More fake soldiers speak up

[skymiles 3]

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Let us take a look at their statements:

“Many roads, bridges, schools and hospitals are in deplorable condition.”


Most roads in the M.E. are just above goat-trails. However much work has been done since and many roads are in fairly good conditions. Urban areas are much better than rural areas for roads, but where are they not?

“Fewer people have access to drinking water or sewage systems than before the war.”


I am sick and tired of this lie. A lot of surface water in Iraq is polluted beyond belief by chemical agents (Hey leftists, guess WHAT chemicals! Common, guess. I’ll help. One is mustard and not what you put on tofu hotdogs. You can keep guessing. Try thinking of chemicals with a VX or a GB in them). Now that said, hundreds of wells have been dug. Water treatment plants have been erected. NOT repaired, erected. Saddam used water to keep his serfs in line. Most of these people NEVER HAD RUNNING WATER. Far more do now.

“And Baghdad is averaging less than eight hours of electricity a day.”


Wow, another whopper that was partially true 3 years ago. In 2007, Baghdad is lit up all night. Several power stations are old and belch out heavy pollution, but there are power stations. Like water, Saddam used electricity as a means of control. Unfortunately, power lines are easy targets for those wanting the world to live in the 7th century.

Anyway....

So we invaded Iraq to build power station and water treatment plants?

I thought we invaded Iraq because it was an imminent threat, had WMDs, and was linked to 911 and Al Qeada. Well you know how that that turned out. Then the justification was that we liberated millions of people - liberated to kill each other, kill and maim US soldiers, and to become refugees. Then Iraq was to be a beacon democracy that would spread throughout the region and be an ally in the fight against terrorism. Any word on how that’s going? Most recently, Bush is hoping for a country that can govern itself and defend its boarders. Instead we got a civil war. Now you’re telling me we’re there to build things. Some of the same things we blow up when Iraq was invaded. There is no doubt our soldiers are doing a good job, but they are essentially just fixing the passed mistakes of an incompetent Republican administration. Failure was set in motion long before we invaded because the Bush administration didn’t understand or plan for (ignored plans) the reality of Iraq. The Iraq occupation is now a salvage operation in the middle of a predictable civil war; an occupation so fucked up it’s unclear what is the worst scenario is, staying or leaving.

[likearock 2]

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Then again, people could consider his explanation and easily see that it makes sense,...

You mean like John Kerry's explanation after his "joke" about going to college rather than Iraq? Same exact situation: the original words speak for themselves and no amount of "explanation" can make them right.

[rushmc 23]

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Let us take a look at their statements:

“Many roads, bridges, schools and hospitals are in deplorable condition.”


Most roads in the M.E. are just above goat-trails. However much work has been done since and many roads are in fairly good conditions. Urban areas are much better than rural areas for roads, but where are they not?

“Fewer people have access to drinking water or sewage systems than before the war.”


I am sick and tired of this lie. A lot of surface water in Iraq is polluted beyond belief by chemical agents (Hey leftists, guess WHAT chemicals! Common, guess. I’ll help. One is mustard and not what you put on tofu hotdogs. You can keep guessing. Try thinking of chemicals with a VX or a GB in them). Now that said, hundreds of wells have been dug. Water treatment plants have been erected. NOT repaired, erected. Saddam used water to keep his serfs in line. Most of these people NEVER HAD RUNNING WATER. Far more do now.

“And Baghdad is averaging less than eight hours of electricity a day.”


Wow, another whopper that was partially true 3 years ago. In 2007, Baghdad is lit up all night. Several power stations are old and belch out heavy pollution, but there are power stations. Like water, Saddam used electricity as a means of control. Unfortunately, power lines are easy targets for those wanting the world to live in the 7th century.

Anyway....

So we invaded Iraq to build power station and water treatment plants?

I thought we invaded Iraq because it was an imminent threat, had WMDs, and was linked to 911 and Al Qeada. Well you know how that that turned out. Then the justification was that we liberated millions of people - liberated to kill each other, kill and maim US soldiers, and to become refugees. Then Iraq was to be a beacon democracy that would spread throughout the region and be an ally in the fight against terrorism. Any word on how that’s going? Most recently, Bush is hoping for a country that can govern itself and defend its boarders. Instead we got a civil war. Now you’re telling me we’re there to build things. Some of the same things we blow up when Iraq was invaded. There is no doubt our soldiers are doing a good job, but they are essentially just fixing the passed mistakes of an incompetent Republican administration. Failure was set in motion long before we invaded because the Bush administration didn’t understand or plan for (ignored plans) the reality of Iraq. The Iraq occupation is now a salvage operation in the middle of a predictable civil war; an occupation so fucked up it’s unclear what is the worst scenario is, staying or leaving.

You have upheld a point that it really does not matter who, why or where. You hate the military (IMO) and will do anything and say anything to try and make yourself BELIEVE you are right. Dam sad

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,106]

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You have upheld a point that it really does not matter who, why or where. You hate the military (IMO) and will do anything and say anything to try and make yourself BELIEVE you are right. Dam sad

Equating disgust with the current Bush administration (and its extreme incompetence in planning for the post invasion as recently stated by General Sanchez**) with anti-military sentinent is a tired, worn out, chickenhawk ploy. Sorry, it simply doesn't work anymore, try something else.

The US has the world's most powerful, best equipped, and most likely the best trained, military - "lions led by donkeys".

