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Former US Commander in Iraq Tells His Side of the Story

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez, the US commander in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004, tells us what he wishes he’d done differently. He shares his take on Abu Ghraib and the current state of affairs in Iraq in his new book, Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story.

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Comments

  • [1] Ron Cox from Ga May 07, 2008 - 08:36AM

    I served with LTG Sanchez for 5 years and I think the Army lost a great leader when they forced him to retire and I am glad to see him write this book and get his side of the story out.


  • [2] Joe Corrao from Brooklyn May 07, 2008 - 12:09PM

    Cmon brian ask him tough questions...last time u had a high profiile war criminal in your midst (kissinger) he ate your lunch...ask him real queations don't let him clean his conscience on my dime


  • [3] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:12PM

    One CSPAN this morning, Sanchez said that he also thought "Mission Accomplished" in May 03. Gosh, I don't know anything about military, but I knew the U.S. lost the war the day the looting began. And if you read books by embedded reporters during the invasion, it's very clear that the insurgency was already underway as the U.S. troops rushed by. This guy must have no command of the obvious.


  • [4] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:16PM

    Yeah, Iraq is just like Grenada & Panama. And in case Sanchez hasn't noticed, Kosovo is still a basket case.


  • [5] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:19PM

    Why does he talk in the present tense? (Did it on CSPAN too, so it's not an accident.) Is he going to be like McCan who wants to refight the war until he wins it?


  • [6] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:23PM

    Shorter Sanchez: We knew what we were doing was stupid, but we had to do it anyway.


  • [7] torture from new york city May 07, 2008 - 12:26PM

    Why, if Sanchez is such a military man, does he refuse to take responsibility for the torture even though he clearly upholds the the doctrine of the 'chain of command' which would clearly implicate him.


  • [8] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:27PM

    He doesn't seem to be a tad embarrassed about the fact the U.S. spends half a trillion dollars/year on military, which turns out to have been totally unprepared for the task at hand. It's not as though insurgencies are new. They're only about several millenia old. Disgusting.


  • [9] Richard Bohn from along the bank of a river flowing, cold and grey out of Canada May 07, 2008 - 12:29PM

    This guy is creepy. A 'real ' man would talk the truth when he screws up.

    What a lame , whimpy excuse maker.


  • [10] Alan Gold from UES May 07, 2008 - 12:30PM

    Can you ask this man if he feels the Bush administration misused the military and his service? If not ask him how he would feel if the war was for oil.


  • [11] gross from new york city May 07, 2008 - 12:32PM

    I agree, this is disgusting. He is blaming the torture on the complexity of the situation.

    Hw could everyone have been so clueless and still he sits here and evades reponsibility, as if this were happening in some foreign uncontrollable stuation. They panicked because they new the public would find out.


  • [12] Alan Gold from UES May 07, 2008 - 12:32PM

    Weird....he does talk in a strange "present tense" manner.


  • [13] Richard Bohn from along the bank of a river flowing, cold and grey out of Canada May 07, 2008 - 12:33PM

    Keep your foot on his neck. Break the bastard.

    Get out the water bucket... !


  • [14] Nancy Elizabeth from St. Paul, MN May 07, 2008 - 12:34PM

    Leonard - ask him about the amnesty I believe that Sanchez approved on allowing Army personnel to destroy all photographs from their cell phones, digital cameras, and hard drives after the scandal leaked. This was covered in Errol Morris' new documentary Standard Operating Procedure.


  • [15] Peter from NYC May 07, 2008 - 12:34PM

    THIS GUY SHOULD BE IN JAIL!!!!!


  • [16] Richard Bohn from along the bank of a river flowing, cold and grey out of Canada May 07, 2008 - 12:36PM

    These are the same excuses muttered by the Nazi war criminals.


  • [17] Johnny May 07, 2008 - 12:36PM

    Rummy wanted torture and Sanchez was the yes man to do it. These men have ruined lies and our reputation abroad. They say they love america and yet they spit in the face of George Washington


  • [18] eCAHNomics May 07, 2008 - 12:37PM

    Something weird about forests & trees here. He sees some details but completely misses the overall picture.


  • [19] Richard Bohn from along the bank of a river flowing, cold and grey out of Canada May 07, 2008 - 12:39PM

    Military Denial.

    The biggest obstacle to peace and healing for not only our nation ... but the people of Iraq.


  • [20] Neal from Port Washington May 07, 2008 - 12:39PM

    I don't believe this guy at all. These official lies is what is destroying our country. This guy should be locked up.


  • [21] Richard Bohn from along the bank of a river flowing, cold and grey out of Canada May 07, 2008 - 12:40PM

    I'm proud of you Leonard. You stayed on top of the slippery snake.


  • [22] Hajan from NJ May 08, 2008 - 11:25PM

    Abu Gharib is a turning point in the US history. With this shameful incident, this country has lost its moral superiority among the nations in the world.Yet Sanchez and other chain of command have never accounted for their horrendous actions to the American people. Now, this men is talking as if everything happened without his knowledge. We are not so stupid as he saw us. Just before the scandal was erupted everyone knew that detainees were being tortured.


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