Richard E. Austin VFW Post 10592 Official blog

Sanchez, who spent a tumultuous year as the top U.S. commander in Iraq, made the remarks at a veterans summit sponsored by U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Corpus Christi Democrat.

About 200 veterans and their families attended the event. They gave Sanchez a standing ovation and mobbed him afterward for autographs.

"My assessment is that we have a crisis in national political leadership," Sanchez said. "When will America recognize the danger we face? When will the corrosive partisanship of American politics end and allow for a bipartisan solution to arguably the most dangerous threat our nation has faced in over 60 years?"

After his speech, Sanchez wouldn't name names, but told The Associated Press he was referring to "the most senior leadership in our nation."

"We have failed as a nation to bring together a grand strategy and that is creating a large part of the difficulty we face in this current war effort," he said.

Sanchez became the senior U.S. commander in Iraq in June 2003, two months after the fall of Baghdad, and held the post until June 2004. He retired in November 2006 after 33 years.

Sanchez was faulted by some for leadership failures in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. He was not accused of any misconduct but was criticized by some for not doing more to avoid mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.

Sanchez said Saturday he is not surprised that the U.S. still has a presence in Iraq, nor is he surprised at current troop levels. But, he said, focusing on troop numbers will not end the conflict.

"We can't focus on the military element of power to solve this war," he said after his speech.

During his address, Sanchez said "tremendous work" has been done for veterans, but he also pointed out the challenge of post-traumatic stress disorder, which he said service members must think of as an injury and not as a "matter of manhood."

"We must not abandon today's warriors," he said. "This must become a matter of national priority."