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

[Johnbo]

I really am confused on how Sanchez came up with the STATE DEPARTMENT as the villan in this catastrophe. It was Colin Powell who was the lone critic in the inner circle. He warned that "if we broke it, we own it". IT was also the State department that prepared a lengthy, detailed analysis of how to proceed with the occupation and pacification of Iraq. Due to the arrogance and heavy-handedness of Rumsfeld, the Defense Department took over everything in the lead up to the invasion and the implementation of the occupation. They threw the State Department study in the trash and took over with the policy that brought the disaster we see today.

Other than that, I'm happy to see ANYONE - especially someone from the military - publicly bitch-slap these arrogant, incompetent assholes. But, his allegations about the State Department and his lack of criticism of Condolessa Rice leave me scratching my head.

[writechic]

RE Rice. Our Russian speaking Secretary of State and somehow our relations with Russia are in the shitter. I know it's more complicated, but she really has had an opportunity by now to smooth over Bush's idiotic, diplomacy-unraveling missteps with Russian.

[Danny]

Psychorigid thinking leads to ... disaster.

[SaviourMachine]

What Gen. Sanchez is saying is not news to anyone using both the left and right side of their brains.

For those of you still freebasing the Kool-Aid powder...

http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_10_08/cover.html

[Stretchumall]

Anyone that knows anything about anything knows this!



Got Rope?

[willfarnaby]

Trolls = paid fascist chickenhawk whores that revel in the diseased, degraded state of the USA.

[JaneC]

Qualities they look for at the Troll Employment Agency:

- Spending an inordinate amount of time where you're not wanted;
- A slavish, dog-like obedience to authority;
- A willingness to mimic any talking point;
- A willingness to change any opinion you hold at the drop of the President's hat;
- A contempt for those who challenge you on any point.

[ZingoBonMot]

-Computer skills learned at Enron.

[JohnKemp]

WOW! I love this one. Think I'll print it & post it on my refrigerator.

This from a hero-worshiper of Algore & Shrillary.

Two boobs who will neither participate in an adversarial environment nor even accept questions from those who disagree with their points of view.

[kenlog]

Excellent summation of...

http://www.screamingpoints.com/archives/idiot-genius.jpg

[beck]

Is there a right way to kill 300,000 people, trash a country, commit war crimes, and lie to the American people correctly? No since the deeds are all immoral. There is no way to do an immoral deed correctly.

As a comparison one would not say the rape was done incorrectly, a murder was committed incorrectly, or the bank was robbed incorrectly.

[willfarnaby]

Trolls = psychopathic, ReThug Brownshirts, paid for their treasonous, pernicious, war-criminal-supporting defecations.

[JoJoGunner]

BAGHDAD - The son and heir apparent of Iraq's top Shiite politician came out strongly Saturday in favor of autonomy for Iraq's religiously and ethnically divided regions, a potentially explosive issue on Iraq's already highly polarized political landscape.

Ammar al-Hakim, who is being groomed to take over the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the country's largest Shiite party, has been a firm supporter of federalism from the outset. But his unusually strident language appeared to signal growing impatience with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's inaction on key issues and his failure to bring fractured groups together

[JoJoGunner]

Swimmmingly. Things are going swimmingly in Iraqi Nam.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Shiites like the Biden Plan.

Whodathunkit.

[kay]

Nothing personal, but is there a conservative politician out there that thinks, in their wildest dreams, that the average American AGREED to spending a trillion dollars on establishing the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council?

That's why they all made up that load about WMD.

Not a chance in hell Americans were going for a trillion in backing to the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council.

[wmbear]

HOLY SHI'ITE!...

And they are "holy" (at least by their lights).

And Bush can't tell Shi'ite from Shinola.

[Wilburrr]

"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."

I hope he wears his Kevlar when he ventures outdoors. Bad thing happen to people who criticize this administration. Gen. Sanchez must know this and, given that fact, he has put himself at risk for the possibility of saving others. This is a true American hero.

[JoJoGunner]

I'm still waiting for one of you armchair generals to tell me which dog we back in the Turkey/Kurdistan dogfight? The Turkish military doesn't like P.M. Erdongan because he's an Islmist. If he doesn't authroize a retaliation it will increase resistance to his govt. If he does - then what? Will Dubya fight Turkey over Kurdistan? Will the Shiite Govt. of Iraq??? What the HELL will they do???

[JoJoGunner]

Damn I overdid they typos in that one.

[Rumplestiltskin]

The politically sensitive Congress sure is doing their best to add to this dilemma with the Armenian Massacre Resolution. A completely meaningless gesture (they seem to be perfecting those), that will do nothing but piss off the Turks.
I think we'd have to side with the Kurds. It is the only part of that mess over there with a decent outcome thus far.

