The Bush administration has been attacked for its handling of the Iraq war by a top former US general, who said Iraq was a "nightmare with no end in sight".
"The administration, Congress and the entire inter-agency, especially the State Department, must shoulder responsibility for this catastrophic failure, and the American people must hold them accountable" the retired General Sanchez told US military reporters.
"There has been a glaring unfortunate display of incompetent strategic leadership within our national leaders."
General Sanchez focused on the political and military failures in Iraq that helped foment the insurgency - noting, for instance, the disbanding of Saddam Hussein's military forces after the invasion, the US failure to establish rapport with tribal leaders and other critical lapses.
And despite indications that the 30,000-strong surge in forces that George W. Bush ordered in January has shown signs of success in quelling violence, General Sanchez described the effort as 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," General Sanchez said.
Nothing new here, just very refreshing.
