*Full* Text of Sanchez speech now available.
In other news: Irony found, dead of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, in alley outside of NYT building.
By Moe Lane Posted in War — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Those of you who were following along in kowalski's useful blog entry on Gen Sanchez's speech will be pleased to note that the full text is now available. It makes for very interesting reading... especially its entire first half, which is a direct, often harsh, criticism of the way that members of the media report war news in order to further their own personal or partisan agendas (Via Instapundit).
No, in point of fact: the New York Times did somehow completely forget to mention that minor little detail in their report.
Go figure.
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*Full* Text of Sanchez speech now available. 9 Comments (0 topical, 9 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Not.
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Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.
I didn't read it carefully yet, just skimmed it pretty well. As I understand it, the New York Times said that Sanchez came out and said Bush is a buffoon, the war is awful and we need to come home.
As I read what he said, a more accurate summary would be "The war has been challenging, congress, the media and the other(non-defense) agencies of the federal government have all made it worse. The President's failure in the war has had nothing to do with the military application, but a failure of leadership in engaging the rest of our society."
Anyone greatly disagree with me?
This is the money quote in my estimation: "ALL AMERICANS MUST DEMAND THAT THESE DEPLOYING FORMATIONS ARE PROPERLY RESOURCED, PROPERLY TRAINED AND WE MUST NEVER ALLOW AMERICA'S SUPPORT FOR THE SOLDIER TO FALTER." - Are you listening Nancy? Reid?
1. I, too, have read the entire speech and find that large parts of it, including criticisms of the press, are missing in most coverage.
2. People who stand for something and accept responsiblity for own mistakes have special place in my heart.
Not clear from speech just what Gen Sanchez' view is re challenges to us from Islamic terror organizations and regimes. Missing is any view as to how troops on ground figure into larger world view or region view.
There is some mention in the WSJ coverage of speech that he and Paul Bremer were not on speaking terms. If true, this is unacceptable. Link is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119224852940958328.html?mod=hpp_us_whats...
Nor is there any indication that the general accepts responsibility for his failures of leadership in administration of that horrid prison.
3. Why he gave the speech he did is not clear. Perhaps the same failure of vision when leading troops in Iraq shows itself in this episode. As he is not calling for withdrawal, what exactly is his point? That others have done a worse job than himself?
The WSJ quote is as follows
Gen. Sanchez retired from the Army last year, two years after he completed a tumultuous year as commander of all U.S. forces in Iraq. As he stepped down, he called his career a casualty of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
He was never charged with anything but he wasn't promoted in the aftermath of the prisoner abuse reports. He was criticized by some for not doing more to avoid mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.
Gen. Sanchez told the gathering that he thought he had made mistakes and said he didn't always fully appreciate the secondary affects of actions the military took. He did deny reports that he and then-Iraqi administrator L. Paul Bremer weren't on speaking terms. He said they spoke every day.
Runs the NYT story with photo of burning car and NIGHTMARE headline.
The Honolulu Advertiser runs the WaPo version Failed War Policies.
Lib rags both.
What is useful about the Sanchez story -- and my emotions at the time I first saw it were genuine -- is the impact and follow-up coverage, as always.
There are a lot of important points to be gleaned from the reporting of the Sanchez story, at least as many as what Sanchez actually said in its entirety.
I think the blogosphere, particularly the dextrosphere, should do quite a bit of thinking about the way this story was reported and how it developed in terms of its secondary reporting and its impact. In a way this is an invaluable case study.
I want to thank (most) everyone who contributed to my thread for reading a little between the lines and understanding that while I was certainly shocked by the things that were initially reported, there's a lot more to this story than met the eye.
As this campaign progresses, I think the Sanchez story will be a template.
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/10/trouble-with-folks-like-general-s...
With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see right.
The MSM didn't give us the whole scoop. Whooda thunk it?
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
Moe
"Any bets on this bit of the speech being quoted
AMERICA HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS IN IRAQ. A PRECIPITOUS WITHDRAWAL WILL UNQUESTIONABLY LEAD TO CHAOS THAT WOULD ENDANGER THE STABILITY OF THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST. IF THIS OCCURS IT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. COALITION AND AMERICAN FORCE PRESENCE WILL BE REQUIRED AT SOME LEVEL FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. GIVEN THE LACK OF A GRAND STRATEGY WE MUST MOVE RAPIDLY TO MINIMIZE THAT FORCE PRESENCE AND ALLOW THE IRAQIS MAXIMUM ABILITY TO EXERCISE THEIR SOVERIEGNTY IN ACHIEVING A SOLUTION."
Caps from the original text, and I'm too lazy to retype it.
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Proud member of the Barry Goldwater wing of the party !