Sanchez Playing "Dirty" Pool?

I'm sorry, but I just don't get this story. And, furthermore, I don't know how statements like these help anyone - especially the troops.

ARLINGTON, Va. - 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.

Again, I just don't understand why a retired general would utter comments like these, especially when there are men and women in harm's way in Iraq. I just don't see how this helps morale.

Sanchez retired from the Army last year, two years after he completing 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 was not promoted in the aftermath of the prisoner abuse reports. He was criticized by some for not doing more to avoid mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.

Motive? I am not sure. I do not want to condemn the man, especially after his service to our country, but this sounds like sour grapes to me. His career took a nose dive after Abu Ghraib, and as a result, he was passed over for promotion. Now, he is going in front of the cameras, and - more importantly - in front of his troops, to tell the world that Iraq is a "nightmare" while criticizing the surge.

It is also interesting how the winds have shifted for Sanchez recently. A few years ago, the MSM was crucifying him for the Abu Ghraib scandal, and now he is the media darling? Why the sudden change?

When asked when he saw that the mission was going awry, he responded: "About the 15th of June 2003" — the day he took command. (H/T - Yahoo!)

I'm sorry, General Sanchez, but if the mission was going awry in 2003, why didn't you do anything to right the ship? And why did it take you four years to speak about about this "nightmare?" Respectfully, I would have more respect for you, sir, if - when you realized the mission was untenable - you resigned in protest. You did not, and that makes me question your motives here.