** According to Sanchez:

"While the politicians espouse a rhetoric designed to preserve their reputations and their political power, our soldiers die,"

[The administration has ignored messages from field commanders that warned repeatedly that] "our military alone could not achieve victory."

"Our National leadership ignored the lessons of World War Two as we entered into this war and to this day continue to believe that victory can be achieved through the application of military power alone."

"From a catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan, to the administration's latest surge strategy, this administration has failed to employ and synchronize its political, economical and military power."

[The current strategy, which includes a "surge" of troops into Iraq is] "a desperate attempt by the administration that has not accepted the political and economic realities of this war and they have definitely not been able to communicate effectively that reality to the American people."

"Too often, our politicians have been distracted and they have chosen loyalty to their political parties above loyalty to the Constitution because of their lust for power."

"Who will demand accountability for the failure of our national political leadership involved in the management of this war? They have unquestionably been derelict in in the performance of their duty. In my profession, these types of leaders would be immediately relieved or court-martialed."

"There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight,"


Is Gen. Sanchez a military hating, fake soldier too?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Is Gen. Sanchez a military hating, fake soldier too?

You do realize that in that speech you like to keep bringing upthat Sanchez also said the media was causing the deaths of our troops, don't you?

In his address to a group of journalists, Sanchez said how he regretted that the press had taken

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“tactically insignificant events have become strategic defeats for America because of the tremendous power and impact of the media”

and also asserted that reporters

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“are perpetuating the corrosive partisan politics that is destroying our country and killing our service members who are at war.”

Sanchez also charged:

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“For some of you, just like some of our politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your own pre-conceived notions, biases and agendas.”

So you either believe what Sanchez says about the press or you think he is a liar. Which is it?

.

[rushmc 23]

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Is Gen. Sanchez a military hating, fake soldier too?

You do realize that in that speech you like to keep bringing upthat Sanchez also said the media was causing the deaths of our troops, don't you?

In his address to a group of journalists, Sanchez said how he regretted that the press had taken

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“tactically insignificant events have become strategic defeats for America because of the tremendous power and impact of the media”

and also asserted that reporters

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“are perpetuating the corrosive partisan politics that is destroying our country and killing our service members who are at war.”

Sanchez also charged:

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“For some of you, just like some of our politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your own pre-conceived notions, biases and agendas.”

So you either believe what Sanchez says about the press or you think he is a liar. Which is it?

.

Oh WOW! Thats going to leave a mark!!!

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

Same tactic we see constantly from the left. Cherry picking comments and taking statements and using them out of the context.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[kallend 2,106]

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So you either believe what Sanchez says about the press or you think he is a liar. Which is it?

.

I think the press is culpable too, but face the truth, GM, the press didn't orchestrate the invasion of Iraq or mis-plan its aftermath. The press did not lead us into the quagmire, Bush did. The Press doesn't control the government's borrowing or write State of the Union speeches full of untruths and half-truths.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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[rushmc 23]

and they have stated the "lies" comment so long and the one that keeps coming up and that is "Bush could have stopped 911" they are really believing it themselves.

A sad delusion perpetrated on themselves

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Gravitymaster 0]

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So you either believe what Sanchez says about the press or you think he is a liar. Which is it?

.

I think the press is culpable too, but face the truth, GM, the press didn't orchestrate the invasion of Iraq or mis-plan its aftermath. The press did not lead us into the quagmire, Bush did. The Press doesn't control the government's borrowing or write State of the Union speeches full of untruths and half-truths.

Thanks for your honesty, Kallend. I don't disagree with you. Lets keep on topic. We are discussing comments made by Sanchez.

Then if you believe the press is culpable and has caused the deaths of many soldiers as Sanchez has claimed, then you must admit that the content of what they report is the real cause. So you either believe the comments made by politicians (example" Reid "the war is lost"), has helped encourage our enemy and cause the deaths of many American military or you do not.

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“are perpetuating the corrosive partisan politics that is destroying our country and killing our service members who are at war.”

“For some of you, just like some of our politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your own pre-conceived notions, biases and agendas.”

If we are to believe what Sanchez is saying, then we must admit the responsibiliy for the deaths of many of our troops and perhaps the situation we have found ourselves in the past few years extends beyond the Admin.

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[kallend 2,106]

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and they have stated the "lies" comment so long and the one that keeps coming up and that is "Bush could have stopped 911" they are really believing it themselves.

A sad delusion perpetrated on themselves

That's THREE replies to the same post!

Do you have two mirrors now?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Same tactic we see constantly from the left. Cherry picking comments and taking statements and using them out of the context.

No Rush, you are wrong. I'm not taking quotes out of context to make them seem to mean something they do not. I think Sanchez's comments are very clear.

[kallend 2,106]

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So you either believe what Sanchez says about the press or you think he is a liar. Which is it?

.

I think the press is culpable too, but face the truth, GM, the press didn't orchestrate the invasion of Iraq or mis-plan its aftermath. The press did not lead us into the quagmire, Bush did. The Press doesn't control the government's borrowing or write State of the Union speeches full of untruths and half-truths.

Thanks for your honesty, Kallend. I don't disagree with you. Lets keep on topic. We are discussing comments made by Sanchez.

Then if you believe the press is culpable and has caused the deaths of many soldiers as Sanchez has claimed, then you must admit that the content of what they report is the real cause. So you either believe the comments made by politicians (example" Reid "the war is lost"), has helped encourage our enemy and cause the deaths of many American military or you do not.

