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

[HumeSkeptic]

Since this curious mismatch between myth and reality has suddenly become commonplace and is causing such extreme difficulty for the nation's ability to make good choices about our future, maybe it is time to focus on how in the world we could have gotten so many false impressions in such a short period of time. -Al Gore

----------------

I think Gore is right. I think we should get to the root cause of the disease, not just treat the symptoms.

This is the kind of thinking we need.

[olivia]

1. Destruction of the Freedom of Information Act during the Reagan administration - not so coincidentally the same year Rush Limbaugh got started.
2. Destroying education.

[demsrnuts]

More conspiracy theories ??

[HumeSkeptic]

Surely, those contrubuted. But, I think there is more to it. There cancer of corruption has spread. It has started affecting our daily lives in more than one ways.

[NotGuilty]

General Duff Limpwick will call Sanchez a "phoney soldier".

[BobC46]

It is not reported, but this is what Sanchez said about the MSM in the same speach:

"IN SOME CASES I HAVE NEVER EVEN MET YOU, YET YOU FEEL QUALIFIED TO MAKE CHARACTER JUDGMENTS THAT ARE COMMUNICATED TO THE WORLD. MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE AND WE CAN FIND OTHER EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF SECRETARY BROWN DURING KATRINA. THIS IS THE WORST DISPLAY OF JOURNALISM IMAGINABLE BY THOSE OF US THAT ARE BOUND BY A STRICT VALUE SYSTEM OF SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR AND INTEGRITY. ALMOST INVARIABLY, MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THE SENSATIONALISTIC VALUE OF THESE ASSESSMENTS IS WHAT PROVIDED THE EDGE THAT YOU SEEK FOR SELF AGRANDIZEMENT OR TO ADVANCE YOUR INDIVIDUAL QUEST FOR GETTING ON THE FRONT PAGE ....."

[coyote4]

.
............Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........what?

sorry, can't read all caps. too much noise.

try some sentence structure and paragraphs also, bob

okay?

[2224612]

Dear Scumbag,
Thanks for having the courage of your convictions and waiting until three or four thousand troops have died and thirty or so thousand have been wounded before speaking your mind.
It was nice of you to wait until you are safe in retirement and have ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING TO LOSE. You are going to live in the lap of motherfucking luxury for the rest of your useless goddamned life.
Now you think Iraq is problematic? You are worse than scum. You are a retired Army General. Go to hell, fuckface. Take shrub and lon with you.

[olivia]

Well said. These people who speak out only after serving BushCo faithfully for years are either lamely trying to salve their consciences, or make a buck now that the public has turned against the war.

Ditto for Colin Powell.

[nunzia]

Powell is at the top of that list of cowards, and self-serving phonies who fooled some of the people for a long long time.

[LIR]

Interesting how they have the nerve to speak out when they are out of the clutches of Bushies.

[exeye]

Absolutely correct.

As a former military man myself, I know that the oath we take is NOT to the "commander-in-chief", but to the United States of America.

EVERY military man/woman has the right and the DUTY to refuse to obey orders that are illegal, incompetent, or downright STUPID.

This man, and all the others who have, since they have no more promotions to gain, and are safely retired, come out and said that they KNEW that the bushco plan was flawed and doomed to fail, yet carried out those orders, at the cost of the lives of thier own troops, and many more Iraqi's, should be courts-martialed for Dereliction of Duty.

The had the OBLIGATION to speak out in defense of the country, AND thier own troops, yet they remained silent, while the carnage continued, until they were safely on the sidelines.

Trust me, in the military, men have been executed for lesser crimes.

[Maschine]

Aside from all the gibberish, your point is the strongest of all.

Anyone who speaks after they retire should be tried for treason, and their pensions cancelled. Personally, I think they should be sued for their irresponsibility.

Whats the point of having generals if they are mindless puppets controlled by potential facist and nazi leaders.

The military as the last resort to defending te constitution and the country MUST be able to voice their concerns. They can't be used and misused, its a crime. Thousands have died and been injured, millions havebeen displaced, The country has been [pillaged, divided an brought to its knees.

IS THAT WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS.

[TJoad]

"WHITE HOUSE DOESN'T RETURN SANCHEZ'S FIRE"
By JOHN COCHRAN
Oct. 13, 2007
"Faced with sharp criticism from a former U.S. commander in Iraq, the White House has chosen not to return fire.
Responding to accusations from retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Kate Starr, spokeswoman for the National Security Council said, We appreciate his service to the country."
*****************
Bush/Cheney/Neocon/Fox/Repug Auto-Central-Slime-Attack Computer (“The Swiftboatizer 2.0):
Command Line 1: "Must attack/slime/discredit all those criticizing Commander-in-Chief and Administration officials as unpatriotic/weak on terrorism/against our troops."
Command Line 2: "Must attack/slime/discredit all those criticizing the Iraq War, surge strategy, General Petraeus and our military leaders as unpatriotic/weak on terrorism/against our troops."
Command Line 3: "Former General Sanchez has criticized the Commander-in-Chief, Administration officials, the Iraq War and the surge strategy: MUST ATTACK SANCHEZ! MUST ATTACK SANCHEZ!"
Command Line 4: "General Sanchez is military leader—CANNOT ATTACK SANCHEZ! MUST DEFEND SANCHEZ!"
Command line 5: "ERROR! ERROR! SYSTEM CONFLICT! SYSTEM CONFLICT! SYSTEM SHUTDOWN! SYSTEM SHUTDOWN!"

