Ricardo S. Sanchez
1951-
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 V Corps 1st Armed Division 2nd Brigade

Lieutenant General Ricardo S. Sanchez (born 1951) is a retired United States Army general who served as the V Corps commander of coalition forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004. He was the highest-ranking Hispanic in the United States Army when he retired on November 1, 2006. At the time of his retirement, Lieutenant General Sanchez called his career a casualty of the Abu Ghraib scandal.^[1] Soccer redirects here. ... ht: 5-9 wt: 160 DOB: May 27, 1982 hometown: Guadalajara, Mexico Ricardo Pascual Sanchez Moreno joins the Victory following a stint at Chivas in Mexico. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 480 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1721 × 2151 pixel, file size: 1. ... Rio Grande City is a city located in Starr County, Texas, United States. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I) replaced Combined Joint Task Force 7 on May 15, 2004. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps—is a corps of the United States Army. ... The 1st Armored Division —nicknamed “Old Ironsides”— is the standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Wiesbaden, Germany. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps—is a corps of the United States Army. ... Hispanic Americans (Spanish: Hispano Americano) are Americans of Hispanic ethnicity who largely identify with the Hispanic cultural heritage. ... The United States Army is the largest, and by some standards oldest, established branch of the armed forces of the United States and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse Beginning in 2004, accounts of abuse, torture, rape[1] and homicide[2][3] of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq (also known as Baghdad Correctional Facility) came to public attention. ...

Early life and education

Born into a poor Mexican American family in Rio Grande City, Texas, Sanchez studied hard throughout school. 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. 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. The ethnonym Mexican-American describes United States citizens of Mexican ancestry (14 million in 2003) and Mexican citizens who reside in the US (10 million in 2003). ... Rio Grande City is a city located in Starr County, Texas, United States. ... University of Texas redirects here. ... The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program of the United States armed forces present on college campuses to recruit and educate commissioned officers. ... Texas A&M University redirects here. ... Kingsville is a city in Kleberg County, Texas, United States. ...

Army career

Sanchez became a platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 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 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on August 5, 1917, and was organized on August 25, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia. ... Troopers of the 82nd training on Fort Bragg Paratroopers in training at Fort Bragg Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke Counties, North Carolina, U.S., near Fayetteville. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Carolinian Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th in the US  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (340 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (900 km)  - % water 9. ... This article is about the Korean civilization. ...

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. Shortly after the Gulf War, Sanchez was promoted to Colonel and given command of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division. Afterwards, he served on the staff of U.S. Southern Command, first as deputy chief of staff then as director of operations. Lieutenant Colonel is a rank of the United States armed forces which is currently used by the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, and United States National Guard. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan Al-Majid, Hussein Kamel Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian... This article is about the city of Basra. ... Please see Colonel for other countries which use this rank Insignia of a United States Colonel Colonel is a rank of the United States armed forces. ... The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army —nicknamed “The Big Red One” after its shoulder patch—is the oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. ...

On July 10, 2001, by now a general, Sanchez became commander of V Corps' 1st Armored Division. He held that position for nearly two years before assuming command of the entire corps on June 14, 2003. On this date he also became commander of coalition ground forces in the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Unit crest of the United States Army V Corps, the Victory Corps. ... The 1st Armored Division —nicknamed the Old Ironsides— is an armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Wiesbaden, Germany. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article deals with the post-invasion period in Iraq and its occupation. ...

Commander of Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq.

Download high resolution version (589x650, 79 KB)Lt. ... Download high resolution version (589x650, 79 KB)Lt. ...

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 (June 18, 1964 Baghdad – July 22, 2003 Mosul), (Arabic: ) was the eldest son of Saddam Hussein and his first wife, Sajida Talfah. ... Qusay Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti (Arabic: قصي صدام حسين ) (or Qusai) (May 17, 1966 – July 22, 2003) was the second son of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ...

He was in command when the abuse of prisoners occurred most notably at Abu Ghraib prison. 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. Abu Ghraib cell block The Abu Ghraib prison (Arabic: سجن أبو غريب; also Abu Ghurayb) is in Abu Ghraib, an Iraqi city 32 km (20 mi) west of Baghdad. ...

Sanchez was succeeded as commander of allied ground forces in Iraq by a four-star general: former Army Vice Chief of Staff George Casey. General George Casey General George William Casey, Jr. ...

Disunity in leadership

L. Paul Bremer was the leader of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. 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] Lewis Paul Bremer III (born September 30, 1941), known as Paul Bremer and also nicknamed Jerry Bremer, was named Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq following the Iraq War of 2003, replacing Jay Garner on May 6, 2003. ...

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." ^[3] On May 5, 2006 Sanchez denied ever authorizing interrogators to "go to the outer limits". Sanchez said he had told interrogators: "...we should be conducting our interrogations to the limits of our authority." Sanchez called the ACLU: "...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] The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non_governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. ... Nearly sixty countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation, which sets rules on governmental secrecy. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non_governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. ...

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. Kaleck acts as an advocate for more than 30 human rights organizations as well as 11 former prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Wolfgang Kaleck is a German attorney, who, on November 14, 2006, charged Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Alberto Gonzales, Barbara Fast, William J. Haynes, II, John Yoo, David Addington, Walter Wojdakowski, Stephen Cambone, Ricardo S. Sanchez, Thomas Pappas, Marc Warren, Geoffrey Miller (general), and Jay Bybee for their involvement in the... See Abu Ghraib prison and Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse. ... Detainees upon arrival at Camp X-Ray, January 2002 Guantánamo Bay detainment camp serves as a joint military prison and interrogation center under the leadership of Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO), has occupied a portion of the United States Navys base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba since 2002. ...

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. Sanchez returned to Germany where he continued as Commanding General, V Corps. 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. He was not nominated; the position went to General Bantz Craddock. General George Casey General George William Casey, Jr. ... The V Corps (Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps—is a corps of the United States Army. ... USSOUTHCOM emblem The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM, or informally: SOUTHCOM) is a Unified Combatant Command responsible for all United States military activities in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin (except Cuba and Puerto Rico, which are the responsibility of United States Northern Command). ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse Beginning in 2004, accounts of abuse, torture, rape[1] and homicide[2][3] of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq (also known as Baghdad Correctional Facility) came to public attention. ...

Sanchez led 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. 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. Peter W. Chiarelli is a United States Army lieutenant general who assumed command of the Multi-National Corps - Iraq in January 2006. ...

On 6 September 2006, Sanchez relinquished command of V Corps in a ceremony at Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg, Germany. 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. The V Corps (Fifth Corps)—nicknamed the Victory Corps—is a corps of the United States Army. ... General David McKiernan speaking. ...

Sanchez retired on 1 November 2006, culminating 33 years of Army service. Sanchez now lives in his home state of Texas. is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ...

Author

On 2008-05-06 HarperCollins Publishers released Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story, a memoir by General Sanchez and Donald T. Phillips.^[5] 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Collins was a Scottish printing company founded by a schoolmaster, William Collins, in Glasgow in 1819. ...

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.^[6] 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Scottish student radio station, see Fresh Air (Edinburgh). ... 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 and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio. ... NPR logo For other meanings of NPR see NPR (disambiguation) National Public Radio (NPR) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that sells programming to member radio stations; together they are a loosely organized public radio network in the United States. ...

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:

Sanchez went on to criticize the partisanship that has characterized America's political leadership on Iraq^[8]:

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

The Telegraph is a Knight Ridder newspaper in Macon, Georgia, and is the primary print news organ in Middle Georgia. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Ricardo Sanchez

• 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