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“are perpetuating the corrosive partisan politics that is destroying our country and killing our service members who are at war.”

“For some of you, just like some of our politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your own pre-conceived notions, biases and agendas.”

If we are to believe what Sanchez is saying, then we must admit the responsibiliy for the deaths of many of our troops and perhaps the situation we have found ourselves in the past few years extends beyond the Admin.

The press is not the government. All it does is report and comment. The govt. fucks up, the press reports on it.

Maybe you'd like censorship like we had in WWII?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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[Gravitymaster 0]

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The press is not the government. All it does is report and comment. The govt. fucks up, the press reports on it.

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“tactically insignificant events have become strategic defeats for America because of the tremendous power and impact of the media”

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Maybe you'd like censorship like we had in WWII?

Was hoping we could have a discussion, but apparently not. Have a good day.

[kallend 2,106]

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The press is not the government. All it does is report and comment. The govt. fucks up, the press reports on it.

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“tactically insignificant events have become strategic defeats for America because of the tremendous power and impact of the media”

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Maybe you'd like censorship like we had in WWII?

Was hoping we could have a discussion, but apparently not. Have a good day.

There's nothing to discuss. The CinC and his administration bear 99.9% of the responsibility for the Iraq quagmire. Bush should have kept Harry Truman's desk sign about where the buck stops.

Trying to shift blame onto those that report on the quagmire is just lame.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[sundevil777 102]

Given that the term "phony soldiers" had been used/defined BEFORE the incident in question on Rush's show (used by Rush and other media sources to mean those that were indeed truly phony, fake soldiers), I say that your entire post is a bunch of bullshit.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[Gawain 0]

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Thanks for the true update Garwin and most of all, I thank you for your service to US. Those of you who serve are the great people of this country. Thank You

You thank those who have serverd.. just not those who HAVE served and do not agree with the outcomes of the war....only if they agree with you will you and your ilk thank them....

Starting to sound more and more like my war 35 years ago. I guess the right did not learn anything from that war....here we are 35 years later making the same mistake again......perhaps because the people running this little adventure spent so much time avoiding that war.... FUCK THE CHICKENHAWKS.

I hope the lot of them BURN in hell.

It's funny you make that comparison, because 35 years ago, it was not the "right's" war...I seem to remember initial involvement and contiued escalation by those from your side of the aisle.

Albeit, Democrats from Kennedy's era were far different from today, whose lineage can be traced to Johnson.

hmmm

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Amazon 7]

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It's funny you make that comparison, because 35 years ago, it was not the "right's" war...I seem to remember initial involvement and contiued escalation by those from your side of the aisle.

Albeit, Democrats from Kennedy's era were far different from today, whose lineage can be traced to Johnson.

MOST of those kind of conservative Democrats ( DixieCrats) ... LONG ago became some of the most Rabid Republicans...... THEY WERE and STILL ARE the BASE of the Right Wing.....they didnt want to be in any party that catered to the rights of "those people"....

But most of them did not have a problem sending off large numbers of "Those People" to that war.

[Gawain 0]

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... All it does is report and comment. ...

That'll be your little secret. Do you really believe that is all the press does?

Down to even the smallest elements, agendas permeate the media.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[ElJosh 0]

As an OIF vet I would sincerely offer my gratitude to this post. Believe it or not I think it is great that both sides of this argument are so passionate on their opinions. I am a instrument for the commander in chief. I have no opinion one way or another I just do what I am told. I have served for 9 years now and I have had to do some things that I may or may not agree with. That is not my place to say one way or the other. All I can do is get a silly Zen like grin on my face when I see American’s using their freedoms as we are on this post. With that said may I remind everyone that our democratic system is based on a 2 party house. Right or left no matter how much you hate the other, if there is only your party the system looks a lot more like socialism or communisis. Not that I am nay-saying either types of government but if you like that idea you should move to a country that implements that form of government.

Note: I posted as a reply but this is just a gen statement

Peace, Love & skydive!
or
Eat, Fuck & skydive (you know potato/potado)

~El Josh AKA Ruby

DS #149
Yes I only have 3 jumps...it's the magic number dude.

[kallend 2,106]

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... All it does is report and comment. ...

That'll be your little secret. Do you really believe that is all the press does?

Down to even the smallest elements, agendas permeate the media.

And the CinC MAKES policy, instructs the Joint Chiefs, and stands on aircraft carrier decks surrounded by admirers under signs saying "Mission Accomplished".

Get real, Gawain - this quagmire was conceived, engineered and constructed by the Bush administration and will be paid for by our descendants.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Amazon 7]

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Get real, Gawain - this quagmire was conceived, engineered and constructed by the Bush administration and will be paid for by our descendants.

I truely belive that if ANY of the assholes in the administration would have actually gone to war instead of dodging the draft as they all did..... that they would not have made the mistakes that got us into this war.

[kallend 2,106]

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Get real, Gawain - this quagmire was conceived, engineered and constructed by the Bush administration and will be paid for by our descendants.

I truely belive that if ANY of the assholes in the administration would have actually gone to war instead of dodging the draft as they all did..... that they would not have made the mistakes that got us into this war.

I don't think they made the big mistakes to get us into this quagmire, I think they did it quite deliberately, with malice aforethought. They manipulated the media to their advantage by cherry picking the intel they fed to the press, the public, and the Congess, and they did it very well.

