The “shock and awe” attack that toppled Saddam Hussein in three weeks is often touted as a brilliant strategy that defeated Iraq with relatively few US casualties. But new information suggests that the US may have played into Saddam’s plans for a quick war then a long guerilla insurgency. The report last week of the Iraq Survey Group, based partly on interviews with captured leaders of the secretive Iraqi regime, said Saddam planned to have his troops and loyalists pull back after an initial US thrust and engage the Americans under terms more favourable to the Iraqis. Full Story