Top Army Commander in Iraq Complained of Poor Supply Situation, Document S

[seemslikeadream]

Top Army Commander in Iraq Complained of Poor Supply Situation, Document Shows

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 17, 2004; 6:30 PM

The top U.S. commander in Iraq complained to the Pentagon last winter that his supply situation was so poor that it threatened Army troops' ability to fight, according to an official document that has surfaced only now.

The lack of key spare parts for gear vital to combat operations, such as tanks and helicopters, was causing problems so severe, Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez wrote in a letter to top Army officials, that "I cannot continue to support sustained combat operations with rates this low."

Senior Army officials said that most of Sanchez's concerns have been addressed in recent months, but that they continue to keep a close eye on the problems he identified. The situation is "substantially better" now, said Gary Motsek, deputy director of operations for the Army Materiel Command.

Sanchez, who was the senior commander on the ground in Iraq from the summer of 2003 until the summer of 2004, said in his letter that Army units in Iraq were "struggling just to maintain . . . relatively low readiness rates" on key combat systems, such as M-1 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, anti-mortar radars and Black Hawk helicopters.

He also said units were waiting an average of 40 days for critical spare parts, which he noted was almost three times the Army's average. In some Army supply depots in Iraq, 40 percent of critical parts were at "zero balance," meaning they were absent from depot shelves, he said

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40321-2004Oct17.html

[drfemoe]

1. hmmmm

Sounds like they need a new Commander in Chief!
Let's get them one ..

[grasswire]

2. here's that LEAK we're looking for

...hopefully one of many.

HUGE STORY. HUGE STORY.

Hammer it, Dems. Be the echo chamber!

[grasswire]

3. the leaker

"A copy of Sanchez's letter was given to The Washington Post by a person familiar with the situation who was dismayed that front-line troops had not been adequately supplied."

[Kadie]

4. "The top U.S. commander in Iraq complained to the Pentagon last winter"

unbelievable.

How do these people sleep at night.

[crossroads]

12. I hope they don't!

:dem:

[Carla in Ca]

5. Rumor has it that Sanchez is getting another star!

Which is bad enough since he did a dismal job while in charge of Iraqi prisons. I wonder now if the promotion was to possibly keep him quiet? Hmmm.
Whatever the reason, we must keep this a top priority. We need to yell our outrage from the rooftops!

1,100 dead, thousands wounded
returned soldiers living in poverty
VA benefits cut/VA hospitals barely manage to provide adequate care
Troops beginning to speak out against the war, as well as relatives
No end to the madness is in sight/losing coalition backing
The world hates us

Rumsfeld said "The war will be over when the Iraqi people get tired of getting killed". What in the hell does that mean?

This is THE battle to fight to get Kerry into the WH.

[drfemoe]

15. get tired of getting killed?

That is the worst piece of irresponsible, reprehensible, total evil spew I have EVER HEARD!!!

How many freaking times can one get "tired of getting killed"?

Do you have a link for this? I'll go search meantime!

OG!! :cry:

edit:
Here ya Go! Read it and weep >>

"Iraqis are bring killed as they were yesterday and the day before and at some point the Iraqis will get tired of getting killed and we'll have enough Iraqi security forces that they can take over responsibility for governing that country and we'll be able to pare down the Coalition forces in the country, Rumsfeld said.
http://www.pulaskicountydemocrat.com/articles/2004/09/22/pcd/news07.txt

They sent some teams to the Olympics. They have a symphony and at the same time, amidst all those good things that are happening, people are being killed. Iraqis are being killed, as they were yesterday and the day before. At some point the Iraqis will get tired of getting killed and we’ll have enough of the Iraqi security forces that they can take over responsibility for governing that country and we’ll be able to pare down the coalition security forces in the country.
http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040914-secdef1302.html

[huckleberry]

6. This is a huge story on several levels --

for starters -

- bush keeps saying that Commanders and troops are getting everything they ask for
- if that wasn't true in Dec 2003, how can we believe it now?
- who is the leaker and will there be more leaks?

I'm sending this article to tweety, mr. potato head, aaron brown, etal.

[RamboLiberal]

16. The proof that troops are still not adquately supplied is

in the story of the unit that refused orders.

But as the soldiers involved in the refusal in Tallil and others begin to speak out, it is growing more apparent that the military has yet to solve the lack of training, parts and equipment that has riddled the military operation in Iraq from the outset, especially among National Guard and Reserve units.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/18/national/18guard.html?pagewanted=print&position=

Also, why were they ordered to truck contaminated fuel that was of no use?

