Sanchez wakens from nightmare

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=291195

Last week, former Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez made headlines across the US when he told a private gathering of military correspondents that the war in Iraq was "a nightmare ... with no end in sight".

In a scathing indictment of the Bush administration's approach to Iraq, Sanchez called his former political masters "incompetent" and "derelict in their duties," and accused them of being blinded by a "lust for power".

This is certainly strong criticism, and the fact that it comes from a respected military officer with experience as the commander in Iraq (from mid-2003 to mid-2004) makes it all the more powerful. But we should not rush forward to thank Gen Sanchez for his insight. Instead, we should ask him one question: where was his bracing criticism when he was in charge of the unfolding disaster in Iraq?

During his tenure as commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen Sanchez did not voice any of these criticisms to the public, nor is there any evidence that he offered vigorous internal dissent within the US military or the Coalition Provisional Authority. There were rumours that he had a frosty relationship with CPA viceroy L Paul Bremer and was alleged to have warned Bremer that additional US troops may be needed to secure Baghdad. But there is no evidence that Gen Sanchez made a formal demand for more resources or US troops to either Bremer or President Bush.
more...
The Military are rebelling
Their fed up

[notadmblnd]

1. hasn't there been about 9 other retired generals before him?

Why is it that once they retire, they're no longer credible?

[msongs]

2. actually he has secured his retirement pension and only now speaks up nt

[liberalmuse]

3. The military and their families are bearing all the sacrifice...

that is grossly unfair. Even during Vietnam, families across the board (except for the wealthy) were asked to sacrifice their sons via the draft. In spite of Republican propoganda regarding military service being voluntary, the military didn't volunteer for this. Americans should be trusted not to allow their fighting force to be sent to fight an unjust war. Instead, Americans have failed the troops by remaining silent and apathetic, while soldiers and their families suffer the full consequences of Bush's folly. What a farce, and what a great disservice to our men and women in uniform.