Their big mistakes came later, when the Iraqis didn't greet our occupying army by throwing flowers, and the CinC's piss-poor planning for the occupation came back to bite.

They used the press to further their agenda in 2002-2003, but now it's turned to dung the neo-cons are whining about the press.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Gravitymaster 0]

What I think is lame is when people cut and snip only the parts of what someone says to make it fit their own agenda. What I think is lame is the intent to consciously mislead.

Here is the full text of Sanchez's speech. Compare it to the "cherry-picking" (oh, the irony) you have done to try and mislead.

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MILITARY REPORTERS AND EDITORS LUNCHEON ADDRESS WASHINGTON D.C.
LTG (RET) RICARDO S. SANCHEZ

12 OCTOBER 2007

MILITARY REPORTERS AND EDITORS ADDRESS WASHINGTON D.C.

12 OCTOBER 2007

GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS BUT I AM GLAD TO BE HERE. WHEN SIG ASKED ME IF I WOULD CONSIDER ADDRESSING YOU THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT I SHOULD COME INTO THE LION'S DEN. THIS WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAVE FIRMLY BELIEVED SINCE DESERT SHIELD THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY THAT THE MILITARY AND THE PRESS CORPS MAINTAIN A STRONG, MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL AND ENABLING RELATIONSHIP. THIS CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF WAR. ONE OF THE GREATEST MILITARY CORRESPONDENTS OF OUR TIME, JOE GALLOWAY, MADE ME A BELIEVER WHEN HE JOINED THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION DURING DESERT STORM.

TODAY, I WILL ATTEMPT TO DO TWO THINGS - FIRST I WILL GIVE YOU MY ASSESSMENT OF THE MILITARY AND PRESS RELATIONSHIP AND THEN I WILL PROVIDE YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR WAR EFFORT. AS ALL OF YOU KNOW I HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES WITH OUR NATIONS MILITARY WRITERS AND EDITORS. THERE ARE SOME IN YOUR RANKS WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE EPITOME OF JOURNALISTIC PROFESSIONALISM - JOE GALLOWAY, THOM SHANKER, SIG CHRISTENSEN, AND JOHN BURNS IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND. THEY EXEMPLIFY WHAT AMERICA SHOULD DEMAND OF OUR JOURNALISTS - TOUGH REPORTING THAT RELIES UPON INTEGRITY, OBJECTIVITY AND FAIRNESS TO GIVE ACCURATE AND THOROUGH ACCOUNTS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND IN TURN OUR DEMOCRACY. ON THE OTHER HAND, UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE ISSUED ULTIMATUMS TO SOME OF YOU FOR UNSCRUPULOUS REPORTING THAT WAS SOLELY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING YOUR AGENDA AND PRECONCIEVED NOTIONS OF WHAT OUR MILITARY HAD DONE. I ALSO REFUSED TO TALK TO THE EUROPEAN STARS AND STRIPES FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MY COMMAND IN GERMANY FOR THEIR EXTREME BIAS AND SINGLE MINDED FOCUS ON ABU GHARAIB.

LET ME REVIEW SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE MADE MY PERSONAL INTERFACES WITH THE PRESS CORPS DIFFICULT:

"DICTATORIAL AND SOMEWHAT DENSE",

"NOT A STRATEGIC THOUGHT",

LIAR,

"DOES NOT GET IT" AND

THE MOST INEXPERIENCED LTG.

IN SOME CASES I HAVE NEVER EVEN MET YOU, YET YOU FEEL QUALIFIED TO MAKE CHARACTER JUDGMENTS THAT ARE COMMUNICATED TO THE WORLD. MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE AND WE CAN FIND OTHER EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF SECRETARY BROWN DURING KATRINA. THIS IS THE WORST DISPLAY OF JOURNALISM IMAGINABLE BY THOSE OF US THAT ARE BOUND BY A STRICT VALUE SYSTEM OF SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR AND INTEGRITY. ALMOST INVARIABLY, MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THE SENSATIONALISTIC VALUE OF THESE ASSESSMENTS IS WHAT PROVIDED THE EDGE THAT YOU SEEK FOR SELF AGRANDIZEMENT OR TO ADVANCE YOUR INDIVIDUAL QUEST FOR GETTING ON THE FRONT PAGE WITH YOUR STORIES! AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOUR MEASURE OF WORTH IS HOW MANY FRONT PAGE STORIES YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF YOU WILL COMPROMISE YOUR INTEGRITY AND DISPLAY QUESTIONABLE ETHICS AS YOU SEEK TO KEEP AMERICA INFORMED. THIS IS MUCH LIKE THE INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS WAS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTS HE PRODUCED. FOR SOME, IT SEEMS THAT AS LONG AS YOU GET A FRONT PAGE STORY THERE IS LITTLE OR NO REGARD FOR THE "COLLATERAL DAMAGE" YOU WILL CAUSE. PERSONAL REPUTATIONS HAVE NO VALUE AND YOU REPORT WITH TOTAL IMPUNITY AND ARE RARELY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNETHICAL CONDUCT.