[only1Demvoter]

JoJo : Blame it on the next Adm. ... -ralph

[Crozier]

Bush dangled the fourth star to several lieutenant generals - and as you noticed, several were from minorities and few from the academies. That tactic he learned from Poppa Bush who hired Colin Powell, an ROTC Jamaican with mullato background.

OK - fourth star for anyone who can delay the inevitable, lie effectively, and get to noon plus one minute, January 20, 2009.

[Crozier]

I can understand why these retired lieutenant generals say nothing until years later. The usual job for retired generals are positions on boards of directors for major MIC companies. Those who traitor them never get those perks. And yes, they prefer guys with the fourth star.

[wmbear]

YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE SANCHEZ CREDIT FOR SAYING ANYTHING PERIOD...

No matter how delayed. It's still an act of considerable courage and, as you can see from some of the comments on this thread, does leave one open to the accusation of "traitor." Hopefully, he was saying the same things privately while he was still in command in Iraq (which may be why he no longer is).

[TJoad]

So, just like MoveOn, Gen. Sanchez, the former top commander in Iraq, believes that Gen. Petraeus is full of shit.

So when are the wretched congressional Repugs going to pass a resolution denouncing Sanchez as an enemy of the state for disparaging our troops at a time of war?

[kevenseven]

Did you see the cover of The American Conservative recently?

"Sycophant Saviour" was what they called Patreaus.

Didn't hear much from the Republicans on that one.

[SaviourMachine]

I posted a link to that above.

Everytime someone starts screaming about MoveOn,I'm going to whip it out.

And,yes the silence was deafening on both sides of the aisle.

[optiquest]

sanchez was there as commander in Iraq when the shit hit the fan....Petraeus is over there cleaning up his mess. whos the fool now? sanchez is

[getoffmedz]

“The administration, Congress and the entire inter-agency, especially the State Department, must shoulder responsibility for the catastrophic failure, and the American people must hold them accountable,” General Sanchez said.

The good General is very correct. The Congress at the time when we attacked and occupied Iraq was OVERWHELMINGLY Fake Republican, many of whom are retiring and attempting to rapidly fade into obscurity.

They will NOT be forgotten. Count on it.

Take away their Passports!

[Johnbo]

I really am confused on how Sanchez came up with the STATE DEPARTMENT as the villan in this catastrophe. It was Colin Powell who was the lone critic in the inner circle. He warned that "if we broke it, we own it". IT was also the State department that prepared a lengthy, detailed analysis of how to proceed with the occupation and pacification of Iraq. Due to the arrogance and heavy-handedness of Rumsfeld, the Defense Department took over everything in the lead up to the invasion and the implementation of the occupation. They threw the State Department study in the trash and took over with the policy that brought the disaster we see today.

Other than that, I'm happy to see ANYONE - especially someone from the military - publicly bitch-slap these arrogant, incompetent assholes. But, his allegations about the State Department and his lack of criticism of Condolessa Rice leave me scratching my head.

[reece5309]

the former commanders opinion is much different form the current commanders opinion

[hope]

Today's mistress usually winds up tomorrow's ex-wife.

[ariuszme]

Not every soldier can or will automatically become a general. It takes a lot of work, devotion and years to work their way up in the ranks.

I keep wondering how many retired generals have to speak up and condemn this war and this presidency before the ignorant Bush supporters wake up and pay attention.

They are obligated to keep their mouths shut while still serving. But there have even been generals (and judges) who simply retired, resigned earlier than expected in their careers, especially before 2004, who said they could not work under the conditions that they knew about, that this administration were complicit in.

How many Richard Clarks, Generals, and Judges have to retire and speak up before the stupid part of America wakes up and listens?

Shame on adults who have sat by and allowed this man to stay in this presidency twice, much alone once. Shame on you all for backing this fool and not doing your research before the 2000 presidential election.

http://politicaldiscontent.blogspot.com

[noamjunior]

Dont blame the voters-
Bush lost the vote both times
blame Diebold and the democrats in congress who refuse to do anything about voter fraud

[hozer]

"I spent 33 years and 4 months in active service as a member of our country's most agile military force--the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was part of a racket all the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service."

Smedley D. Butler (1881-1940)
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http://warisaracket.org/benefits.html
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http://www.google.com/search?q=smedley+butler&btnG=Search&num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off
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[LindaSmart50]

Most GI's lose their identity when in the military.....they don't actually start thinking like an individual until they get out and start having to actually buy food and pay the rent.

[wmbear]

"I keep wondering how many retired generals have to speak up and condemn this war and this presidency before the ignorant Bush supporters wake up and pay attention."

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION...

Infinitely many. Unfortunately, the U.S. is a bit short of that number. Meaning that people like Sanchez can criticize the U.S. occupation of Iraq till they're blue in the face and what have they got? A blue face.