Guardian reported about US plans (including use of ground troops) in December 2001. [2]
[1] In November 2001 72% respondents in Gallup poll favored invading Iraq with U.S. ground troops. http://www.gallup.com/poll/8038/seventytwo-percent-americans... [2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/02/afghanistan.ir...
By mid-2002 there were weird goings on, things like lumber shortages, and it was like "Oh fuck. Iraq is happening for real, and this isn't going to be a quick in-and-out." [1]
This is just according to my personal memories, of course. They pretty much line up with wikiepedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War
[0] Donald Rumsfeld memo dated 27 November
2001 (still bullshit territory)
[1] During 2002, the amount of ordnance
used by British and American aircraft
patrolling the no-fly zones of Iraq
increased compared to the previous
years and by August had "become a full
air offensive". (was actually happening)