If an American Lt. General says stalemate is the best we can achieve in Iraq, why keep going?

Question

[ {Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez}...the former top commander of American forces there called the Bush administration’s handling of the war “incompetent” and said the result was “a nightmare with no end in sight.”...“National leadership continues to believe that victory can be achieved by military power alone,” he said. “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.”...“The administration, Congress and the entire inter-agency, especially the State Department, must shoulder responsibility for the catastrophic failure, and the American people must hold them accountable,” he said....He said in an interview in June with Agence France-Presse that the best the United States could achieve in Iraq would be stalemate. ] - "Ex-Commander Says Iraq Effort Is ‘a Nightmare’", The New York Times, 10/13/2007

Two things: Sanchez was in the chain of command that ended at the Commander in Chief. The President had to have authorized torture, and we now know he did.

Second, conservatives are revealing their unexplainable ridiculousness by saying an interview of Sanchez in the NYT must be suspect. Don't you get it? Here, let me help.."General Sanchez said at a gathering of military reporters and editors in Arlington, Va." - NYT

Answer 1

Sanchez is telling the truth, and he should be given the respect he earned.

The Iraqi occupation is an endless disaster. There is no victory plan, no exit plan, nor any alternative plans.

We should cut and run, and let the Iraqis run their own nation.

Answer 2

I know . . . it's just SO HARD!

Since Sanchez was in charge during the Abu Ghairb debacle, is he credible or not? Just curious, because the lib mantra is starting to get really confusing?

Answer 3

Sanchez is the general that athorized torture.
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/10098

I think what he is saying is that there can only be a stalemate unless things are done his way.

I don't think you would like his way.

Be careful of whom you associate yourself with.
Would you like to be the person on YA who supports torture? I'm guessing no.

Answer 4

2 reasons to keep going - first the General is showing poor judgment in denigrating the troops (not a very good leader) - second - anything which is printed in the NYT is to be regarded with suspicion.

Answer 5

He was the general in charge during all the so called failures, he should be held accountable.....oh wait, he was and you wonder why he's complaining. Please if you want to be taken seriously here, do not quote anything from the New York Times.

Answer 6

No wonder he was relieved of command.

Answer 7

I got to see a answer to my question before I can answer this one...chow