PBS sheds light on run-up to Iraq war

Did the Bush administration adequately plan for a postwar Iraq? That is the question posed by the documentary “Truth, War and Consequences” on “Frontline” (8 p.m., PBS). The answers that emerge are yes, no and not quite.

“Truth” does a good job of describing the fierce infighting between the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House and various intelligence agencies in the months and weeks leading up to the invasion of Iraq. State Department intelligence analyst Greg Thielmann, interviewed here, describes the battles as “an ideological food fight” that kept the White House from getting vital information. He also accuses the White House of relying on “faith-based intelligence” out of the Pentagon that was tailored to fit a preconceived notion of Iraq as an imminent threat.

According to “Frontline,” the squabbling also interfered with the development of a coherent strategy for the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq.

Many interviewed here express shock and awe at the level of violence and looting that erupted in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s government. According to retired Gen. Jay Garner, 17 of the 23 Iraqi ministry buildings — facilities he had intended to use in postwar reconstruction efforts — had been “deconstructed” by looters. Asked about the looting during a daily news conference, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld replied, “Stuff happens.”

But according to “Frontline,” planners in the State Department and other agencies had been expecting such looting and were anticipating it, based on previous experiences in Panama, Bosnia and Kosovo. Garner claims that Rumsfeld had instructed him to disregard the work done by the State Department, something Garner admits was “a mistake.”

“Frontline” also examines the role of Iraqi exiles in building the case for war and the planning for a post-Saddam regime. Viewers attempting to understand our current policy in Iraq or looking for background on the current Justice Department investigation into the CIA-White House controversy should not miss this presentation.

l Just when things were starting to get a tad dull on the Drake-dominated “Survivor: Pearl Islands” (7 p.m., CBS), two participants get lost in the jungle (or as lost as you can get while being followed by a camera crew) and another contestant gets drunk and misbehaves at a tribal council.

Tonight’s other highlights

  • Game two of the American League Championship Series (7 p.m., Fox).
  • “Ask This Old House” (7 p.m., PBS) welcomes new host Kevin O’Connor.
  • “Hollywood Justice” (7 p.m., Court TV) examines actress Winona Ryder — her early life on a commune, teen stardom and infamous shoplifting trial.
  • Two burglary investigations turn up similarly mummified remains on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).
  • A woman vanishes after leaving a dinner party at her fiance’s house on “Without a Trace” (9 p.m., CBS).
  • Carter’s letter from Africa only exacerbates Abby’s difficult day on “ER” (9 p.m., NBC).
  • Scheduled on “PrimeTime” (9 p.m., ABC): interviews with Gwyneth Paltrow and Clay Aiken.
  • Crooks and killers get a chance to fight Nazis in the 1967 war movie “The Dirty Dozen” (9 p.m., Turner Classic Movies).

Late night

George Clooney and Merle Haggard appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Cate Blanchett, Tom Papa and Dolly Parton on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC).