Sanchez' Message (must read)

Captain's Quarters ^ | October 13, 2007 | Ed Morrissey

[ScreamingFist]

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[ImpBill]

Thank you. I did read your remarks concerning you experience with the man personally. They add to an already solid conclusion, the man is a true patriot, not to be dismissed so lightly by so many, especially on this forum.

I didn't serve with General Sanchez. But I did serve in that "other war" our political masters used us in, as pawns for their political ambitions.

I said to self afterwards, Never Again. The events leading to this War for the survival of Western Civilization proved to me that one should "never say never".

If only the citizens of our republic could grasp the total context of what General Sanchez's remarks offer?

I won't hold my breath, as many on this forum can't seem to, much less in the republic at large.

Again thank you.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you for your reply.

“If only the citizens of our republic could grasp the total context of what General Sanchez’s remarks offer?”

His remarks were very, very powerful. I don’t know why so many don’t realize it unless they didn’t really read them.

Thank you again.

[ImpBill]

It is obvious that many haven't read, re-read, and then pondered his remarks, in the context he gave them. But then again, many, even on this forum, prefer to be guided by the same media he excoriated in the first half of his speech. And then of course there are so very many in the republic that couldn't care less about anything that goes on outside their little sphere. Hence my tag line, "America ... Where are you now?". I have been using that tag line to end many of my posts since I first registered to post here, after reading for a long time, back almost 10 years ago.

At times, I view this forum as a God send, allowing "free people" to express their views, within certain limits imposed by the owner. At other times, I get so frustrated that I view the forum as a curse. LOL.

One can do, only what "one" can do.

God Bless.

[tobyhill]

I have to go by with what even General Sanchez says. He said we were not winning and won’t win. I believed those were great successes that were his victory but now he doesn’t want the victory.

[ImpBill]

I really have to stop this. And say I will, and then someone comes along with a statement like this, "but now he doesn’t want the victory"

So obvious that you, along with many others haven't taken the time to read and digest the Generals remarks, in the context in which they were given.

Absolutely mind boggling.

[tobyhill]

I’m talking about his own personal victory, the capture of Saddam at the same time he said was a failed policy. If he’s not willing to accept that the current policies are working then I will say once again, he doesn’t want victory.

[tobyhill]

“After more than four years of fighting, America continues its desperate struggle in iraq without any concerted effort to devise a strategy that will achieve “victory “ in that war torn country or in the greater conflict against extremism. From a catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan to the administration ‘s latest “surge “ strategy”

Last I checked the surge was working.

[RoseofTexas]

No, I just meant that the mediaWHORES are lying SOB's who lie through their teeth to bring down our brave soldiers or ignore anything good having to do with our military...case in point:

WHERE are the articles regarding the soldier who received the Medal of Honor? Too many to list...sigh!

[PISANO]

I apologize to General Sanchez for the comments I made on another thread. I should know better than to rely on accurate reporting by the MSM.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

He is right now. He’ll break the rest soon.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Since the MSM is off and running with General Sanchez’s comments, I thought this should be put in breaking.

This needs to be seen. The media needs to be forced to report the rest of the story.

[Earthdweller]

Who will be the first in the press to get their head out of their behind? Obviously not the WP.

[tiredoflaundry]

I thought you might find this interesting *ping*.

[CaptainMorgantown]

Thanks for posting this.

I watched a 5 minute segment on the Sanchez story on the NBC news with Brian Williams last night (I know, shouldn’t have exposed my kids to that stuff, but we were watching local news and it came on). They breathlessly reported everything negative Sanchez said about the Bush administration, and then dutifully reminded us that Sanchez was the general that presided over Abu Gharib (as if after a long day of coordinating 200,000 troops, General Sanchez liked to relax by taking drive down to the prison to watch the naked pyramids).

Nary a word of his criticism of the press.

Unbelievable!

[edsheppa]

If Sanchez has such credibility and standing to bring this kind of criticism to bear on Washington, why didn't the Post and other news agencies give the same level of exposure to his media criticisms as well?