[SaviourMachine]

TJoad I love it!

Reminded me of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ4A0aaaOAw

[Ping]

Dear Rick,

If you felt this way you should have resigned while in Iraq and said what you had to say then. You may have saved American lives, but you waited Rick. You waited for that fourth star that never came.

They blamed you for Abu Gharib and rightfully so. If you had any balls you would have said it while in uniform and you would have said it to Rumsfeld's face. Right now you are just a disgruntled retired Light General bitter about the fourth star that never came. Your words are too late, we already know that Iraq is a cluster f*ck and the people running it are stupid. You were one of those people.

Best of luck and happiness in your retirement sir.

[ghostsofamerica]

excellent remark. Very authentic voice.

[coyote4]

.
Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................'said it while in uniform?'

you've never been in uniform, have you son?

Don't be like the talking heads,cutting down the messenger. Let the message be debated on it's own merits.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Oh, come come.

As if the message's merits don't merit a comment on the TIMING AND CIRCUMSTANCE of said message.

[exeye]

I've been in uniform, so your point is?

I had an Executive Officer removed for incompetence, because he was. I submitted a request for a private meeting with the Commanding Officer, which was granted. I laid out my case, the C.O. investigated, and the X.O. was forced to submit his resignation.

An E-6 taking out an O-5 because I felt it was my DUTY to do so.

Apparently, generals have less understanding of duty.

[thatsitfortheotherone]

Agreed my canine friend. And at his level, there actually are national security implications when you blab that the war is a POS.

I still think, better late than never. One more straw on the camels back...

[Ping]

Shinseki said it while in uniform. It ended his career. If you have guts you say it with the uniform on. Otherwise you are just another RETIRED soldier.

[LindaSmart50]

No More Wars For Israel' Conference held in Southern California Weekend of October 12-14
On the weekend of October 12-14 patriotic voices of conscience from around the world will be gathering in southern California to call for an end to the endless wars being waged… and yet more planned, if the neocons get their way…. in the Middle East by the U.S., sacrificing the lives of our sons and daughters all for the sake of a worthless parasitic and terrorist nation by the name of Israel that has been subjugating the Arab Christian and Muslim population of Palestine for nearly sixty years.
Posted Oct 13, 2007 01:16 PM PST
Category: ISRAEL

ANNOUNCEMENT! THE CONFERENCE IS BACK ON!
. A new venue has been found which will host the conference for the next two days. The new location is being kept secret as the management wishes to avid being harassed by opponents of this conference. Registered attendees are being notified of the new venue.

Mark Glenn will be our on-air guest on today's TOGI radio show along with many of the speakers who had planned to participate in the conference.Tune in! 4PM to 6PM Central time. (That's 2PM to 4PM California time).

[coyote4]

.
antisemitic bloggers are baaaaack.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Let me know when the session on Saudia Arabia's "DRIVER'S ED FOR WOMEN" session is being held, ok?

Subjugate THAT!

[realitytrumpsbull]

What's funny about this whole thing is how
much of this forum has now turned into a running
flame war, much more that than actual comments
on the original article...

I still think Gen. Sanchez deserves credit
for speaking against the whole thing, but
also have to add 'better late than never',
because AS a general, he could have been
more persuasive and spoken his mind a little
louder at a time when it maybe would have
counted, or something...1/2 trillion a year
is a lot of money...sure is a lot of money...
no, like REALLY, a lot, and stuff...like,
truckloads...

[ArchAngel]

This must mean that Sanchez hates freedom, wants the terrorists to win, and does not support the troops.

[coyote4]

Sanchez truthfulness:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE MEDIA IS DOING A GREAT DISSERVICE TO THE NATION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

notice how the talking heads are trying to cut down the messenger rather than debate the message.

Turn the media OFF

[LindaSmart50]

TLavrov warns Rice against 'unilateral' Iran strategy Lavrov warns Rice against 'unilateral' Iran strategy
"We believe this work can be much more effective if there are no parallel steps in terms of sanctions against Iran, leaving alone periodic calls to use military force against Iran," Lavrov said during joint talks also with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Posted Oct 13, 2007 08:00 AM PST
Category: IRAN

Lavrov and the Russian government knowwhat's coming, and are doing their level best to stop it.

