Rightwingers React to Sanchez

Jules Crittenden:

Someone needs to tell him the nightmare has wound down considerably in Anbar, the awakening is spreading, death and destruction is down everywhere.  The only way this becomes a nightmare with no end in sight is if the AP, Congress, etal, get their way.

Hmm, someone didn't read the speech.

Sanchez comes off a little bitter.  About everything.  S&S provides Sanchez’ reason for why he doesn’t think the strategy has a chance … insufficient non-military resources, lack of coordination. Well, that sounds a little more like we need more non-military resources and coordination than “nightmare with no end in sight.”   If what he is trying to do is offer constructive criticism as a retired general, that is.

Shorter Jules Crittenden: "La la la la la I CAN'T HEAR YOU. Loser." Too bad he can't make Sanchez's name rhyme with "betray us" or there would have to be a Congressional resolution.

Jawa Report is unhappy that the media didn't highlight Sanchez's criticism of the media, which actually is quite trenchant:

Almost invariably, my perception is that the sensationalistic value of these assessments is what provided the edge that you seek for self aggrandizement or to advance your individual quest for getting on the front page with your stories! ... 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. ...

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. ...

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.

(Cleaned up from the original.)  Joining in is Cap'n Ed:

Given that, it seems highly ironic that the journalists covering the story attempted to cover up the acidic, biting, and mostly accurate criticisms of their own performance in this war while giving front-page treatment to Sanchez' criticisms of the political structure at the same time. If Sanchez has such credibility and standing to bring this kind of criticism to bear on Washington, why didn't the Post and other news agencies give the same level of exposure to his media criticisms as well? He basically accuses them of cynically selling out the soldiers to defeat American efforts to win the war, and made sure that those accusations came first before his assessment of the political failures, but you'd never know that from the Post.

And no survey of far-right crazies would be complete without John Hinderaker of Powerline:

So, one might ask: Why did the Washington Post (and every other news outlet I have seen) not headline their story: "Former Iraq Commander Bitterly Denounces Mainstream Media's Coverage of Iraq War"? Or, perhaps, "Former Iraq Commander Accuses Biased, Unethical, Agenda-driven Press of 'Killing Our Servicemembers Who Are At War'"?

I guess the question answers itself. The Post has an agenda, and those headlines wouldn't have advanced it. The same is true for essentially all newspapers and other news outlets. It's quite a luxury to be able to decide whether criticisms of your own conduct ever see the light of day--a luxury the mainstream media not only enjoy, but abuse.

Unfortunately for the wingnuts, what Sanchez is referencing is the media's coverage of Abu Ghraib. And the fact that he thinks Brownie got a similar bad rap for Katrina certainly doesn't help his case. Is he suggesting U.S. media coverage drives the efforts of the insurgents? Just saying it shows how ridiculous it is. And in any event, no sane reading of Sanchez's remarks is "We'd be winning if it weren't for that pesky media."

Deebow at Blackfive:

I am approaching the point of having had it up to here (I am holding my hand next to my forehead) with retired generals who now get critical of the war effort.

Especially from a guy who was actually running the show in Iraq.

Good news is always welcome, though.