This is well worth watching in full, if only because it shows just how limited was the knowledge in the senior echelons of the US Government of Iraq and the realities of the Arab and Islamic world in the period 2002-2003. It is quite shocking to watch as none of the participants seem to feel any responsibility for the "Fiasco" (per Tom Ricks' book) that followed. A classic example of the "mistakes were made" apologia for what was a strategic debacle. Some rationalisation is offered for Saddam's removal on the basis that he ran a horrible regime. Hopefully, as the West considers another Middle East intervention, this time in Syria, some lessons have been learned about the (desperate) need for prudence, an understanding of history, religion and demography, and a realistic appraisal of what transient concerns the West has versus others with more 'to play for'.
