Team sent to vet Iraq plans amid revolt fears
By James Harding in Washington and Dan Roberts in London
The Pentagon has sent a team of outside policy experts to conduct an independent review of post-war operations in Iraq amid growing criticism that the US failed to prepare for occupation.
A small group from Washington left yesterday at the invitation of Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary. They are to provide an outside opinion on a strategy review being conducted by Paul Bremer, America's de facto viceroy in Iraq, and the Department of Defence.
The mission comes as companies looking to invest in Iraq or win reconstruction contracts are being warned of an "even" chance of the country descending into open revolt.
The US military reported yesterday that one special forces soldier was killed and eight more injured in an attack, while one marine was killed and another two injured in an accident on the way to assist fellow forces that had come under fire. In addition, the Pentagon confirmed that two other soldiers were missing, after reports indicating that they may have been abducted.
The risks in the country have been highlighted by apparent sabotage attacks on oil pipelines.
Intelligence gathered by Kroll, the corporate security group, advises clients that political transition is unlikely to go smoothly, despite US assurances. "It is pretty unlikely that the kind of liberal capitalist democracy that has been talked about is going to emerge any time soon," said the consultancy.
The Kroll report, which is being sold for $5,800 to corporate clients and agencies, outlines four potential scenarios, but says two - a stable "soft landing" or complete fragmentation - are extremely unlikely. Instead, it concentrates on the even chances of a "wobbly landing" or an "Iraqi revolt".
The Bush administration's decision to call in people from outside government who have written papers on postwar Iraq, suggests discomfort in Washington at the problems facing its forces.