[alarcojon]

7. Kick

and spread it far and wide. Together with this Annenberg survey of military families. Very eye-opening.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x912097

[proud patriot]

8. gosh this pisses me off

just where did all the money go ?

[The Magistrate]

9. What We See Here, My Friend

Is a deadly synergy between the folly of corporate styled management of a military enterprise, and the method of guerrilla war.

"Just in time" inventory management well work for an auto-parts chain or an assembler of stereo systems, but it is folly in a military context. Where there exists intelligent opposition to one's efforts, you cannot calculate to close tolerance what will be required, because you cannot know what the opposition may impose upon you; therefore there must be lavish stocks readily available at all times.

Guerrilla war concentrates on the disruption of supply lines, and will always succeed in large measure in hampering the flow of supplies. It is not a question of destroying convoys only: just the possibility convoys might be destroyed imposes great strain on the transport of supplies, slowing the frequency of convoys to ensure they are adequately escorted; slowing the pace at which they move, to guard against ambush and mines; and increasing the wear and tear on fighting equipment that must run with the convoys to escort them.

It takes seriously blithering amateurs to produce the degree of snafu afflicting U.S. forces in Iraq currently....

"The eagerness of green troops for action is not to be depended on."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[daleo]

11. Good points

Very logical. Rumsfeld thought he would re-write all the rules. It isn't that easy.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Now on Yahoo News. (RATE IT UP)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&u=/washpost/20041018/ts_washpost/a40321_2004oct17&printer=1

[Isere]

13. Big story...big time!

This was carried on the CBS and NBC news tonight. It's another Bush administration goof-up. Pass it on!

[juslikagrzly]

14. How much of this shit is because of privatizing

army resources with companies like Halliburton? god, what absolute shit!

[ezekiel333]

17. kick

[swag]

18. Monday Morning Kick

[seemslikeadream]

19. Kerry Statement on General Sanchez Letter

10/18/2004 10:27:00 AM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004; Web: http://www.johnkerry.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Sen. John Kerry released the following statement today:

"Just this morning, we learned that once again, the president's tough talk about always supporting the troops is nothing more than empty rhetoric.

"According to today's papers, the top U.S. Commander in Iraq pleaded with the Pentagon for critical supplies to counter the growing insurgency. Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez argued that without increased supplies, 'I cannot continue to support sustained combat operations.' The day after General Sanchez wrote his letter, George Bush went out and told the American people our troops were properly equipped.

"Despite the president's arrogant boasting that he's done everything right in Iraq and that he's made no mistakes, the truth is beginning to catch up with him.

"Just last week, General Tommy Franks admitted that disbanding the Iraqi army last year was a mistake and created a dangerous security vacuum. Ambassador Paul Bremer now admits the president didn't have enough troops on the ground to secure Iraq and that the White House ignored his warnings. Then when General Shinseki said we didn't have enough troops to get the job done, he was sent packing. Republican Senators, Lugar, Hagel and McCain, have all complained about the mismanagement and incompetence of the president and his team. And now Iraq is a breeding ground for terrorism.

"But despite all these facts, the President still clings to the idea that we're making progress, that things are getting better in Iraq and that his policy is working. Mr. President, when it comes to the war in Iraq, it's time to come clean and acknowledge what your military leaders have been telling you privately. You can run from the facts, but you can't hide the truth from the American people. The bottom line, Mr. President: your mismanagement of the war has made Iraq and America less safe and less secure.

"As president, I will never rush to war without a plan to win the peace. I will never send our soldiers into harms way without the best training and equipment in the world. I will never allow our policy to be hijacked by ideologues at the expense of the best advice from our best military commanders.

"Most of all, I will always level with the American people. Our troops deserve the truth, the American people deserve the truth, and we deserve a fresh start in Iraq."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38317

[Sleepless In NY]

20. kick

[drfemoe]

22. chilly bumps!

Awesome statement from Kerry ...

[Carla in Ca]

21. Kick for the evening...this is big!

<http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/18/94314/129>

Where is the passion for this that we show regarding Sinclair?
I don't get it.

[drfemoe]

23. fly ball

one more time .. Even though we don't agree with this military action, how can those young men and women be denied what they need to carry out their 'mission'?