Rice and Gates have to know that Russia and China will not allow further sanctions against Iran.

The unasked question is, what will Russia and China do if the US attacks Iran?

US-Russia Missile Defense Talks Fail
In combative comments that took the U.S. side aback during a photo session, Putin criticized Bush's pet project and threatened to pull out of a Cold War-era treaty that limits intermediate-range missiles.
Posted Oct 13, 2007 07:55 AM PST
Category: RUSSIA

Translation: it appears these talks were engineered to fail.

This administration has known for months that Putin was absolutely, adamantly opposed to the US-proposed missile defense shield components in Poland and the Czech Republic.

That Gates and Rice went to Moscow with any notions of his position being changed was either not the point, or they have been indulging in some very wishful thinking

[Think82]

THERE IS SOMEONE RUNNING WHO HAS AN ANSWER:

http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48734744_joe_biden_joe_biden_iowa_rep_mckinley_bailey_endorses_joe_biden

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Iraq.html

Please read

[Nyland8]

Biden says he will leave some of our troops in Iraq.

That is no answer for me.

All US forces must be withdrawn from the Middle East. Anything less is denial of the facts and fosters further radicalization of the Islamic world.

Biden loses.

8

.

[DavidGetsInvolved]

All forces out is the only option.

Anything else is a lie.

[Think82]

Biden said he would bring all forces out if there is no political solution please watch his complete answer here:

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=ac476452-d76a-4a33-ab1b-6482ec1ff71f

[LindaSmart50]

Rice worried by Putin's broad powers
The Russian government under Vladimir Putin has amassed so much central authority that the power-grab may undermine Moscow's commitment to democracy, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday.
Posted Oct 13, 2007 11:06 AM PST
Category: RUSSIA

Okay, Condi, if you think it is a problem, here's your rifle.

Because We The People are far more worried that the American government under George Bush has amassed so much central authority that the power-grab may undermine US commitment to democrac

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

*** ARE ALL REPUBLICANS COWARDS ***

It's a simple question ... answer it!

Question for trolls:

Why is there over 20 retired generals who have spoken out against the incompetent one and the clusterfuck in Iraq and ...

Not one who has come out in support of it???

Thought I'd try again ...

[DavidGetsInvolved]

I'll help!

In answer to your querry:

Yes.

They would turn in their mothers. They are the most weka and cowardly crop of men as I have ever witnessed.

Bring back the draft.

End the war now.

[HumeSkeptic]

Some saw it coming, and said so:

"Some of you may remember that my last formal public address on these topics was delivered in San Francisco, a little less than a year ago, when I argued that the President's case for urgent, unilateral, pre-emptive war in Iraq was less than convincing and needed to be challenged more effectively by the Congress.
In light of developments since then, you might assume that my purpose today is to revisit the manner in which we were led into war. To some extent, that will be the case - but only as part of a larger theme that I feel should now be explored on an urgent basis.

The direction in which our nation is being led is deeply troubling to me -- not only in Iraq but also here at home on economic policy, social policy and environmental policy.
Millions of Americans now share a feeling that something pretty basic has gone" - Al Gore, August 2003

------------------

We need pre-emptive thinking, not pre-emptive war.

[coyote4]

We would need a major course reversal. Just stopping this shit won't be enough. We have gone too far. Too f**king far.

--------------------------
I don't recognize my country anymore.
This is not my America.
--------------------------
HumeSkeptic posted 11:15 pm on 10/01/2007

Bush's America

[VictorLudorum]

Dear Speaker...would you amplify to the Nation ,any treason being committed against the United States of America by 'the famous chicken Hawks' and their partners who blatantly blamed the Afgans for attacking the Twin Towers,when their only motive was to take The United States to a longer War . Dear Speaker you must know that The United States of America has no first hand enemny in the region .While the Taliban are holding several hundred Pakistani Military men and getting no response or negotiator from International Press or The United States itself...

Here is a magical illustration that shows A like Gengis Khan' and Chiken like creatures on the pillars. And villianous men emblemed on the facade of the pillars . Also other thrones and at bottom some suited in steel professors with light and crown like Liberty Statue on heads with devilish creatures tied to their sides...have a look... www.geocities.com/greatglobalist kindly scroll down to section three that says' The Great Almighty'

[Ramirez]

Victor,I'm always amazed at your posts. You write this stuff continously and every one is different.

At one point I thought you were writing in a foreign language and then running it through a translator; but I don't think that's right.

Oh well. Have a good day. Fascinating stuff.

[sarcasticennui]

I finally figured out how to make sense of it.

You merge Victor's posts with wolfwarrior's.

One word from Victor, one word from wolfie, repeat, repeat.

The finished product is near Churchillian.