Former Top US Commander In Iraq Calls War "Nightmare With No End In Sight"

New York Times:

In a sweeping indictment of the four-year effort in Iraq, the former top American commander called the Bush administration's handling of the war incompetent and warned that the United States was "living a nightmare with no end in sight."

In one of his first major public speeches since leaving the Army in late 2006, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez blamed the administration for a "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan" and denounced the current "surge" strategy as a "desperate" move that will not achieve long-term stability.

"After more than fours years of fighting, America continues its desperate struggle in Iraq without any concerted effort to devise a strategy that will achieve victory in that war-torn country or in the greater conflict against extremism," Mr. Sanchez said, at a gathering here of military reporters and editors.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[VivaZapata]

Seems to me that this story deserved more coverage.

[PollM]

Cowboys with the lust for power. Shoot first ask question later.

In your opinion do you believe the U.S. will exit Iraq having achieved its goals or failed in its goals? --> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=698
.

[Robert59]

I watched his speech followed by a Q&A session on C-SPAN. Talk about disingenuous. And lousy follow up questions.

He wouldn't name who was at fault for the poor planning, just the NSC, but what exactly they failed to do he wouldn't specify.

He defended a general carrying out his duty, as it's the bedrock of the Constitution, but no one asked him nor did he offer to explain if he knew it was a disaster when he took over 15 June, he didn't resign 16 June.

He pretty much admitted to the torture at Abu Ghraib, but instead of saying it was wrong he merely slammed those who authorized it for allowing the entire chain of command up to...he rambled off but I assume he meant himself as having been dishonored by the administration's decision.

He talks about the need for a bipartisan solution, but doesn't address it's the administration who has told Congress to shut up and color, that it's their way or the highway.

He talks about the need for ethical reporting and for penalties to be imposed, but no one in the audience (military reporters) bothered to ask him how the Army punished those who falsely reported the Jessica Lynch story or the Pat Tillman coverup.

He doesn't believe invading Iraq was a mistake because if he did he would say so. He says he's not a policymaker, but the decision was made by and supported by leaders throughout the world and our country. Not once does he mention it was sold as a lie (no link to 9-11, no WMDs, no ability to hurt us or his immediate neighbors, no signs he was about to launch any type of offensive action).

He blames Bremer for the disbanding of the military, but none of the reporters is smart enough to ask him how palatable would that have been to keep 400,000 Sunnis in uniform who had terrorized 20 million Shiites and Kurds.

I don't know who angered me more, Sanchez and his half truths or the pussy reporters.

[Grannysue]

It's great the General is stating what we all have known for years, some of us before we invaded Iraq, who were dead set against it. But why in the hell didn't he speak out when he could have saved some of our soldiers lives?
We have been in this endless bloody mess which has cost the American people billions, looks like were going to hit a trillion, we have had one General after another, and they all wait of course until their command is over then they say, it's a mess. I say, they are all in part responsible, for going before camers and stating that everything is a o.k. when they knew there wasn't any plan, when there wasn't enough equipment, when there wasn't enough military. It's cost this country in blood, money, world standing and maybe our demise as the great power we were once. I can only hope for my all my grandchildren that come 2008 we see a new country emerge, one that is more caring and strong, who secures it's borders and starts worrying about the American people, instead of telling everyone else how to live there lives, and who should run their countries. I say provide humanitarian help, but a policy of shoot first and talk later is something that goes against our Constitution, and our values. That seems to be something that a good many Republicans don't seem to understand.

[PollM]

Cowboys with the lust for power. Shoot first ask question later.

In your opinion do you believe the U.S. will exit Iraq having achieved its goals or failed in its goals? --> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=698
.

[GenericBlogger]

Kudos to General Sanchez. It's a shame that Dubya, the emperor without clothes, doesn't have the desire, spine and fortitude to hear the truth from his underlings until they leave their positions.

