From AP:
The U.S. mission in Iraq is a “nightmare with no end in sight” because of political misjudgments after the fall of Saddam Hussein that continue today, a former chief of U.S.-led forces said Friday.
Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded coalition troops for a year beginning June 2003, cast a wide net of blame for both political and military shortcomings in Iraq that helped open the way for the insurgency – such as disbanding the Saddam-era military and failing to cement ties with tribal leaders and quickly establish civilian government after Saddam was toppled.
He called current strategies – including the deployment of 30,000 additional forces earlier this year – a “desperate attempt” to make up for years of misguided policies in Iraq.
“There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight,” Sanchez told a group of journalists covering military affairs.
Sanchez avoided singling out at any specific official. But he did criticize the State Department, the National Security Council, Congress and the senior military leadership during what appeared to be a broad indictment of White House policies and a lack of leadership to oppose them.
Update: Powerline says “it would be hard to tell from press accounts of Sanchez’s speech that he was mostly critical of…the press.” They have the first half of the speech here.
Another update: The whole speech is here.
Kendall, the MSM is the most self-absorbed, yet unreflective body in America (with the possible exception of academia). Of course they’re going to ignore Sanchez’s take-down.
I am reminded of dog groomers–particularly those who groom poodles and soft coated wheaten terriers–who “carve out” the shape of the dog they wish were there. If you don’t look beneath the fur, you think you know the dog’s structure. However….
That’s what I think the MSM does with any story. If what’s there’s not what you want, create it.