GIVEN THE NEAR INSTANTANEOUS ABILITY TO REPORT ACTIONS ON THE GROUND, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACCURATELY AND TRUTHFULLY REPORT TAKES ON AN UNPRECEDENTED IMPORTANCE. THE SPECULATIVE AND OFTEN UNINFORMED INITIAL REPORTING THAT CHARACTERIZES OUR MEDIA APPEARS TO BE RAPIDLY BECOMING THE STANDARD OF THE INDUSTRY. AN ARAB PROVERB STATES - "Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past, the neglected opportunity." ONCE REPORTED, YOUR ASSESSMENTS BECOME CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE. OTHER MAJOR CHALLENGES ARE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE MANIPULATED BY "HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS" WHO LEAK STORIES AND BY LAWYERS WHO USE HYPERBOLE TO STRENGHTEN THEIR ARGUMENTS. YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCURATELY AND PROMINENTLY CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES AND YOUR AGENDA DRIVEN BIASES CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT. ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES COMBINED CREATE A MEDIA ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES A TREMENDOUS DISSERVICE TO AMERICA. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WAR TACTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS HAVE BECOME STRATEGIC DEFEATS FOR AMERICA BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS POWER AND IMPACT OF THE MEDIA AND BY EXTENSION YOU THE JOURNALIST. IN MANY CASES THE MEDIA HAS UNJUSTLY DESTROYED THE INDIVIDUAL REPUTATIONS AND CAREERS OF THOSE INVOLVED. WE REALIZE THAT BECAUSE OF THE NEAR REAL TIME REPORTING ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU FACE IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPORT ACCURATELY. IN MY BUSINESS ONE OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS IS THAT "THE FIRST REPORT IS ALWAYS WRONG." UNFORTUNATELY, IN YOUR BUSINESS "THE FIRST REPORT" GIVES AMERICANS WHO RELY ON THE SNIPPETS OF CNN, IF YOU WILL, THEIR "TRUTHS" AND PERSPECTIVES ON AN ISSUE. AS A COROLLARY TO THIS DEADLINE DRIVEN NEED TO PUBLISH "INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OR OBSERVATIONS" VERSUS OBJECTIVE FACTS THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE FOR US WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF YOUR REPORTING. WHEN YOU ASSUME THAT YOU ARE CORRECT AND ON THE MORAL HIGH GROUND ON A STORY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS YOU PROVIDED IS THE ULTIMATE ARROGANCE AND DISTORTION OF ETHICS. ONE OF YOUR HIGHLY REPECTED FELLOW JOURNALISTS ONCE TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE SOME AMONGST YOU WHO "FEED FROM A PIG'S TROUGH." IF THAT IS WHO I AM DEALING WITH THEN I WILL NEVER RESPOND OTHERWISE WE WILL BOTH GET DIRTY AND THE PIG WILL LOVE IT. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR STORY IS ACCURATE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS INTENDED. THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS STATES:
...PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT IS THE FORERUNNER OF JUSTICE AND THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY. THE DUTY OF THE JOURNALIST IS TO FURTHER THOSE ENDS BY SEEKING TRUTH AND PROVIDING A FAIR AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF EVENTS AND ISSUES. CONSCIENTIOUS JOURNALISTS FROM ALL MEDIA AND SPECIALTIES STRIVE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH THOROUGHNESS AND HONESTY. PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A JOURNALIST'S CREDIBILITY

THE BASIC ETHICS OF A JOURNALIST THAT CALLS FOR:

1. SEEKING TRUTH,

2. PROVIDING FAIR AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF EVENTS AND ISSUES

3. THOROUGHNESS AND HONESTY

ALL ARE VICTIMS OF THE MASSIVE AGENDA DRIVEN COMPETITION FOR ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL SUPREMACY. THE DEATH KNELL OF YOUR ETHICS HAS BEEN ENABLED BY YOUR PARENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH POLITICAL AGENDAS. WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT YOU ARE PERPETUATING THE CORROSIVE PARTISAN POLITICS THAT IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY AND KILLING OUR SERVICEMEMBERS WHO ARE AT WAR.

MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT YOUR PROFESSION, TO SOME EXTENT, HAS STRAYED FROM THESE ETHICAL STANDARDS AND ALLOWED EXTERNAL AGENDAS TO MANIPULATE WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SEES ON TV, WHAT THEY READ IN OUR NEWSPAPERS AND WHAT THEY SEE ON THE WEB. FOR SOME OF YOU, JUST LIKE SOME OF OUR POLITICIANS, THE TRUTH IS OF LITTLE TO NO VALUE IF IT DOES NOT FIT YOUR OWN PRECONCIEVED NOTIONS, BIASES AND AGENDAS.

IT IS ASTOUNDING TO ME WHEN I HEAR THE VEHEMENT DISAGREEMENT WITH THE MILITARY'S FORAYS INTO INFORMATION OPERATIONS THAT SEEK TO DISSEMINATE THE TRUTH AND INFORM THE IRAQI PEOPLE IN ORDER TO COUNTER OUR ENEMY'S BLATANT PROPAGANDA. AS I ASSESS VARIOUS MEDIA ENTITIES, SOME ARE UNQUESTIONABLY ENGAGED IN POLITICAL PROPAGANDA THAT IS UNCONTROLLED. THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THE STRENGTH OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR FREEDOMS REMAIN LINKED TO YOUR ABILITY TO EXERCISE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS - I ADAMANTLY SUPPORT THIS BASIC FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORTED THE EMBEDDING OF MEDIA INTO OUR FORMATIONS UP UNTIL MY LAST DAY IN UNIFORM. THE ISSUE IS ONE OF MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND STANDARDS FROM WITHIN YOUR INSTITUTION. MILITARY LEADERS MUST ACCEPT THAT THESE INJUSTICES WILL HAPPEN AND WHETHER THEY LIKE WHAT YOU PRINT OR NOT THEY MUST DEAL WITH YOU AND ENABLE YOU, IF YOU ARE AN ETHICAL JOURNALIST.