It's because the Enemy Media have decided on a narrative and pick amongst the facts for the ones that fit it.

But this is common knowledge so why did Sanchez let himself get used?

[La Enchiladita]

I knew there was more to the story when I saw the Sanchez headline yesterday, so did not read further.

Thank you, Captain Ed!! You are very good at checking into things and providing a more fair and balanced view.

We must know by now the Left and the LSM, who are one and the same, will NOT let up in their campaign FOR the terrorists and AGAINST our country, anyone who wears the “Republican” label or who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

[La Enchiladita]

Where did you obtain the quote? Who said it, and do you have a link? I do not find it in the story at top of thread or in the post you are responding to..... Thanks.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks JDM. I appreciate the post. I used the link and read the full comments by the general.

http://www.militaryreporters.org/sanchez_101207.html

It’s clear that his criticism of the war plan want targeted across political lines. That didn’t seem so appearant on another thread I participated in yesterday.

I realize that Sanchez had to use some ambiguity when talking about political parties cooperating. It wouldn’t sound too good for him to come out and trash the Democrats openly for what they have been up to. Still, it would have been nice for him to have included a few ‘for instances’ that could have been laid it at their feet.

His ambiguities concerning using other than military fource left me wanting more information. I know he mentioned specific fields like economic and political measures, but I would have liked to have see him provide a few specifics.

It seems to me the plan has started to blossom out into more creative exchanges and ivolvements with local Iraqis and tribes. That has seemed to go hand in hand with the surge. I do wonder what other ideas he would like to see implemented along these lines.

It seems to me that even at best, the political leaders are going to have a hard time giving the military everything it wants. I know that is a tough call, but look at the political environment in Washington today. Bush is hobbled at every opportunity. The Democrats are so desperate to prevent victory that they will even inflame regional biases in order to cause problems for our operation, which will obviously cost more U.S. service member’s lives.

What the answer to all this is, I don’t know. If this is the route Sanchez wants to take, I’d rather see him sit down on some Sunday afternoon with FoxNews for two to four hours and lay it all out. What specifics would he like to see implemented to win this war and why?

The mention of the Powell Doctrine did catch my eye. I’ve not been a big fan of Powell in the last few years. Perhaps I should dig up some info on that for further clarification.

For those who saw my comments on the other thread, I would like to say that I no longer view Sanchez’s comments in the negative light I did a yesterday and prior to that. The man obviously has something on his mind that goes across party lines. I am more willing to listen to what he has to say after reading the full comments he made.

[tobyhill]

FYI,

April 11, 2004

MR. RUSSERT: General Sanchez, if I could ask you a couple of questions. The Iraq battalion, their new army, refused to fight in Fallujah, saying they, “Didn’t sign up to fight their fellow Iraqis.” How much has that put American troops at risk that the Iraqi army won’t fight by our side?

LT. GEN. RICARDO SANCHEZ: This one specific instance did, in fact, uncover some significant challenges in some of the Iraqi security force structures that have been put into place over the course of the last six months. We knew that there were some risks that we were taking by standing up security forces quickly and it’s we also know that it’s going to take us a while to stand up reliable forces that can accept responsibility for both the internal and the external security of the country. We’ve got to continue to work that. We’re committed to establishing those forces and handing over that security mission where possible as quickly as possible.

MR. RUSSERT: Until the situation becomes more secure, will the 25,000 American troops that were scheduled to be rotated out of Iraq be staying in Iraq?

LT. GEN. SANCHEZ: Well, as we’ve stated already, we’re going to manage the redeployment of those forces. I currently have 129,000 American soldiers or servicemembers here in the country, and we’ll manage their redeployment as the operational and tactical situation dictates.

MR. RUSSERT: Will you need more American troops?

LT. GEN. SANCHEZ: No. At this time, I think what we’re seeing is that the forces that we have on the ground are adequate with the management of the redeployment.