In a surprisingly candid conversation, Richard Armitage conveyed to Sir David Manning that President Bush needed a dose of reality regarding Iraq and Falluja's military operations. This response criticized Bush's initial aggressive military stance, advocating for a more politically measured approach, as the situation threatened to endanger efforts towards establishing an independent Iraqi administration. Manning's report to No 10 highlighted the crucial need for diplomacy over military might in grappling with the Iraq insurgency.
Armitage's insights about Bush's belief that he was on a divine mission reflect tension between military strategies and political realities in the Iraq war. He indicated to Manning that while Bush had initially been heavily influenced by military advisors to take a hardline approach in Falluja, the ensuing bloodshed necessitated a reconsideration of tactics to facilitate a more politically astute resolution to the conflict.
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