided the real firepower." "GUNSHOTS" "THE" "THE MAHDI" "THE MAHDI ARMY" "THE MAHDI ARMY AMBUSHED" "THE MAHDI ARMY AMBUSHED THEM" "THE MAHDI ARMY AMBUSHED THEM FROM" "THE" "THE ANCIENT" "THE ANCIENT CRYPTS" "THE ANCIENT CRYPTS AND" "THE ANCIENT CRYPTS AND PASSAGEWAYS" "THE ANCIENT CRYPTS AND PASSAGEWAYS IN" "IN NAJAF'S" "IN NAJAF'S HUGE" "IN NAJAF'S HUGE CEMETERY." "Muqtada" "Muqtada al-Sadr" "Muqtada al-Sadr had" "Muqtada al-Sadr had an" "Muqtada al-Sadr had an unlikely ally, ally, Shia ally, Shia and ally, Shia and Sunni ally, Shia and Sunni leaders ally, Shia and Sunni leaders put ally, Shia and Sunni leaders put aside aside their" "aside their differences aside their differences to aside their differences to fight aside their differences to fight the aside their differences to fight the occupiers." "said, what is this?" "What are you doing?" "You cannot have the doing?" "You cannot have the Government" "Government seen" "Government seen as" "Government seen as weak" "Government seen as weak in" "Government seen as weak in this" "Government seen as weak in this way." "Government seen as weak in this way." "Mr" "Mr Prime" "Mr Prime Minister," "Mr Prime Minister, I have" "Mr Prime Minister, I have the" "Mr Prime Minister, I have the signature signature of signature of Muqtada signature of Muqtada al-Sadr signature of Muqtada al-Sadr in signature of Muqtada al-Sadr in black black and black and white black and white in black and white in my" "black and white in my hand." "black and white in my hand." "It black and white in my hand." "It is black and white in my hand." "It is only only me only me to only me to sign only me to sign it, only me to sign it, I have only me to sign it, I have not only me to sign it, I have not signed" "signed it signed it yet. signed it yet." "I said signed it yet." "I said you signed it yet." "I said you have signed it yet." "I said you have to signed it yet." "I said you have to stop stop this stop this immediately stop this immediately and stop this immediately and come stop this immediately and come back." "stop this immediately and come back." "When" "When he" "When he came" "When he came back," "When he came back, I told" "When he came back, I told him" "When he came back, I told him to" "When he came back, I told him to go" "When he came back, I told him to go and and find and find himself and find himself and and find himself and Ambassador and find himself and Ambassador place." "place." "Allawi's place." "Allawi's government place." "Allawi's government Snow place." "Allawi's government Snow delivered delivered an delivered an ultimatum." "As" "As US" "As US and" "As US and Iraqi" "As US and Iraqi troops" "As US and Iraqi troops closed" "As US and Iraqi troops closed in, the the Mahdi the Mahdi Army the Mahdi Army retreated the Mahdi Army retreated to the Mahdi Army retreated to the the Mahdi Army retreated to the shrine." "Just" "Just as" "Just as the" "Just as the Government" "Just as the Government prepared" "Just as the Government prepared for a a final a final assault, a final assault, grand a final assault, grand Ayatollah a final assault, grand Ayatollah Sistani" "Sistani returned" "Sistani returned to" "Sistani returned to Iraq." "Sistani returned to Iraq." "He" "Sistani returned to Iraq." "He crossed" "Sistani returned to Iraq." "He crossed into into Basra into Basra and into Basra and announced into Basra and announced that into Basra and announced that the into Basra and announced that the Shia" "Shia hierarchy" "Shia hierarchy would" "Shia hierarchy would settle" "Shia hierarchy would settle the" "Shia hierarchy would settle the crisis crisis themselves, crisis themselves, but crisis themselves, but first, crisis themselves, but first, he crisis themselves, but first, he needed needed the needed the Government needed the Government to" "needed the Government to guarantee needed the Government to guarantee him him safe him safe passage him safe passage home." "Ayad" "Ayad Allawi" "Ayad Allawi sent" "Ayad Allawi sent one" "Ayad Allawi sent one of" "Ayad Allawi sent one of his ministers ministers to ministers to talk ministers to talk to ministers to talk to Sistani." "ministers to talk to Sistani." "When ministers to talk to Sistani." "When he he got he got there, he got there, he he got there, he was he got there, he was presented he got there, he was presented with he got there, he was presented with an" "an ultimatum." "an ultimatum." "The an ultimatum." "The government an ultimatum." "The government was an ultimatum." "The government was told told off told off for told off for 24 told off for 24 hours, told off for 24 hours, so told off for 24 hours, so Sistani told off for 24 hours, so Sistani could" "could talk could talk Muqtada could talk Muqtada into could talk Muqtada into the could talk Muqtada into the shrine." "I tried" "I tried many," "I tried many, many" "I tried many, many times" "I tried many, many times to" "I tried many, many times to reach" "I tried many, many times to reach Doctor" "Doctor riot," "Doctor riot, but" "Doctor riot, but the" "Doctor riot, but the telephone" "Doctor riot, but the telephone lines" "Doctor riot, but the telephone lines was was not was not working." "was not working. --Dr was not working. --Dr Ayad." "was not working. --Dr Ayad." "Then was not working. --Dr Ayad." "Then I fed fed myself fed myself in fed myself in a position fed myself in a position where fed myself in a position where I must must say must say yes must say yes or must say yes or no." "must say yes or no." "If must say yes or no." "If I say must say yes or no." "If I say no, must say yes or no." "If I say no, then then I then I will then I will destroy then I will destroy this then I will destroy this initiative, then I will destroy this initiative, Ayatollah" "Ayatollah Sistani." "Ayatollah Sistani." "And" "Ayatollah Sistani." "And I found" "Ayatollah Sistani." "And I found that" "Ayatollah Sistani." "And I found that we we had we had to we had to agree we had to agree on we had to agree on the we had to agree on the recourse we had to agree on the recourse of we had to agree on the recourse