TAMUK alumni, Sanchez, publishes book on career, war By Staff Reports |
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Alumnus and retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded ground troops in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, has documented his experience in a book released last week entitled Wiser in Battle: A Soldier's Story. The book details his views on the Iraq War and reviews his rise from an impoverished Texas childhood to become the Army's highest-ranking Hispanic officer.
Sanchez has since been speaking out about the conduct of the Iraq War — especially about what he calls the Bush administration's "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan."
When Sanchez relinquished command of ground troops in Iraq to Gen. George Casey in 2004, investigations into torture at Abu Ghraib prison were being conducted. That scandal, and the capture of Saddam Hussein, played out on Sanchez's watch.
Though the Army ultimately cleared Sanchez of responsibility, a separate Army investigation concluded that he approved interrogation practices that led to some of the abuses. Sanchez says the criticisms levied against him were the result of political partisanship.
This past Sunday, on Jorge Ramos' Univision show "Al Punto (To the Point)," Sanchez emphatically denied that he had any knowledge of the torture.
He also said he felt that the fight in Iraq was justified at first because he and his men did not know that the Bush Administration had misled the American people about the weapons of mass destruction and other issues.
Javelina Alumni Association Officials said they are working on a book signing on campus to celebrate Sanchez's new book. They hope to hold the signing by June 30..