A noted author and journalist spoke to University of Wisconsin students and faculty on Wednesday, discussing some of the mishaps he said the U.S. has made since the beginning of the Iraq War.

Rajiv Chandrasekaren, national editor for the Washington Post and author of "Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone," spoke of three areas of error in Iraq: people, place and policies.

Chandrasekaren said that when the war began, he thought "we could pull it off in Iraq."

President Bush pledged to move Iraq into a more stable democracy, Chandrasekaren said, and believed Iraq needed capitalism.

After years of errors and judgments lapses in Iraq, Chandrasekaren said he believes the U.S. government would now settle for less.

"Now it seems the White House would be content with anything less then a full-fledged civil war," Chandrasekaren said.

Chandrasekaren also said he questioned the selection of U.S. ambassadors to Iraq by the Pentagon. He said applicants were asked personal questions, including their political beliefs, social beliefs and stances on social issues.

As a result, incompetent employees were hired in the areas of finance and health care redevelopment, Chandrasekaren said.

Chandrasekaren said Coalition Provisional Authority staffers who are inside the Green Zone — a protected international zone in the middle of Baghdad — could have been "worlds away" from the "real Baghdad."

Chandrasekaren also questioned some of the policies and decisions made by private contracting firm Halliburton that may have put American personnel in Baghdad in additional danger.

Security has improved in some areas of Baghdad, Chandrasekaren said, but asked in the future, who will "take over the security role the Americans are playing right now?"

He offered a "Plan B," which included giving the Iraqi providences a greater share of responsibility and authority.

"Now is the time to start trying to build effective local government institutions, social institutes and start growing a general republic," Chandrasekaren said.

Chandrasekaren added there will undoubtedly be problems along the way, but right now, said "Plan B" is the best choice.

"Those who are talking about this … seem to think in a potential ‘Plan B’ that at least has a slightly larger margin of success then other options on the table," Chandrasekaren said.

UW junior Francis Provine said Chandrasekaren provided evidence for audience members who thought the Iraq war was going well that it, in fact, is not.

"It made it clear to me that things aren’t going very well, but there was a little bit of hope," Provine said. "I really like how he focused on small things that we take for granted when it comes to policy issues and how we view the situation in Iraq."

Provine added the Iraq war is relevant to students at UW for many reasons, including those who know individuals fighting in Iraq and the recruitment by Halliburton on campus.

UW journalism professor Katy Culver said in the future, the situation in Iraq will be a major issue for today’s youth.

"This is the story of their generation. We are now mired in a conflict that could last for decades," Culver said. "As they were coming of age, decisions were made that they had no voice in, but they have a voice now."

Culver said through Chandrasekaren’s writing, society can learn "how important it is to understand other cultures before you go and act in those cultures."