General Ricardo Sanchez, the former commander of all coalition forces in Iraq, has called for a truth commission to investigate the abuses and torture which occurred in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaking at the Times Center in New York, General Sanchez said that "during my time in Iraq there was not one instance of actionable intelligence that came out of these interrogation techniques."
General Sanchez said that "the failures at all levels of civilian and military command led to the abuses in Iraq."
"If we do not find out what happened then we are doomed to repeat it."
Ricardo Sanchez is the first senior military official that has called for a truth commission to investigate torture and abuses committed by Americans.
US Senator Patrick Leahy has proposed a truth commission on the Bush-Cheney Administration's constitutional abuses and set up a website to collect online signatures in support of the commission -- www.BushTruthCommission.com.
More than 114,000 people have signed the petition since February 2009.
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Comments: 15
Sooner than later I say.
We are supposedly a nation of laws but it appears not applied equally.
Hopefully other high ranking military personnel will follow suit.
This is the beginning of the end of our constitution. Mark my words! I predict that OBAMA is the last American President.
Speaking out against American war criminals and punishing them for their crimes, torture, and murder of hundreds of thousands of people would be the end of your constitution?!
If protecting them would save the constitution, then the constitution itself its not worth saving...
Actually, it reinforces the constitution David. Or do our laws, regluations and rules only apply to the people in power? Then, I'm with Savo, if we don't follow our own rules, we become as contemptible as any other regime that commits crimes against it's own peoples.
Wilka
C-SPIN broadcasts the war party's agenda as 'Public Television'. Faux Noise is the house organ for the War Elite, keeping Sally Shophappy and Sam Sportsection in fear and in constant hatred of the 'Islamo-fascists'.
Remember color-coded terror alerts?
How stupid can a population BE??
I do hope other military personnel follow suite, if we are going to be the nation that we pride ourselves on being; then the truth needs to be found out- and appropriate action taken.
We are a nation that desperately needs healing. The investigations, which must be transparent, will go a long way to healing the anger and hatred on both sides.
If we don't, we'd be breaking our constitution, and it will have no further meaning whatsoever.
It's about time.
There is no way we can "win" wars in those countries unless we bomb them off the face of the earth which should not be an option cause neither of them attacked us. Keep in mind we invaded them. What would you call a win and how do we get there?
It's also good that we can now see how brutal, bloodthirsty, and uncivilized Americans are... or is murder, torture, and rape of prisoners OK when done by Americans?
Spencer, I fully agree with you.
The mess in Iraq and Afghanistan is due to American invasion.
When it comes to winning these two wars, good luck! Soviets couldn't do it in Afghanistan, there is no way America can either.... unless you exterminate everyone like in the case of Native Americans in the US... it wouldn't be the first time!
thanks for sharing
Still, I maintain hope.