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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraq invasion plan 'delusional' | Iraq invasion plan 'delusional' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The US invasion plan for Iraq envisaged that only 5,000 US troops would remain in Iraq by December 2006, declassified Central Command documents show. | The US invasion plan for Iraq envisaged that only 5,000 US troops would remain in Iraq by December 2006, declassified Central Command documents show. |
| The material also shows that the US military projected a stable, pro-US and democratic Iraq by that time. | The material also shows that the US military projected a stable, pro-US and democratic Iraq by that time. |
| The August 2002 material was obtained by the National Security Archive (NSA). Its officials said the plans were based on delusional assumptions. | The August 2002 material was obtained by the National Security Archive (NSA). Its officials said the plans were based on delusional assumptions. |
| The US currently has some 132,000 troops in the violence-torn state. | The US currently has some 132,000 troops in the violence-torn state. |
| 'Completely unrealistic' | 'Completely unrealistic' |
| The documents - in the form of PowerPoint slides - were prepared by the now-retired Gen Tommy Franks and other top commanders at the time. | |
| All of these were delusions Thomas Blanton, National Security Archive Iran border sealed Shia cleric 'in Iran' | All of these were delusions Thomas Blanton, National Security Archive Iran border sealed Shia cleric 'in Iran' |
| The documents were presented at a briefing in August 2002 - less than a year before the US invasion of Iraq in April 2003. | The documents were presented at a briefing in August 2002 - less than a year before the US invasion of Iraq in April 2003. |
| The commanders predicted that after the fighting was over there would be a two- to three-month "stabilisation" phase, followed by an 18- to 24-month "recovery" stage. | The commanders predicted that after the fighting was over there would be a two- to three-month "stabilisation" phase, followed by an 18- to 24-month "recovery" stage. |
| They projected that the US forces would be almost completely "re-deployed" out of Iraq at the end of the "transition" phase - within 45 months of invasion. | They projected that the US forces would be almost completely "re-deployed" out of Iraq at the end of the "transition" phase - within 45 months of invasion. |
| "Completely unrealistic assumptions about a post-Saddam Iraq permeate these war plans," NSA executive director Thomas Blanton said in a statement posted on the organisation's website. | "Completely unrealistic assumptions about a post-Saddam Iraq permeate these war plans," NSA executive director Thomas Blanton said in a statement posted on the organisation's website. |
| "First, they assumed that a provisional government would be in place by 'D-Day', then that the Iraqis would stay in their garrisons and be reliable partners, and finally that the post-hostilities phase would be a matter of mere months'," Mr Blanton said. | "First, they assumed that a provisional government would be in place by 'D-Day', then that the Iraqis would stay in their garrisons and be reliable partners, and finally that the post-hostilities phase would be a matter of mere months'," Mr Blanton said. |
| "All of these were delusions," he added. | "All of these were delusions," he added. |
| The NSA said it received the documents last month, after making a request in 2004. | The NSA said it received the documents last month, after making a request in 2004. |
| The NSA is an independent research institute at George Washington University. | The NSA is an independent research institute at George Washington University. |
| It obtained the papers under the Freedom of Information Act. | It obtained the papers under the Freedom of Information Act. |