[dr7854]

Anyone else notice that nobody who leaves this administration has anything good to say about Bush & Co. after they leave? There have been a couple that have said nothing, but those who have anything to say, always say something negative.

[Independent voter]

The real tragedy here is that this general, like Patreaus and so many other of our other military leaders, is a spineless coward - pond scum.

This man knew that Iraq was a clusterfuck, but was afraid to speak up, afraid to tell the truth, afraid to tell the American people what he saw.

So many of these chickenshit generals are willing to come forward after they retire - but by then IT'S TOO LATE.

They are all weasels, afraid of the Shinseki Syndrome -- where the truth gets you fired.

Is it better to be fired or live a life of lies - watching brave young men and women get slaughtered - to protect your own sorry ass? I think that the former is the better choice.

The culture of the military YES MAN needs to be changed. While I appreciate the need for the grunts to follow orders, by the time you reach the general's rank you have to have the balls to spreak up.

I do wonder whether it was rummie or bush that told this guy to clam up. But the general must accept the responsibility for thousands of deaths because of his cowardice.

I hope you enjoy your tax payer funder pension general.

[VictorLudorum]

Fighting the situation reminds of the movie'Species' ..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..discussi­ng a Grand Political Solution of the Entire Regional crisis should be every American Politician's priority.

[VictorLudorum]

Exactly a while ago former Carter administeration US Secretary of state Zbignew Brezinski was online at CNN Late Show with Wolf Blitzer and going on about some allegation of a force he believed Iran was about to make or had raised. He was discussing the 'small operative' part whereas a full region or continent is effected , and showing himself wellinformed. Look at these trash heads!.
In 1981 he came to Pakistan and started fingering Pakistani's to fight afganistani Communist Junta and even went to Khyber Pass border between Pakistan and Afganistan and tested a G3 rifle shot towards north ,that took him off his feet too. the direction Brezinski's were born.
I was then critical about these guys ,today they sit online and discuss small operations that pushes the fight talk and time only . No overall situation or a grand political sum up of the war comes from them. The war they started is still on, because USA is fighting itself now . But they have no answers to it. All this time when the country on the other side has changed so many times.Have they no gentleman manners or is The US short of ettiquette ?
Where were these same leaders when The Communists gave away?
And why did'nt they go there or send an envoy to conclude the war, and enlistments, they poured billions of US Tax Payer money ?
Didnt they have to tell the Mujahedeen 'thankyou we take it from here, and since The USA has a obligation of maintaining Democracy worldwide ,we open heartedly invite all the millions of Afgans across the border as equals and resettle them .
Afganistan is not a poor country except they cannot get the expensive time these illitrate butts get. A strwberry creme cake fits there face well! somebody!

[booker52]

I have to ask, why didn't this Lt Gen speak up while in command???? That would of been more effective that this.

[PollM]

Cowboys with the lust for power. Shoot first ask question later.

In your opinion do you believe the U.S. will exit Iraq having achieved its goals or failed in its goals? --> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=698
.

[MaxBob]

So another 'disgruntled' General with a bone to pick with the present administration voices his 'opinion' about the war effort. Gen Sanchez was 'hung' out to dry by the administration for Abu Ghraib. He was 'forced' to retire. Which isn't bad considering much lower ranking soldeirs are serving jail time. Innuendos and opinions are plentiful. Let's see some factual information to back up his claim, or like all else on the left, it's just more HOTAIR.

[Johnbo]

Um, since when are generals in the army "on the left"?

Sounds like another typical right-wing attempt to dismiss any criticism of perhaps the most arrogant and inept administration in American history.

Sanchez can be criticized, as he has on this website, for a number of things. Being "on the left" isn't one of them.

[cdnnewsjunky]

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[truthyguy]

WHY IS IT THAT THE NEWSPAPERS HAVE STOPPED DOING FRONT PAGE STORIES ON IRAQ?

It is as if the Iraq Bush War is no longer worthy of the public's attention in the opinion of the media. They should be ashamed.