FINALLY, I WILL LEAVE THIS SUBJECT WITH A QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES--WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF THE PROFESSION IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY DOES NOT CONTINUE TO BE THREATENED BY THIS DANGEROUS SHIFT AWAY FROM YOUR SACRED DUTY OF PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT?

LET ME NOW TRANSITION TO OUR CURRENT NATIONAL SECURITY CONDITION.

AS WE ALL KNOW WAR IS AN EXTENSION OF POLITICS AND WHEN A NATION GOES TO WAR IT MUST BRING TO BEAR ALL ELEMENTS OF POWER IN ORDER TO WIN. WARFIGHTING IS NOT SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MILITARY COMMANDER UNLESS HE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND RESOURCES TO SYNCHRONIZE THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND INFORMATIONAL POWER OF THE NATION. SO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE GRAND STRATEGY THAT WILL ALLOW AMERICA TO EMERGE VICTORIOUS FROM THIS GENERATIONAL STRUGGLE AGAINST EXTREMISM?

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, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED TO EMPLOY AND SYNCHRONIZE ITS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND MILITARY POWER. THE LATEST "REVISED STRATEGY" IS A DESPERATE ATTEMPT BY AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS NOT ACCEPTED THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REALITIES OF THIS WAR AND THEY HAVE DEFINITELY NOT COMMUNICATED THAT REALITY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AN EVEN WORSE AND MORE DISTURBING ASSESSMENT IS THAT AMERICA CAN NOT ACHIEVE THE POLITICAL CONSENSUS NECESSARY TO DEVISE A GRAND STRATEGY THAT WILL SYNCHRONIZE AND COMMIT OUR NATIONAL POWER TO ACHIEVE VICTORY IN IRAQ. SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT OUR NATIONS CRISIS IN LEADERSHIP. LET ME ELABORATE.

WHILE THE POLITICIANS ESPOUSE THEIR RHETORIC DESIGNED TO PRESERVE THEIR REPUTATIONS AND THEIR POLITICAL POWER -OUR SOLDIERS DIE! OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IGNORED THE LESSONS OF WWII AS WE ENTERED INTO THIS WAR AND TO THIS DAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT VICTORY CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF MILITARY POWER ALONE. OUR FOREFATHERS UNDERSTOOD THAT TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CAPACITY HAD TO BE MOBILIZED, SYNCHRONIZED AND APPLIED IF WE WERE TO ACHIEVE VICTORY IN A GLOBAL WAR. THAT HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE THE KEY TO VICTORY IN IRAQ. 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 INTERAGENCY, ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, MUST SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

THERE HAS BEEN A GLARING, UNFORTUNATE, DISPLAY OF INCOMPETENT STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR NATIONAL LEADERS. AS A JAPANESE PROVERB SAYS, "ACTION WITHOUT VISION IS A NIGHTMARE." THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT AMERICA IS LIVING A NIGHTMARE WITH NO END IN SIGHT.

SINCE 2003, THE POLITICS OF WAR HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY PARTISANSHIP AS THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES STRUGGLED FOR POWER IN WASHINGTON. NATIONAL EFFORTS TO DATE HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED BY PARTISAN POLITICS THAT HAVE PREVENTED US FROM DEVISING EFFECTIVE, EXECUTABLE, SUPPORTABLE SOLUTIONS. AT TIMES, THESE PARTISAN STRUGGLES HAVE LED TO POLITICAL DECISIONS THAT ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. THE UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE WAS THAT POLITICAL POWER HAD GREATER PRIORITY THAN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES. OVERCOMING THIS STRATEGIC FAILURE IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD ACHIEVING VICTORY IN IRAQ - WITHOUT BIPARTISAN COOPERATION WE ARE DOOMED TO FAIL. THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON TODAY IN WASHINGTON THAT WOULD GIVE US HOPE.

IF WE SUCCEED IN CRAFTING A BIPARTISAN STRATEGY FOR VICTORY, THEN AMERICA MUST HOLD ALL NATIONAL AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES THAT WILL BRING ABOUT STABILITY, SECURITY, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HOPE FOR ALL IRAQIS. THAT HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO DATE.

CONGRESS MUST SHOULDER A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO FOCUSED OVERSIGHT OF THE NATIONS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES IN THIS WAR. EXHORTATIONS, ENCOURAGEMENTS, INVESTIGATIONS, STUDIES AND DISCUSSIONS WILL NOT PRODUCE SUCCESS -THIS APPEARS TO BE THE NATION'S ONLY ALTERNATIVE SINCE THE TRANSFER OF SOVERIEGNTY. OUR CONTINUED NEGLECT WILL ONLY EXTEND THE CONFLICT. AMERICA'S DILEMMA IS THAT WE NO LONGER CONTROL THE ABILITY TO DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE IRAQI INSTITUTIONS. THE SOVEREIGN IRAQI GOVERNMENT MUST BE COOPERATIVE IN THESE LONG TERM EFFORTS. THAT IS NOT LIKELY AT THE LEVELS NECESSARY IN THE NEAR TERM.

