That’s right — another “phony Soldier” speaks out — this time, retired three star general and former “top guy” in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, speaks out against the war and the Bush Administration, lobbing “left-wing” bombshells such as “nightmare” and “incompetent” out just for effect…
From The New York Times:
Former Top General in Iraq Faults Bush Administration
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12— In a sweeping indictment of the four-year effort in Iraq, the former top American commander called the Bush administration’s handling of the war incompetent and warned that the United States was “living a nightmare with no end in sight.”
In one of his first major public speeches since leaving the Army in late 2006, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez blamed the administration for a “catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan” and denounced the current “surge” strategy as a “desperate” move that will not achieve long-term stability.
“After more than fours 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,” Mr. Sanchez said, at a gathering here of military reporters and editors.
General Sanchez is the most senior in a string of retired generals to harshly criticize the administration’s conduct of the war. Asked following his remarks why he waited nearly a year after his retirement to outline his views, he responded that that it was not the place of active duty officers to challenge lawful orders from civilian authorities. …” [emphasis, mine]
The reason I bolded the last statement in the above “snippet” from the NYT is to re-emphasize what I have been saying on this website for years — the fact that there are plenty of “phony Soldiers” with whom Rush Limbaugh would have a serious problem with if only they were allowed to speak their minds. General Sanchez said “it was not the place… to challenge lawful orders…” when in fact, it is ILLEGAL for an active duty troop to speak out in this manner. Had General Sanchez made this same speech in public when he was active duty, not only would he have been fired, he could have faced military court procedings under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (“UCMJ”) for publicly disagreeing with his Commander-In-Chief.
Point is, there are MANY, MANY more “phony Soldiers” out there than “Joe Q. Public” thinks, and I am STILL waiting for Rush Limbaugh to come right out and say “Of COURSE, I support all of the troops, even those I disagree with politically”, but he hasn’t, nor will he EVER. The man keeps on spinning his lies and trying his best to convince everybody he was only talking about one or two “phony Soldiers” in his infamous and disgraceful comments against the likes of myself and General Sanchez, thus far, only convincing his “dittoheads”.
This isn’t about the “Fairness Doctrine”; this is about a well-deserved apology from the draft dodger behind the EIB Network microphone and that’s all I ask. In fact, there is talk of Don Imus’ return to the public airwaves and I’m down with that — welcome back, “Mr. Nappy” as far as I am concerned. This isn’t about censorship either, it’s all about exposing Limbaugh for the draft dodging, left-wing troop hating pile of human waste he is, until the man garners up some courage for once in his life and simply tells the truth about his “phony Soldiers” statement and/or voices his CLEAR support for that “other half” of the military…
Obviously, I am not going to hold my breath on that one. After all, a COWARD is a COWARD.
UPDATE: Just as I was about to press the “Publish” button on my editor, I heard the FoxNews crew discussing this on their Fox And Friends show and the hosts were all questioning the general’s comments. I heard one of the bozos say “Why is he just getting around to saying this now”, followed by the other bozos chiming in with “yeah!”. And they call this “Fair And Balanced”? Either these people are a bunch of DOOMASSES or they are intentionally distorting the TRUTH about free speech in the military. I’m betting on the latter way before the former…
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9:40 am on October 13th, 2007 1
The problem I have with the general is that he criticizes Bush for “incompetence.”
The Wehrmacht in WWII was very “competent.” They accomplished “victories” that astounded the world before the sheer insanity of Hitler’s megalomania guaranteed their defeat. Competence in pursuit of an immoral goal is a vice, not a virtue.
The insane, neocon wet dream of making the Middle East part of Washington’s hegemony cannot yield good results, whether the military strategy is competent or not.
10:17 am on October 13th, 2007 2
good point Sashal, but it’s incompetence that’s getting people killed.
it’s one thing to have even invaded Iraq, and quite another to make a complete disaster of it.
that being said, sometimes i’m not so sure it’s going so badly over there, not where the contractors are concerned anyway.
10:39 am on October 13th, 2007 3
A serious question: If a person claims to be in the military or ex-military and then bashes President Bush and/or the war effort, but in fact this person is not now nor ever was in the military, do liberals view that person as a “phony soldier?” Or do liberals believe that since the person agrees with their view on the war in Iraq, it is fine for him/her to lie about his/her military status?
10:48 am on October 13th, 2007 4
F&B
A`serious question: if spinnin’ billy o’reily asked you out on a date, would you say yes?
