US General Ricardo Sancez was considered to be in line for a fourth star in his new position as Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq. Photo by Middle East Online.
The Pentagon is seeking a replacement for Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, the top US commander in Iraq, a senior US defense official said Monday, noting the general already has been there 13 months. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the move to replace the general had no connection to the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. Sanchez has been under intense pressure over the past two months, grappling with a messy abuse scandal while battling Sunni and Shiite insurgencies and preparing for a transfer of sovereignty to Iraqis July 1.