of the" "the Ayatollah." "the Ayatollah." "Allawi the Ayatollah." "Allawi and the Ayatollah." "Allawi and the the Ayatollah." "Allawi and the Americans" "Americans were" "Americans were still" "Americans were still considering" "Americans were still considering storming storming the storming the mosque." "storming the mosque." "We storming the mosque." "We had storming the mosque." "We had paid storming the mosque." "We had paid significant significant blood significant blood and significant blood and treasure significant blood and treasure here significant blood and treasure here and and we and we wanted and we wanted to and we wanted to finish and we wanted to finish the" "and we wanted to finish the operation operation to operation to restore operation to restore Iraqi operation to restore Iraqi control operation to restore Iraqi control to to Najaf." "to Najaf." "There to Najaf." "There was to Najaf." "There was pressure, to Najaf." "There was pressure, but to Najaf." "There was pressure, but we to Najaf." "There was pressure, but we cannot cannot allow cannot allow American cannot allow American forces cannot allow American forces to cannot allow American forces to go cannot allow American forces to go into into the into the shrine." "into the shrine." "It into the shrine." "It is into the shrine." "It is very into the shrine." "It is very difficult, difficult, very difficult, very sensitive." "difficult, very sensitive." "The difficult, very sensitive." "The minister minister finally minister finally got minister finally got a phone minister finally got a phone line minister finally got a phone line through through to through to Baghdad." "through to Baghdad." "They" "They said" "They said they" "They said they are" "They said they are agreeable," "They said they are agreeable, they" "They said they are agreeable, they want want to want to call want to call exactly want to call exactly what want to call exactly what they want to call exactly what they have want to call exactly what they have been" "been advocating." "been advocating." "To been advocating." "To get been advocating." "To get away been advocating." "To get away from been advocating." "To get away from the the shrine the shrine and the shrine and to the shrine and to leave the shrine and to leave it." "the shrine and to leave it." "And the shrine and to leave it." "And we the shrine and to leave it." "And we were were told were told that were told that Ayatollah were told that Ayatollah Sistani were told that Ayatollah Sistani would would leave would leave and would leave and by would leave and by three, would leave and by three, there" "would leave and by three, there would would be would be a cease-fire would be a cease-fire and would be a cease-fire and the would be a cease-fire and the battle would be a cease-fire and the battle would would be" "would be over." "would be over." "And would be over." "And I looked would be over." "And I looked at would be over." "And I looked at the would be over." "And I looked at the Prime" "Prime Minister" "Prime Minister and" "Prime Minister and said," "Prime Minister and said, we" "Prime Minister and said, we can" "Prime Minister and said, we can accommodate accommodate that accommodate that but accommodate that but we accommodate that but we need accommodate that but we need to accommodate that but we need to keep accommodate that but we need to keep fighting" "fighting until fighting until three fighting until three o'clock." "fighting until three o'clock." "And fighting until three o'clock." "And the the Prime the Prime Minister the Prime Minister agreed." "The" "The next" "The next day," "The next day, Ayatollah" "The next day, Ayatollah Sistani, along along with along with thousands along with thousands of along with thousands of his along with thousands of his supporters, supporters, returned supporters, returned to supporters, returned to Najaf," "supporters, returned to Najaf, while supporters, returned to Najaf, while coalition coalition forces coalition forces looked coalition forces looked on." "His" "His followers" "His followers streamed" "His followers streamed into" "His followers streamed into the" "His followers streamed into the Imam" "Ali" "Ali shrine," "Ali shrine, and" "Ali shrine, and filed" "Ali shrine, and filed out," "Ali shrine, and filed out, providing" "Ali shrine, and filed out, providing cover cover for cover for Muqtada's cover for Muqtada's fighters." "cover for Muqtada's fighters." "Muqtada's" "Muqtada's Mahdi" "Muqtada's Mahdi Army" "Muqtada's Mahdi Army have" "Muqtada's Mahdi Army have suffered" "Muqtada's Mahdi Army have suffered horrendous horrendous losses." "horrendous losses." "But horrendous losses." "But his horrendous losses." "But his popularity popularity grew." "popularity grew." "And popularity grew." "And he popularity grew." "And he announced popularity grew." "And he announced he popularity grew." "And he announced he was was forming was forming a political was forming a political movement." "was forming a political movement." "Iraq" "Iraq finally" "Iraq finally have" "Iraq finally have elections" "Iraq finally have elections five" "Iraq finally have elections five months months later. months later." "A Shia months later." "A Shia Islamist months later." "A Shia Islamist government government was government was elected, government was elected, thank government was elected, thank to government was elected, thank to Muqtada" "Muqtada al-Sadr's" "Muqtada al-Sadr's support." "Muqtada al-Sadr's support." "In" "Muqtada al-Sadr's support." "In the" "Muqtada al-Sadr's support." "In the next next programme, next programme, we next programme, we see next programme, we see how next programme, we see how this next programme, we see how this led next programme, we see how this led to" "to war to war between to war between Shia to war between Shia and to war between Shia and Sunni. to war between Shia and Sunni." "I said, said, Mr said, Mr President, said, Mr President, it said, Mr President, it is said, Mr President, it is hell." "said, Mr President, it is hell." "Baghdad" "Baghdad is" "Baghdad is hell."