In late January 2003, three Iraqi expats came to the White House.

They met with President Bush, Vice President Cheney,

and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

The purpose of the meeting, which came two months before the U.S. invasion, was a little unclear.

The writer Kanan Makia was one of the Iraqis.

And my overall impression is that the whole thing was essentially a public relations exercise.

The questions were pro-former, but among them was how do you think the Americans will be received?

And I think we all answered that they would be received positively.

Makia actually told the president that they'd be greeted with sweets and flowers.

But what he remembers most about the meeting is the plan that Bush laid out for after the invasion.

President Bush suddenly announced that there would not be one army going into Iraq, but two armies.

And I remember it was myself who asked him, what do you mean?

And then he said the first army would be to topple the regime.

And very shortly thereafter there would be the second army to rebuild Iraq and to relaunch the country.

Now, as he said this, he suddenly lifted up his eyes and looked at Condoleezza Rice.

And I think his words were right, meaning have I described it correctly.

And then the odd thing that I remember is that Condoleezza Rice, her eyes looked to the floor as she said yes.

For Makia, Rice's body language was a tell.

The plan for after the invasion might not be fully baked.

Makia's suspicion was confirmed when he met with retired army general J. Garner.

Garner was a guy who'd been in charge of a so-called second army, rebuilding Iraq.

He was in an empty office and with one secretary and hardly any files and he said he had just started his job the week before.

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