Posted on 06/21/2010 7:47:03 PM PDT by kristinn
Aides to the top U.S. general in Afghanistan insulted some of President Barack Obama's closest advisers, calling one a "clown" and another a "wounded animal," in an article to be published Friday in Rolling Stone magazine.
The article also quotes an aide describing the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal's "disappointment" with his initial one-on-one meeting with Obama last year.
Quoting all the McChrystal aides anonymously, the article portrays a split between the U.S. military and Obama's advisers at an extremely sensitive moment for the Pentagon, which is fending off criticism of its strategy to turn around the nearly nine-year-old Afghan war.
The Pentagon had no immediate comment about the article, which has been brought to the attention of senior officials.
It quotes a member of McChrystal's team making jokes about Vice President Joe Biden, who was seen as critical of the general's efforts to escalate the conflict and who had favored a more limited counter-terrorism approach.
"Biden?" the aide was quoted as saying. "Did you say: Bite me?"
Another aide called White House National Security Adviser Jim Jones, a retired four star general, a "clown" who was "stuck in 1985."
It quoted an adviser to McChrystal dismissing an early meeting with Obama as a "10-minute photo op."
"Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. The boss was pretty disappointed," the adviser told the magazine.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
maybe he got into some of the goodies they grow over there...
/s
What an upside down world it has become. Instead of the hippy musician war protesters of 40 years ago, now we'll have high level military staffers singing singing:
... the thrill we've never known
Is the thrill that'll get you when you get your picture
On the cover of the Rolling Stone
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100622/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan_55
21 mins ago
..US commander in Afghanistan apologizes for article
KABUL, Afghanistan – The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has apologized for a magazine profile in which he criticizes the U.S. administration.
An article out this week in “Rolling Stone” magazine depicts Gen. Stanley McChrystal as a lone wolf on the outs with many important figures in the Obama administration and unable to convince even some of his own soldiers that his strategy can win the war.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal said in a statement issued Tuesday the article “was a mistake reflecting poor judgment.” He said he has enormous respect for the Obama administration, and the piece fell short of his principles of personal honor and professional integrity.
********************************
From this article:
McChrystal was quoted as saying he felt “betrayed” by the leak of a classified cable from U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry last year. The cable raised doubts about sending more troops to shore up an Afghan government already lacking in credibility.
“I like Karl, I’ve known him for years, but they’d never said anything like that to us before,” McChrystal was quoted as saying in the article.
“Here’s one that covers his flank for the history books. Now if we fail, they can say, ‘I told you so.’”
****************************************
McChrystal said it. McChrystal did it. McChrystal is doing as much CYA as he can. He is a complete failure as a commander. Now he is failing as a politician too.
He turned his aides loose to criticize bam and the administration and those aides quoted him. He spoke for himself as well. And now?????
But as they say, once you pin on the first star it's all politics.
Semper fi anyway.....
no one stands by what they say now...bend over and apologize
Obama could fire him ...he could get rich writing or working corporate
and soon enough vindicated by events
bullseye
No one.
sure, save Mother Earth by manufacturing a product that is near impossible to dispose of
If anyone has a Facebok account and is interested in following Yon's ongoing reporting of the whole sordid mess, then here is his link:
testing water to see how other rank and file military feel?
McChrystal's first mistake was voting for Obama.
Great to see you Jeff!
Afghanistan is a total cluster-f*ck now, given that the Afghans know we don't have the staying power to remain until it's fixed and we let the left push us into undermining Musharraf in Pakistan. Musharraf was a thug, but he was at least a reasonably Western-oriented thug. The Bhuto and post Bhuto governments in Pakistan are weak, and under the influence of radical Islamists. Best thing we could do at this point would be to give the Indians a green light to put paid to Pakistan.
I think Hillary is now too old looking.
The candidate needs to “sporty”. Shes a nagging drag.
Excellent quotes!!!
And that statement right there speaks volumes about the respect Zero has for our military -- ESPECIALLY while deployed in harms' way: he didn't even bother to listen to their operations' commander.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I sincerely hope you understand that there are millions of the rest of rest who highly respect what you do. You earn it - each and every day; you deserve better.
How wonderful to see you posting again, Jeff.
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