US officials warn George W Bush to face reality on Iraq war

George H. W. Bush

President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 Iraq War

2003–2011 war after an American-led invasion

Highlights

In April 2004, Richard Armitage indicated President Bush's aggressive military posture toward Iraq's insurgents.
The U.S. began Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah amid rising tensions and concerns over military tactics.
Leaders were urged to seek a political resolution to the conflict, signifying the challenges of the U.S. military approach.

Story

In early April 2004, during the Iraq war, Richard Armitage, then deputy secretary of state, conveyed serious concerns regarding President George W. Bush's mindset to Sir David Manning, the UK ambassador to the US. Armitage suggested that Bush believed he was on a divine mission to deal with Iraqi insurgents, which raised alarms about US military tactics. This mindset came to light following a bloody US military operation in Falluja triggered by the violent deaths of four private contractors. The operation, known as Operation Vigilant Resolve, followed less than a year after the initial US-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein in May 2003.

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