ARLINGTON, Va. — The American mission in Iraq is a “nightmare with no end in sight” because of political misjudgments after the fall of Saddam Hussein that continue today, a former chief of American-led forces said today.

A retired lieutenant general, Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded coalition troops for a year beginning June 2003, cast a wide net of blame for both political and military shortcomings in Iraq that helped open the way for the insurgency — such as disbanding the Saddam-era military and failing to cement ties with tribal leaders and quickly establish civilian government after Saddam was toppled.

He called current strategies — including the deployment of 30,000 additional forces earlier this year — a “desperate attempt” to make up for years of misguided policies in Iraq.

“There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight,” General Sanchez told a group of journalists covering military affairs.

General Sanchez avoided pointing his criticism at any single official or agency, but it appeared a broad indictment of White House policies and a lack of leadership in the Pentagon to oppose them. Such assessments — even by former Pentagon brass — are not new, but they have added resonance as debates over war strategy dominate the presidential campaign.

General Sanchez went on to offer a pessimistic view on the current American strategy against extremists will make lasting gains, but said a full-scale withdrawal also was not an option.

“The American military finds itself in an intractable situation … America has no choice but to continue our efforts in Iraq,” General Sanchez said.