General Sanchez speaks out

Hello,

Today is just one more day in a year of long days. I'm only 14 days away from getting ready to go on leave. I can't wait. It will suck coming back, no doubt about it. I entertained the thought early on in this deployment of just not taking leave. In the end, I figured I owed it to myself and my family to go back when I could. it was nicely timed so that it's almost right in the middle of the deployment. When I get back we'll be more than 50% done.

So this past weekend LTG (R) Ricardo Sanchez, the Combined joint Task Force-7 (CJTF-7) Commander from 2003-2004 (or maybe until 2005, I can't remember). Anyway, he commanded what has morphed into Multi National Force-Iraq (MNF-I). He came out and said that this is a nightmare over here, with no end in sight. It was interesting the way he framed it. Basically he was saying that the political leadership constrained the military from fighting the war the way it should have, particularly by limiting force size. This is a man who many hold liable for the insurgency flourishing during the summer and fall of 2003. Thomas Ricks, in his book Fiasco is especially hard on his leadership. Maybe he's had time to reflect on what he could have done differently.

He also had little good to say about the surge. I wonder if what he is saying is representative of what other retired Generals are thinking. I just saw the Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky on the TV last night saying that the surge is working and we're making remarkable progress over here...that means the talking points are being sent out again. It ain't "working," everyone. The enemy knows that, and the soldiers know that. he made the statement to the effect that things in the south were quiet and peaceful. This is the same place where the Brits left and handed local control over to the Shiite militias. Quiet? Peaceful? How in the world can the surge be working there when there are no soldiers there? I am totally mystified by that statement. Again, the talking points have been distributed, and they are coming back out on the news. I am hoping that things work out here; I am not encouraged by what I have seen and what I know. So Mrs. Clinton, I hope you're paying attention. When you come in to office you need to have a plan ready to execute immediately.

OUT