for france and its anti-war allies, the issue of the rapid recovery of iraqi sovereignty and the ending of the american occupation was paramount from the outset. for the uk, leader of the pro-war faction among european countries, the most pressing diplomatic problem following the war was preventing further deterioration in u.s.-eu relations. the british had their own criticisms of u.s. handling of the occupation in the first months. there were differences with the united states over military tactics, with british observers critical of the performance of the 3rd infantry division in baghdad, and particularly of the performance of the team under general jay garner, who for a short period administered postwar iraq.