WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A former commander of coalition forces in Iraq issued a harsh assessment of U.S. management of the war, saying that American political leaders cost American lives on the battlefield with their "lust for power." - http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/13/iraq.sanchez/index.html

Quotes from retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, coalition commander in 2003 and 2004 -

(The War in Iraq is) "a nightmare with no end in sight" "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic"

"neglect and incompetence at the National Security Council level" which has put the U.S. military into "an intractable situation"

"Our National leadership ignored the lessons of World War Two as we entered into this war and to this day continue to believe that victory can be achieved through the application of military power alone,"

"From a catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan, to the administration's latest surge strategy, this administration has failed to employ and synchronize its political, economical and military power,"

(The Surge is) "a desperate attempt by the administration that has not accepted the political and economic realities of this war and they have definitely not been able to communicate effectively that reality to the American people."

"Too often, our politicians have been distracted and they have chosen loyalty to their political parties above loyalty to the Constitution because of their lust for power,"

"Who will demand accountability for the failure of our national political leadership involved in the management of this war," he said. "(Congress has) unquestionably been derelict in in the performance of their duty. In my profession, these types of leaders would be immediately relieved or court-martialed."

"Continued manipulations and adjustments to our military strategy will not achieve victory,"

"The best we can do with this flawed approach is stave off defeat."

Sanchez pointed out that it was his duty to obey orders when he was on active duty, but that it is his obligation to speak out now. That seems to say that he knew then, while he was certainly regarded by the administration as a military expert and was placed in charge of the military in Iraq, that he knew things were all screwed up. The administration's own man knew, the man they placed in charge.

Remind me again - Who decided to go to war in Iraq? Who dismissed anyone who disagreed with the administration's plans? Who refused to listen to the informed but opposing views of the career intelligence people? Who is ultimately responsible for this disaster? Who has wasted the lives of so many?

[QUOTE] [/QUSanchez retired from the Army last year, two years after he completing a tumultuous year as commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq. As he stepped down, he called his career a casualty of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

He was never charged with anything but he was not promoted in the aftermath of the
prisoner abuse reports. He was criticized by
some for not doing more to avoid mistreatment
of Iraqi prisoners.[Quote]

I wonder if he could be a little bitter ?

He certainly could be. I imagine a military officer would be very bitter about the CIA screwing up his watch. He certainly could be right about what he said, too. You see progress in Iraq. Not many others do.

Nowabout my questions. Care to answer them?

Gen. Sanchez must feel it's his duty to speak out. There'll probably be more people speaking out as the war lingers on. I think he knows what he is saying.

Now Scotty, in one word, see if you can answer Dorian's questions.

If Dorian doesn't know the answers to his questions, then I suggest he try Google, they are famous for answering questions.

quote:

Now Scotty, in one word, see if you can answer Dorian's questions.

Most people would know that it would be impossible in hell to answer his questions in "one word."

"Who decided to go to war in Iraq? Who dismissed anyone who disagreed with the administration's plans? Who refused to listen to the informed but opposing views of the career intelligence people? Who is ultimately responsible for this disaster? Who has wasted the lives of so many?"

Most people would know that it would be impossible in hell to answer his questions in "one word."

One Word: DUBYA!

quote:

One Word: DUBYA!

It was definitely more than "Dubya."
Democrats share the blame also.

How, Scotty, did we go from taking the credit - to "sharing the blame"?

quote:

Originally posted by frankvan:
How, Scotty, did we go from taking the credit - to "sharing the blame"?

I know I'm not Scotty, he does a fine job speaking for himself.

As for this Mr Frank, the Democrats have attempted to run from their initial votes to go to war in Iraq. The President has not. Of course the Democrats have their anti-war base to appease, and yet they are actually being hood-winked because none of the Democrat candidates have any plans on immediately pulling out of Iraq, once elected & sworn in.