| Ricardo S. Sanchez | |
|---|---|
| 1953- | |
 |
|
| Place of birth | Rio Grande City, Texas |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1973-2006 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Multinational Force Iraq 1st Armed Division
|
Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Rio Grande City is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the This page is about the military command, for more general discussion of the coalition forces see Multinational force in Iraq or Iraq War. The 1st Armored Division &mdashnicknamed “ Old Ironsides ”&mdash is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations Sanchez (born 1953) is a retired United States Army general who served as the commander of coalition forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Lieutenant General is a Military rank used in many countries The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. He was the highest-ranking Hispanic in the United States Army when he retired on November 1, 2006. Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent, which comprises ancestry or origins in Hispanic America The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. At the time of his retirement, Lieutenant General Sanchez called his career a casualty of the Abu Ghraib scandal. Beginning in 2004 accounts of Abuse, Torture, Sodomy and Homicide of Prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq [1]
Contents |
Early life and education
Born into a poor Mexican American family in Rio Grande City, Texas, Sanchez studied hard throughout school. See also History of Mexican-Americans Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican ancestry Rio Grande City is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States. During the Vietnam conflict (1969-73), Sanchez was in college. He spent one year at the University of Texas at Austin on an ROTC scholarship, eventually transferring to Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) in Kingsville, Texas, where he graduated in 1973 with a double major in math and history. ROTC links here For other uses see ROTC (disambiguation A Reserve Officers' Training Corps ( ROTC) ROTC produces officers in all branches Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a Coeducational public Research University located in College Station Kingsville is a city in Kleberg County, Texas, United States. Sanchez was named a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG), meaning he was in the top 10% of all ROTC cadets in the nation. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army.
Army career
Sanchez became a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States By 1977, he had transferred from the infantry to armor. He received promotions regularly and was stationed at posts in the United States, Korea, Panama and Germany. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
In 1991, then Lieutenant Colonel Sanchez served as a battalion commander during Operation Desert Storm, successfully leading his unit of the 197th Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) to Basra without suffering any casualties. Please see " Lieutenant Colonel " for other countries which use this rank In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps Basra ( BGN: AlBasrah also called Basorah Abillah and Uruk or IRAQ The name that British colony has adopted for Basra Shortly after the Gulf War, Sanchez was promoted to Colonel and given command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. See also Colonel In the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, colonel The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army &mdashnicknamed “ The Big Red One ” after its Shoulder patch; and also nicknamed " The Fighting Afterwards, he served on the staff of U. S. Southern Command, first as deputy chief of staff then as director of operations.
On July 10, 2001, by now a general, Sanchez became commander of V Corps' 1st Armored Division. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The V Corps ( Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps —is a Corps of the United States Army. The 1st Armored Division &mdashnicknamed “ Old Ironsides ”&mdash is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations He held that position for nearly two years before assuming command of the entire corps on June 14, 2003. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. On this date he also became commander of coalition ground forces in the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Iraq War|2007 in Iraq|2008 in IraqThe post-invasion period in Iraq
Commander of Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq
June 2003 to June 2004
Sanchez held the top military position in Iraq during what was arguably one of the most critical periods of the war—the year after the fall of the Hussein regime, and the time the insurgency took root and began its counterattack. Highlights during his tenure as commander in Iraq include the killing of Uday and Qusay Hussein, and the capture of Saddam Hussein. Uday Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (18 June 1964 Baghdad &ndash 22 July 2003 Mosul) (عُدي صدّام حُسين was the eldest son of Saddam Hussein Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (قصي صدام حسين (or Qusai) ( May 17, 1966 &ndash July 22, 2003) was the second son Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30
He was in command when the abuse of prisoners occurred most notably at Abu Ghraib prison. The Abu Ghraib prison (سجن أبو غريب also Abu Ghurayb is in Abu Ghraib, an Iraqi city 32 km (20 mi west of Baghdad. Some have been highly critical of the U. S. military's failure to hold generals accountable, as the blame for abuses at Abu Ghraib and other detention centers was placed only on a few individuals of the lowest rank.
Sanchez was succeeded as commander of allied ground forces in Iraq by a four-star general: former Army Vice Chief of Staff George Casey. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. George Casey may refer to George William Casey Sr (1922-1970 US Army general George W
Disunity in leadership
L. Paul Bremer was the leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Lewis Paul Bremer III (born September 30 1941 known as Paul Bremer and also nicknamed Jerry Bremer, is an American Diplomat. There was almost a complete failure to communicate between Bremer, the top civilian, and Sanchez, the military leader. "It was very clear they hated each other. They lived in the same palace and didn't talk to each other. " This disunity in leadership has been cited as one of the major failures of the first year of the Iraq War. [2]
Abu Ghraib
Sanchez was commander of coalition forces during the period when abuse of prisoners occurred at Abu Ghraib and at other locations. In a memo signed by General Sanchez and later acquired by the ACLU through a Freedom of Information Act request, techniques were authorized to interrogate prisoners, included "environmental manipulation" such as making a room hot or cold or using an "unpleasant smell", isolating a prisoner, disrupting normal sleep patterns and "convincing the detainee that individuals from a country other than the United States are interrogating him. The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses " [3] On May 5, 2006 Sanchez denied ever authorizing interrogators to "go to the outer limits". Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Sanchez said he had told interrogators: ". . . we should be conducting our interrogations to the limits of our authority. " Sanchez called the ACLU: ". The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses . . a bunch of sensationalist liars, I mean lawyers, that will distort any and all information that they get to draw attention to their positions. " [4]
War crimes prosecution
On 14th November 2006 human rights advocate Wolfgang Kaleck brought charges at the German Federal Attorney General (Generalbundesanwalt) against Ricardo Sanchez and a number of other high officials for their involvement in human rights violations in Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9 1932 is a United States Businessman, Politician, the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The city of Abu Ghraib ( Arabic: أبو غريب Abū Ghurayb The Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp is a controversial United States Detention center operated by Joint Task Force Guantanamo since 2002 in Guantanamo Kaleck acts as an advocate for more than 30 human rights organizations as well as 11 former prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo.
