"In this study, Gregory Hooker provides a detailed narrative of the war planning process, spanning the military's initial attempts to refocus on regime change and the government's ineffective preparation for the postwar environment. Throughout, he assesses the prewar intelligence estimates and the various problems that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had to overcome, including rampant media leaks, unrealistic strategic proposals, and time constraints caused by competing assumptions between senior policymakers and military planners. In doing so, he provides invaluable insight into challenges that may confront future U.S. war planning and intelligence efforts."--BOOK JACKET.

Production of military intelligence estimates for Operation Iraqi Freedom -- Assessing the accuracy of the estimates -- Conclusion -- Timeline of key events in the planning of Operation Iraqi Freedom -- Maps and graphics -- Evolution and taxonomy of Iraq war plans -- CENTCOM staff directorates -- Satellite photo of CENTCOM headquarters -- Comparison of Iraq war plan timelines -- Prewar deployment of Iraqi military forces -- Vulnerability of Kurdish centers of gravity -- Coalition capitulation leaflet -- Iraqi oil sabotage -- Buried Iraqi fighter jet -- Timeline of OIF planning.