Troops in Europe, Mideast speak out on Sanchez’s criticisms

[unhappycamper]

From the Europe/Middle East version of the Stars and Stripes


Troops in Europe, Mideast speak out on Sanchez’s criticisms
By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Troops in Europe and Iraq sounded off Monday on retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez’s recent blunt comments criticizing the handling of the Iraq war and the media’s portrayal of it.

Some troops took strong issue with Sanchez’s comments.

“Does sleep better at night knowing because he’s no longer a sworn soldier he can just vent, with the possibility that troops here and all over the world can pay for it?” Sgt. Brandon Culpepper, serving in Taji, Iraq, wrote in a letter to Stars and Stripes. “If he was able to bite his tongue during his career, why doesn’t he do the rest of us still serving in Iraq a huge favor: bite harder!”

Others were in agreement with Sanchez that there is no end in sight in Iraq.

“I agree with the ‘no end in sight’ statement because of statements published by the Bush administration in a document called National Strategy for Victory in Iraq,” said Lt. Cmdr. Les Engle, a 16-year Navy veteran, currently the assistant transition officer for Navy Region Europe’s Strategy and Future Requirements, in Naples, Italy.

Engle cited the following passage from the White House document, published two years ago: “Iraq is peaceful, united, stable, and secure, well integrated into the international community, and a full partner in the global war on terrorism,” reads the portion under a longer-term goal.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49528


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From the Pacific version of the Stars and Stripes


Many troops in Pacific agree with Sanchez
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, October 17, 2007


~snip~

Bazzell took Sanchez to task for not speaking up sooner.

“As him saying because he was in uniform, he’s using that as an excuse to not take the blame or not take the responsibility of what he could have done, ’cause he could have done a bit more than he did,” the soldier said. “And now he’s out of his uniform, he’s coming forward and expecting that people are going to be OK with it?”

Staff Sgt. Lisa Thomas, a postal clerk at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, said that at least Sanchez did not remain silent.

“We all have to stand up for something at some time,” she said. “He made the choice not to say anything while he was on active duty because of what he stood for. But he’s bringing it up now, and I’m sure it counts for something.”

On Okinawa, Navy Seaman Brandon Hill said Sanchez should have spoken up while he was in uniform and agreed with him that there is no end in sight.

But, Hill added, “we have to make sure the Iraqi government can stand on its feet.”


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49541