2:53 pm on October 13th, 2007 5
What the Media did not report from Sanchez’s Speech…
If you read today’s Washington Post, NY Times, USA Today, or the LA Times you would see that Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez was offering some harsh criticism on Iraq and the Administration for how it how it has conducted the War in Iraq. I…
7:10 pm on October 13th, 2007 6
Please show something–anything–that proves Rush Limbaugh ever suggested a real soldier was a “phony soldier.” If you can’t–and you can’t–then apologize and quit dwelling in the political gutter.
9:37 pm on October 13th, 2007 7
Okay, no prob — I’ll play — Here ya go, Mr. Shott — glad to oblige, Sir
9:53 pm on October 13th, 2007 8
Ah, yes, as I expected, the liberals don’t want to answer a straight question on this issue. “…liberals believe that since the person agrees with their view on the war in Iraq, it is fine for him/her to lie about his/her military status…”
10:07 pm on October 13th, 2007 9
I didn’t need a retired General to tell me our nation is living a nightmare with no end in sight. I’ve been aware of it at least since the 2000 Presidential “election”! As for Limbaugh, I happened to be listening when he made his infamous comments about “Phony Soldiers”, I also saw on TV a couple of nights before, the news program that he was thinking of when he made those comments. I’m not a fan of his but I knew exactly what he meant by “Phony Soldiers” when he said it and exactly why he said it. As much as I dislike his radio persona, I believe in this particular instance he is being truthful about what he said and it appears to me everyone making a big deal about it is just being foolish. I understand that El Gordo or El Limbo or whatever he likes to call himself is an ENTERTAINER like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert. I don’t happen to find him entertaining but I do think it’s funny anyone cares and/or takes seriously anything he says on the radio.
10:30 pm on October 13th, 2007 10
F&B, you’re either being disengenous, my friend, or you missed the post where I admitted I, myself, have been lying about my own military status all along. I’ll repeat it for ya — I’m IN the U.S. military and have been since I started this blog… IRR now, just since June. So yeah, I lied about my military status all this time, referring to myself instead, as a “Veteran of OIF” — true, since I do have my discharge papers in hand from my one year activation from a reserve component of the USAF, but at the very least, MISLEADING since I had simultaneously remained as an active member of the Reserve. It was Rush’s insensitive comment that flushed me outta the closet, so yeah — we libs can lie about our military status alright — I’ll grant ya that one, bro. Easy to do when guys like me can be arrested and court martialed for speaking out against our blundering CIC, President Bush.
Is that what it was you were looking for in an admission, bro? Didn’t think so
11:38 pm on October 13th, 2007 11
“I didn’t need a retired General to tell me our nation is living a nightmare with no end in sight. I’ve been aware of it at least since the 2000 Presidential “election”
i love it.
F’n'B-
in response to both of your questions: i’d view that person as a liar, just as you would, there’s no need to get worked up about it. And it isn’t fine to lie about your military status; unless you are in fact a soldier who is bashing the bush administration. the reason: because, as GTL already noted, you can get in big trouble, say, hanging around the base trying to spread liberal anti-war politics, or conservative anti-war politics for that matter. where’s the quandary?
11:44 pm on October 13th, 2007 12
Exactly. I post under an alias on purpose. I’m proud of what I write here and wouldn’t hesitate to post with my full name if it weren’t for the fact my Commander-In-Chief would most likely have me arrested. In fact, I’ve already revealed enough for the military to be able to get a warrant to tap my cable provider for my identity, but they’re not that dumb… they probably realize we have a readership of almost a hundred thousand a month here and lots of “MSM” connections by now
They can come at me if they wanna try it, but in the meantime, I’m not worried about it in this particular capacity, and I’m glad to be “on-call” for my President should he have a VALID war for me to fight in DEFENSE of my countrymen and women versus his neocon “oops” he’s involved us in with Iraq. SHAME on this pathetic excuse of a “CIC”…
1:38 am on October 14th, 2007 13
No, you got my statement/question wrong GTL. I’m not questioning your reason for hiding your status as active military. I understand your position.
I’m questioning those who NEVER WERE in the military but say they are. Especially when their sole reason for doing so is to gain a level of credibility that they would not otherwise have.
These are the “phony soldiers” – those who never served but claim they did. Would you agree that these are “phony soldiers?”
3:59 am on October 14th, 2007 14
F&B,
OBviously they are phony soldiers. I don’t think anyone, liberal or otherwise, has ever said they weren’t. The thing is, as GTL has pointed out, Rush’s definition seems to include real soldiers who have a different view than Mr Limburgh.
7:43 am on October 14th, 2007 15
I do agree with that statement, F&B. I also agree with Paul — I’ve listened to the Rush Limbaugh show a lot over the years and it is a fact he shouts down, mutes, berates, and disrespects any soldier who calls into the show with grivances against President Bush… long track record of doing that. No “thank you for your service” lipservice from Limaugh with these folks either.
3:50 pm on October 14th, 2007 16
I don’t completely agree with Paul. When I listen to the Limbaugh clip (and I have, numerous times), I hear him referring to people who are faking a service record that they neither earned nor deserve. People who never served but say they did and are “phonies” in every sense of the word. I don’t think we’ll agree on this, I’m sure we’re both hearing what we want to hear.
I do agree that Rush will shout down, berate… people who call in and disagree with him. Not always, but often he does. Whether they are soldiers or not.
Of course this is no more or less than liberal talk show hosts do. On the extremely rare occasions where they even allow opposing views on their show. I mean, let’s face it, the liberals are really the ones who tend to shout down their opponents, much more so than conservatives. When you experience liberals and conservatives discussing many issues, it is almost always the liberal who attempts to shout down any voices that oppose their view. Conservatives tend to be, well, more conservative.
6:16 pm on October 14th, 2007 17
Why did Sanchez wait A YEAR before speaking out? SANCHEZ RETIRED IN 2006. All I see is another politician who was in the military primarily busy covering his butt and kissing others so as to get another star. And when he didn’t get the promotion he feels was owed him he wants to get even.
11:23 pm on October 14th, 2007 18
[...] 'No end in sight' in Iraq …Blogged about at Yet Another One Of Rush Limbaugh’s “Phony Generals” Speaks Out On Bush Admin̵…, The U.S. mission in Iraq is a “nightmare with no end in sight” because of political misjudgments [...]
1:03 am on October 15th, 2007 19
F & B, I was not aware there were any “liberal” talk shows. Would you mind provding an identity or three to back up your description of “liberal talk show hosts”?
Thank you.
9:32 am on October 15th, 2007 20
Noirkat (if that’s your real name) – of course the jewel was Al Franken’s now defunct radio show, and you have Chris Matthews, anything on MSM like Good Morning America, their “Nightly News” shows, anything that Barbara Walters is associated with, 60 Minutes… plenty more where those came from, or check GTL’s sidebar for some of his favorites; Alan Colmes, etc.
11:34 am on October 15th, 2007 21
I will grant you Al Franken was obnoxious. He was also an aberration in liberal circles. However, Alan Colmes has not shouted anyone down, unlike his conservative co-host who is infamous for doing so. I have seen O’Reilly turn off the mike on his guests should they have the temerity to disagree with him. That certainly is not spinning the truth though, is it?
If you are sensitive enough to ‘liberal bias’ that all MSM programs offend your sensibilities, you may be enjoying your role as martyr a bit too much.
And just out of curiosity, why do you feel the need to take a swipe at my name? I politely asked for some information. No, Noirkat is not my real name. Are you telling me your parents named you F & B?
12:30 pm on October 15th, 2007 22
c’mon Al Franken is a riot!!!
but a swipe at F&B- priceless.
“If you are sensitive enough to ‘liberal bias’ that all MSM programs offend your sensibilities, you may be enjoying your role as martyr a bit too much.
And just out of curiosity, why do you feel the need to take a swipe at my name? I politely asked for some information. No, Noirkat is not my real name. Are you telling me your parents named you F & B?”
ahhh, i can’t stop laughing. thanks.
1:21 pm on October 15th, 2007 23
Talk about overly sensitive Noirkat, it was just an (admittedly feeble) attempt at humor. I think Noirkat is a fine name.
I never said that the MSM, AL Franken, DaveM, or anyone else “offend my sensibilities.” I am not easily offended, which is demonstrated by my tendency to be one of the conservatives who hang around GTL’s clearly ‘liberal’ blog, providing balance.
And ‘martyr’??? Where the heck did that come from. I would probably tend to fit the description of Martyr-er rather than Martyr-ee.
So I don’t really mind if someone takes a swipe at what I say, as long as they realize that sometimes I might swipe back