<P> U.S. General Tommy Franks assumed control of Iraq as the supreme commander of the coalition occupation forces . Shortly after the sudden collapse of the defense of Baghdad , rumors were circulating in Iraq and elsewhere that there had been a deal struck ( a `` safqua '' ) wherein the U.S. - led Coalition had bribed key members of the Iraqi military elite and / or the Ba'ath party itself to stand down . In May 2003 , General Franks retired , and confirmed in an interview with Defense Week that the U.S. - led Coalition had paid Iraqi military leaders to defect . The extent of the defections and their effect on the war are unclear . </P>
<P> U.S. General Tommy Franks assumed control of Iraq as the supreme commander of the coalition occupation forces . Shortly after the sudden collapse of the defense of Baghdad , rumors were circulating in Iraq and elsewhere that there had been a deal struck ( a `` safqua '' ) wherein the U.S. - led Coalition had bribed key members of the Iraqi military elite and / or the Ba'ath party itself to stand down . In May 2003 , General Franks retired , and confirmed in an interview with Defense Week that the U.S. - led Coalition had paid Iraqi military leaders to defect . The extent of the defections and their effect on the war are unclear . </P>
who led the invasion of iraq in 2003
who led the invasion of iraq in 2003
U.S. General Tommy Franks
U.S. General Tommy Franks