OUR COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS AND PROVIDE TIME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GRAND STRATEGY. THAT WILL BE WASTED EFFORT AS WE HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY SINCE 2003. IN THE MEAN TIME OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES WILL CONTINUE TO DIE.

SINCE THE START OF THIS WAR, AMERICA'S LEADERSHIP HAS KNOWN THAT OUR MILITARY ALONE COULD NOT ACHIEVE VICTORY IN IRAQ. STARTING IN JULY 2003, THE MESSAGE REPEATEDLY COMMUNICATED TO WASHINGTON BY MILITARY COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND WAS THAT THE MILITARY ALONE COULD NEVER ACHIEVE "VICTORY" IN IRAQ. OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES WERE DESTINED TO ENDURE DECADES OF FIGHTING AND KILLING PEOPLE WITHOUT THE FOCUSED, SYNCHRONIZED APPLICATION OF ALL ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER. THIS WAS A NECESSARY CONDITION TO STABILIZE IRAQ. ANY SEQUENTIAL SOLUTIONS WOULD LEAD TO A PROLONGED CONFLICT AND INCREASED RESISTANCE.

BY NEGLECT AND INCOMPETENCE AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL LEVEL, THAT IS THE PATH OUR POLITICAL LEADERS CHOSE AND NOW AMERICA, MORE PRECISELY THE AMERICAN MILITARY, FINDS ITSELF IN AN INTRACTABLE SITUATION. CLEARLY, MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE AMERICAN MILITARY IN ITS APPLICATION OF POWER BUT EVEN ITS GREATEST FAILURES IN THIS WAR CAN BE LINKED TO AMERICA'S LACK OF COMMITMENT, PRIORITY AND MORAL COURAGE IN THIS WAR EFFORT. WITHOUT THE SACRIFICES OF OUR MAGNIFICENT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, IRAQ WOULD BE CHAOTIC WELL BEYOND ANYTHING EXPERIENCED TO DATE.

WHAT AMERICA MUST ACCEPT AS A REALITY AT THIS POINT IN THE WAR IS THAT OUR ARMY AND MARINE CORPS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE DEPLOYMENT SCHEDULES. WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLES OF OUR FORMATIONS HAS BEEN TOTALLY DISRUPTED, THE RESOURCING AND TRAINING CHALLENGES ARE SIGNIFICANT AND AMERICA'S ABILITY TO SUSTAIN A FORCE LEVEL OF 150,000(+) IS NONEXISTENT WITHOUT DRASTIC MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN POLITICALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO DATE. THE DRAWDOWN OF THE SURGE TO PRESURGE LEVELS WAS NEVER A QUESTION. AMERICA MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL TAKE THE ARMY AT LEAST A DECADE TO FIX THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ITS FULL SPECTRUM READINESS. THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT STATEMENT TO AMERICA THAT HE WILL LISTEN TO MILITARY COMMANDERS IS A MATTER OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

OUR ARMY AND MARINE CORPS WILL EXECUTE AS DIRECTED, PERFORM MAGNIFICENTLY AND NEVER COMPLAIN-THAT IS THE ETHIC OF OUR WARRIORS AND THAT IS WHAT AMERICA EXPECTS OF THEM. THEY WILL NOT DISAPPOINT US. BUT AMERICA MUST KNOW THE PRESSURES THAT ARE BEING PLACED ON OUR MILITARY INSTITUTIONS AS WE FIGHT THIS WAR. 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. A CRITICAL, OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF OUR NATION'S ABILITY TO EXECUTE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY MUST BE CONDUCTED. IF WE ARE OBJECTIVE AND HONEST, THE RESULTS WILL BE SURPRISING TO ALL AMERICANS. THERE IS UNACCEPTABLE STRATEGIC RISK.

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.

AT NO TIME IN AMERICA'S HISTORY HAS THERE BEEN A GREATER NEED FOR BIPARTISAN COOPERATION. THE THREAT OF EXTREMISM IS REAL AND DEMANDS UNIFIED ACTION AT THE SAME LEVELS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR FOREFATHERS DURING WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II. AMERICA HAS FAILED TO DATE.

THIS ENDEAVOR HAS FURTHER BEEN HAMPERED BY A COALITION EFFORT THAT CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS HASTY, UN-RESOURCED AND OFTEN UNCOORDINATED AND UNMANAGED. DESPERATELY NEEDED, BUT ESSENTIALLY IGNORED, WERE THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COALITIONS THAT WERE THE KEY TO VICTORY AND STABILITY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE CONVENTIONAL WAR. THE MILITARY COALITION WHICH WAS HASTILY PUT TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 WAS PROBLEMATIC GIVEN THE MULTITUDE OF NATIONAL CAVEATS, INADEQUATE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE FORCES DEPLOYED. EVEN SO, THE MILITARY COALITION WAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE, PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF FORCES IN DECADES. TODAY, WE CONTINUE OUR INEPT COALITION MANAGEMENT EFFORTS AND, IN FACT, WE ARE FACING EVER DECREASING TROOP COMMITMENTS BY OUR MILITARY COALITION PARTNERS. AMERICA'S "REVISED" STRATEGY DOES NOT ADDRESS COALITION INITIATIVES AND CHALLENGES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE THIS STRUGGLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR COALITION PARTNERS ACROSS ALL ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL POWER. WITHOUT THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ELEMENTS OF POWER COMPLEMENTING THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS OF OUR MILITARY, AMERICA IS ASSURED OF FAILURE. WE CONTINUE ON THAT PATH. AMERICA'S POLITICAL LEADERSHIP MUST COME TOGETHER AND DEVELOP A BIPARTISAN GRAND STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE VICTORY IN THIS CONFLICT. THE SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF OUR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, INFORMATION AND MILITARY ELEMENTS OF POWER IS THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION THAT WILL PROVIDE A CHANCE OF SUCCESS.

