12/15/2003: 
Breaking News
U.S. Regime Change Efforts and Post-Saddam Governance
CRS Report to Congress from FAS Project on Government Secrecy
"Operation Iraqi Freedom accomplished a long-standing objective, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but U.S. officials acknowledge that restoring security to postwar Iraq has proved more difficult than anticipated. Past U.S. efforts to change the regime failed because of limited U.S. commitment, disorganization of the Iraqi opposition, and the efficiency and ruthlessness of Iraq's several overlapping security services. Previous U.S. Administrations had ruled out major U.S. military action to change Iraq's regime, believing such action would be risky and not necessarily justified by the level of Iraq's lack of compliance on WMD disarmament...
In the months prior to the war, the Administration stressed that regime change through U.S.-led military action would yield benefits beyond disarmament and reduction of support for terrorism; benefits such as liberation of the Iraqi people from an oppressive regime and promotion of stability and democracy throughout the Middle East. However, escalating resistance to the U.S.-led occupation has contributed to Administration implementation of several options, including attempts to recruit more foreign participation in post-war peacekeeping, building Iraqi institutions that can maintain security, and accelerating transfer of authority to Iraqi political bodies."
Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) does not believe the American public should have routine access to CRS reports like this one. Rep. Ney, chair of the House Committee on House Administration, attempted to explain his position in "Ney Draws Line at Public Access to Research," by Paul M. Krawzak, Copley News Service.
Comprehensive report you weren't meant to see. Check out the full report (Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)
