Retired Gen. Ricardo Sanchez Calls For Truth Commission

[babylonsister]

Jack Hidary
Posted: May 31, 2009 10:58 PM

General Rick Sanchez Calls for War Crimes Truth Commission


In front of a packed audience tonight at the Times Center in New York City, General Ricardo Sanchez, the former commander of all coalition forces in Iraq, called for a truth commission to investigate the abuses and torture which occurred there.

The General described the failures at all levels of civilian and military command that led to the abuses in Iraq, "and that is why I support the formation of a truth commission."

The General went on to say that, "during my time in Iraq there was not one instance of actionable intelligence that came out of these interrogation techniques."

I interviewed General Sanchez after the event and asked him to elaborate on why he felt the US needed such a commission. "For the American people to really know what happened, " he replied, "...this was an institutional failure, a personal failure on the part of many...."

"If we do not find out what happened," continued the General, "then we are doomed to repeat it."

The event tonight was moderated by Rachel Maddow and featured General Sanchez, Vince Warren, exec director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and Ron Suskind, the author and reporter. The event also featured Liev Schreiber, John Leguizamo and other actors who portrayed various characters from the topics at hand.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-hidary/general-rick-sanchez-call_b_209573.html

[bdamomma]

1. this comment says it all.

"If we do not find out what happened," continued the General, "then we are doomed to repeat it."

[Bucky]

2. South Africa's T&R commissions required confession & contrition for pardons

The problem is that the American people are not the aggrieved party; how could we be the ones passing out the forgiveness?

[babylonsister]

3. .

[malaise]

4. He's on KO right now n/t

[spanone]

5. listening now....this should be the headline everywhere tomorrow

[babylonsister]

6. Yes, it 'should' be. But it won't be. I'd be surprised. nt

[spanone]

7. General Ricardo Sanchez, the former commander of all coalition forces in Iraq

you think that would have some sway.....

[babylonsister]

8. Hey, I'd run with this story, but I don't think I've even hear it

mentioned, and the article in the OP is from yesterday. You'd think we would have heard something by now. Of course, it's been a busy day. Maybe there is hope.