Career after Iraq
In June 2004, Lieutenant General Sanchez relinquished command of the Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) to General George Casey, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. George Casey may refer to George William Casey Sr (1922-1970 US Army general George W Sanchez returned to Germany where he continued as Commanding General, V Corps. The V Corps ( Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps —is a Corps of the United States Army. He was briefly considered for promotion to four-star rank with assignment as Commander, Southern Command; nomination would have required Senate confirmation, which would have been contentious due to the Abu Ghraib scandal. The United States Southern Command ( USSOUTHCOM) located in Miami, Florida, is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs in the Beginning in 2004 accounts of Abuse, Torture, Sodomy and Homicide of Prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq He was not nominated; the position went to General Bantz Craddock. General Bantz John Craddock (born 1950 is the current Commander U
Sanchez lead V Corps in Germany during 2004-2005 as it refitted in anticipation of its second deployment as the command headquarters in Iraq. When V Corps returned to Iraq as headquarters element for the Multi-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I), Lieutenant General Peter W. Chiarelli was named commander; the V Corps flag remained in Germany with Sanchez. General Peter W Chiarelli, USA is the 32nd and current Vice Chief of Staff of the U The result was somewhat unusual; the V Corps headquarters was in Iraq under Chiarelli's command with the name MNC-I while Sanchez remained in Germany with the corps flag, but with replacement (V Corps-Rear) personnel.
On 6 September 2006, Sanchez relinquished command of V Corps in a ceremony at Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany. The V Corps ( Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps —is a Corps of the United States Army. Sanchez had commanded the corps for more than 3 years; longer than any previous commander in the unit's history. In deference to Sanchez' longevity, he relinquished command to General David McKiernan, Commanding General, US Army Europe and Seventh Army, his higher commander, instead of to a successor. General David D McKiernan, USA is current Commander International Security Assistance Force (ISAF and Commander U
Sanchez retired on 1 November 2006, culminating 33 years of Army service. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Sanchez now lives in his home state of Texas. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State.
Author
On 2008-05-06 HarperCollins Publishers released Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story, a memoir by General Sanchez and Donald T. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. HarperCollins is a Publishing company owned by News Corporation. Phillips. [5]
On 2008-05-07 General Sanchez was interviewed by Fresh Air host Terry Gross on NPR where he discussed the Iraq war, his life and book. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Fresh Air is a Radio talk show hosted by Terry Gross, broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States Terry Gross (born 1951 is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format Radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia [6]
Criticism of the media and political leadership
Speaking to a group of military reporters and editors in Washington DC on Oct 12, 2007[7], Sanchez lambasted the media for "sensationalist" coverage and "self-aggrandizement" and expressing the belief that reporters were willing to "compromise [their] integrity" and "display questionable ethics" to get front page stories:
| “ | 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 servicemen 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 politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your preconceived notions, biases and agendas. |
” |
Sanchez went on to criticize the partisanship that has characterized America's political leadership on Iraq[8]:
| “ | 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 a 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 in Washington that would give us hope. |
” |
Sanchez has become the most senior retired general to criticize American political leadership of the war.
Quotes
- "(The Abu Ghraib prison scandal is) the key reason, the sole reason, that I was forced to retire. I was essentially not offered another position in either a three-star or four-star command. [9]
- In reference to the 2007 "surge" strategy in Iraq: "The best we can do with this flawed approach is to stave off defeat" [10]
References
- ^ CBS-News
- ^ Quoted in Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq, by Thomas E. Ricks, p. 324, New York: Penguin Press, 2006. ISBN 1-59420-103-X
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4392519.stm US memo shows Iraq jail methods
- ^ defends his adherence to Geneva Conventions in Iraq, Macon Telegraph, May 5, 2006
- ^ Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story HarperCollins official site
- ^ Ricardo Sanchez: 'Wiser' in Hindsight on Iraq, Politics
- ^ http://www.militaryreporters.org/sanchez_101207.html Prepared notes for Military Reporters and Editors address, Military Reporter, Oct 12, 2007
- ^ Former Top General in Iraq Faults Bush Administration, New York Times, Oct 12, 2007
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/02/iraq/main2143888.shtml
- ^ US general damns Iraq "nightmare"
External links
- U.S. Commander Retires Over Abu Ghraib
- Complete text, audio, and video of Ricardo Sanchez' speech to a military reporters and editors forum luncheon
- The Story of Ricardo S. Sanchez by Our World in Balance
- U.S. commander "allowed prison abuse" (Friday 27 August 2004, Aljazeera)
- Ricardo Sanchez at the Internet Movie Database
| Preceded by New Position |
Commander Multinational Force Iraq 2003-2004 |
Succeeded by Gen George William Casey Jr. |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic