Taliban leaders celebrate McChrystal's resignation

London Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | June 25, 2010 | Douglas Murray

[Schnucki]

I’ve been reading the Rolling Stone magazine piece that brought down General McChrystal and feel very unnerved by it. I know that the consensus dictated that, after remarks made largely by members of McChrystal’s team, the General simply had to go. But a number of things occur to me.

Firstly, is America sure it has enough top generals and is doing so well in Afghanistan and Iraq that it can simply dispose of any general tripped up in such a – pretty sneaky – way by the media? I tend not to have much sympathy for politicians caught like this. They spend their life politicking. But generals, though it’s helpful if they are politically savvy, have another rather important job on the side.

Secondly, it isn’t at all clear to me that this isn’t a shot in the foot for the coalition in Afghanistan. The Daily Beast is already reporting here that Taliban commanders are welcoming the sacking as a victory for them.

Thirdly, as with the Japanese in World War II who insisted their naval commanders had to go down with their ships, I’m not sure that a huge and valuable source of knowledge isn’t lost irretrievably when commanders are forced to go down with a story.

Anyhow – it appears to be uniformly agreed that a few comments in a nightclub couldn’t have been swept up or excused, and so the President accepted the NATO commander’s resignation. The fact that General Petraeus has taken over the vacant role is, however, cause for gratitude. Not least because for a moment I feared it might prove the next step in the remarkable career rise of Danny Alexander.

[nikos1121]

INteresting commentary to the article. I think the media once again fails to ask the simple questions of this president...

“President Obama, since McChrystal was in essence the head of our allied effort in Afghanistan, did you consult with them before making your decision to fire him?”

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A scalp on the Taliban lodge pole, courtesy of our “president.”

[DrC]

“is America sure it has enough top generals and is doing so well in Afghanistan and Iraq that it can simply dispose of any general”

Haven’t you heard? Top generals with McChrystal’s demonstrated skill and combat experience apparently are a dime a dozen. The challenge is finding the ones who either don’t view our weakling president with disdain and/or are willing to keep their mouth shut about it if they do.

It’s little wonder the Taliban are cheering as our “leader” keeps shooting himself in the foot. If the unequivocally liberal John Stewart has begun ridiculing the Oval Office occupant, you can only imagine how hard they are laughing in Iran, NK, Cuba, Venezuela and Osama bin Laden’s cave in Pakistan.

[DrC]

“did you consult with them before making your decision to fire him?””

No need to do this. Karzai had already made clear he strongly opposed sacking McChrystal. This administration is pathetically inept, but even they know not to ask a question whose answer could interfere with what they’ve already decided to do come hell or high water.

McChrystal insulted our thin-skinned president. This required his removal as a face-saving gesture to a CinC who otherwise would have appeared to be the world’s number 1 weenie. When the boss’s ego “must” be stroked, it matters little what this will do to the chances of success in a shooting war, the opinion of your enemies, the opinion of the world or the opinion of the public.

[DrC]

“did you consult with them before making your decision to fire him?””

No need to do this. Karzai had already made clear he strongly opposed sacking McChrystal. This administration is pathetically inept, but even they know not to ask a question whose answer could interfere with what they’ve already decided to do come hell or high water.

McChrystal insulted our thin-skinned president. This required his removal as a face-saving gesture to a CinC who otherwise would have appeared to be the world’s number 1 weenie. When the boss’s ego “must” be stroked, it matters little what this will do to the chances of success in a shooting war, the opinion of your enemies, the opinion of the world or the opinion of the public.