ACHIEVING UNITY OF EFFORT IN IRAQ HAS BEEN ELUSIVE TO DATE PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE IS NO ENTITY THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT ACTION BY OUR INTERAGENCY. OUR NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, AMERICA'S ABILITY TO HOLD THE INTERAGENCY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURES IN THIS WAR IS NON-EXISTENT. THIS MUST CHANGE. AS A NATION WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THE ENEMY WE FACE IS COMMITTED TO DESTROYING OUR WAY OF LIFE. THIS ENEMY IS ARGUABLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN ANY THREAT WE FACED IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. OUR POLITICAL LEADERS MUST PLACE NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES ABOVE PARTISAN POLITICS, DEMAND INTERAGENCY UNITY OF EFFORT, AND NEVER AGAIN COMMIT AMERICA TO WAR WITHOUT A GRAND STRATEGY THAT EMBRACES THE BASIC TENETS OF THE POWELL DOCTRINE.

IT SEEMS THAT CONGRESS RECOGNIZES THAT THE MILITARY CANNOT ACHIEVE VICTORY ALONE IN THIS WAR. YET THEY CONTINUE TO DEMAND VICTORY FROM OUR MILITARY. WHO WILL DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE FAILURE OF OUR NATIONAL POLITICAL LEADERS INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT THIS WAR? THEY HAVE UNQUESTIONABLY BEEN DERELICT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY. IN MY PROFESSION, THESE TYPE OF LEADERS WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE RELIEVED OR COURTMARTIALED.

AMERICA HAS SENT OUR SOLDIERS OFF TO WAR AND THEY MUST BE SUPPORTED AT ALL COSTS UNTIL WE ACHIEVE VICTORY OR UNTIL OUR POLITICAL LEADERS DECIDE TO BRING THEM HOME. OUR POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADERS OWE THE SOLDIER ON THE BATTLEFIELD THE STRATEGY, THE POLICIES AND THE RESOURCES TO WIN ONCE COMMITTED TO WAR. AMERICA HAS NOT BEEN FULLY COMMITTED TO WIN THIS WAR. AS THE MILITARY COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND HAVE STATED SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2003, THE U.S. MILITARY ALONE CANNOT WIN THIS WAR. AMERICA MUST MOBILIZE THE INTERAGENCY AND THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ELEMENTS OF POWER, WHICH HAVE BEEN ABJECT FAILURES TO DATE, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE VICTORY. OUR NATION HAS NOT FOCUSED ON THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF OUR LIFETIME. THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ELEMENTS OF POWER MUST GET BEYOND THE POLITICS TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF AMERICA. PARTISAN POLITICS HAVE HINDERED THIS WAR EFFORT AND AMERICA SHOULD NOT ACCEPT THIS. AMERICA MUST DEMAND A UNIFIED NATIONAL STRATEGY THAT GOES WELL BEYOND PARTISAN POLITICS AND PLACES THE COMMON GOOD ABOVE ALL ELSE. TOO OFTEN OUR POLITICIANS HAVE CHOSEN LOYALTY TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY ABOVE LOYALTY TO THE CONSTITUTION BECAUSE OF THEIR LUST FOR POWER. OUR POLITICIANS MUST REMEMBER THEIR OATH OF OFFICE AND RECOMMIT THEMSELVES TO SERVING OUR NATION AND NOT THEIR OWN SELF-INTERESTS OR POLITICAL PARTY. THE SECURITY OF AMERICA IS AT STAKE AND WE CAN ACCEPT NOTHING LESS. ANYTHING SHORT OF THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY DERELICTION OF DUTY.

THESE ARE FAIRLY HARSH ASSESSMENTS OF THE MILITARY AND PRESS RELATIONSHIP AND THE STATUS OF OUR WAR EFFORT. I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC AND COMMITTED TO THE ENABLING OF MEDIA OPERATIONS UNDER THE TOUGHEST OF CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE WORLD AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE INFORMED. OUR MILITARY MUST EMBRACE YOU FOR THE SAKE OUR DEMOCRACY BUT YOU OWE THEM ETHICAL JOURNALISM.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

PRAISE BE TO THE LORD MY ROCK WHO TRAINS MY FINGERS FOR BATTLE AND MY HANDS FOR WAR.

THANK YOU.

[rushmc 23]

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Same tactic we see constantly from the left. Cherry picking comments and taking statements and using them out of the context.

No Rush, you are wrong. I'm not taking quotes out of context to make them seem to mean something they do not. I think Sanchez's comments are very clear.

Sorry I was not clear. I agree that Sanchez's post were clear but, the context that kallend put out there were more to what you meant, not kallend.

I agree with you. Sorry I was not clear

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln