Posted on 10/05/2009 7:41:35 AM PDT by peggybac
The relationship between President Barack Obama and the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been put under severe strain by Gen Stanley McChrystal's comments on strategy for the war.
According to sources close to the administration, Gen McChrystal shocked and angered presidential advisers with the bluntness of a speech given in London last week.
The next day he was summoned to an awkward 25-minute face-to-face meeting on board Air Force One on the tarmac in Copenhagen, where the president had arrived to tout Chicago's unsuccessful Olympic bi
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
It’s always refreshing when Generals hold more to the mission and the troops than to politicians.
That has yet to be proven.
It’s amazing how the Press can pivot so hypocritically seamlessly. Dissent amongst Generals, higher ups in the Pentagon against Bush = Patriotic. Dissent amongst the Generals, higher ups in the Pentagon against Obama = Treason.
Also notice how the General is leaning in, he is showing true interest while Obama is backing off and looking bored.
I don’t disagree.
>>> fear Viet Nam again. A gradual involvement with no winnin strategy and full of restraints on our troops. <<<<
How North Vietnam Won The War
Bui Tin Interviewed by Stephen Young
The Wall Street Journal, 3 August 1995
http://www.viet-myths.net/buitin.htm
Bui Tin, who served on the general staff of North Vietnam’s army, received the surrender of South Vietnam in Saigon on April 30, 1975. He later became editor of the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of Vietnam.
Q: Was the American antiwar movement important to Hanoi’s
victory?
A: It was essential to our strategy... Every day our leadership would listen to world news over the radio at 9 a.m. to follow the growth of the American antiwar movement. Visits to Hanoi by people like Jane Fonda, and former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and ministers gave us confidence that we should hold on in the face of battlefield reverses. We were elated when Jane Fonda, wearing a red Vietnamese dress, said at a press conference that she was ashamed of American actions in the war and that she would struggle along with us.
Q: Did the Politburo pay attention to these visits?
A: Keenly.
Q: Why?
A: Those people represented the conscience of America. The conscience of America was part of its war-making capability, and we were turning that power in our favor. America lost because of its democracy; through dissent and protest it lost the ability to mobilize a will to win.
Q: How could the Americans have won the war?
A: Cut the Ho Chi Minh trail inside Laos. If Johnson had granted [Gen. William] Westmoreland’s requests to enter Laos and block the Ho Chi Minh trail, Hanoi could not have won the war.
Q: What else?
A: We had the impression that American commanders had their hands tied by political factors. Your generals could never deploy a maximum force for greatest military effect.
On the contrary, Gen McChrystal's responsibility is to be completely candid about his military opinions both to the Commander-in-Chief and the Congress and the American People, for whom he works.
All his career, McChrystal was in Special Ops. Any warrior will tell you that your commander will cut your jewels off if you give a report other than the truth, or at least your very best take on the truth.
If there are multiple directions that can be taken, then you are to explain those options. Also, though, you are to provide your selection and the reasoning behind your choice.
I have no doubt that an Army ground commander has a better feel for the facts on the ground than any other politician or desk bound general could possibly have.
“As an expert on military insubordination, GEN McChrystal has not crossed the line.”
While not an “expert” as such - I would heartly agree that the general has (at least not yet) “crossed the line” -
...but would add that IMO, he will indeed resign if/when obama waffles too much
McChrystal = 25 minutes of 0bama's time as an afterthought.
I pray every night that our military will defend US against the communist and his administration if/when their support is needed.
excellent image and captions
Actually, he was reportedly directed not to issue a request for more troops. So I don't know if you are correct in that.
And he should question Obama. But it, IMO, does not matter who the POTUS is, a field or theater commander does not publicly question the orders he has been given.
What orders did he question? He was brought in to conduct a counterinsurgency and has been saying the same thing over and over again at his confirmation hearings and ever since. And his positions are entirely consistent with what Obama also said until he went wobbly a few weeks ago and we were left wondering what exactly our strategy is. But "orders"? What orders?
“What’s in Barry’s ear? A teleprompter?....”
Nope, he’s part of the BORG....
Could be a Bluetooth phone set, in any case, who’s on the other end and what’s he telling Obama to say?
How many Marines do you know of that served under Jones and have publicly commented about him?
By the way, freeper GunnyBob served under Jones.
And BO is not making eye contact indicating perhaps that he is intimidated by the General.
“Bruce Ackerman, an expert on constitutional law at Yale University”
This is the same left wing liberal that wrote an article demanding the impeachment of the legal advisor of President Bush who was confirmed as an appelate judge on the 9th Circuit, concerning the harsh interrogation techniques.
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