Posted on 08/04/2010 11:25:32 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army inspector general is investigating whether aides to former Afghanistan commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal were insubordinate when they made a series of derogatory comments about top civilian leaders to a Rolling Stone reporter, McClatchy Newspapers has learned.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
Yep.
Again, it is entirely the fault of McCrystal and his subordinates. Maybe it felt cathartic to speak to a reporter on how much they hated Obama, Biden and the rest of the administration.
However, at no time were they under the impression that they were speaking to anyone else but a reporter.
Dumbasses, all.
But no one paid attention to Hassan at Ft. Hood. Was McChrystal set up....It really doesn’t take much to get someone into a negative mood.
If McChrystal was “set up”, then it’s a good thing he’s gone.
I’d prefer a CO who can’t be maniuplated by a lowly reporter, and he should’ve known better. He appears to have had the PR smarts of General Patton.
Wha?? Disciplining anti-Obama members?
The Army should consider any member that is pro Obama to be just short of treason.
I’ll take gays in the service any day vs any liberal.
Kick them out.
Far out.
To the sun.
Watch ‘em burn.
I don't remember Hassan giving any interviews to Rolling Stone. Maybe I'm mistaken
"Was McChrystal set up....It really doesn’t take much to get someone into a negative mood."
It damn sure better be difficult for a reporter to get a Unified Combatant Commander into a "negative mood". Military officers need to maintain their military bearing at ALL TIMES, and especially when speaking to reporters, either on or off the record. What else don't you do? You don't go to the bar with a reporter, ever.
McChrystal and his subordinates only have themselves to blame. No one set them up.
But McChrystal was pro-Obama during the election season...or has that been debunked?
This administration fears a military coup? They got the General now they intend to trace any adverse remarks down to the lowest ranking member around the general? A purge? Interesting!
don’t remember Hassan giving any interviews to Rolling Stone. Maybe I’m mistaken
Perhaps we should recommend that the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard probe their members to measure their sentiments. I know that will not occur, because the military requires discipline and order, and Generals and Admirals do not want to hear bad things. When I was on active duty, an officer’s commissioning ceremony included swearing the following oath: “I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” Operative words: “Constitution” and “enemies, foreign and domestic” and “mental reservation.” That person in the White House is just going through the motions when it comes to the Constitution while doing everything possible to dismantle and corrupt the foundation of our country’s structure. One has to wonder what goes through the minds and spirits of people of good conscience. The boundary between order and chaos becomes far weaker when good people fail to do nothing!
I self censored my post... but it had something to do with jag, graham and being gay.
LLS
If President Obama actually got seriously angry at that, he must be a very weak, vain, and insecure man.
Well, I'm of the opinion that uniformed service members should follow orders, and not offer commentary on the competency of the civilian leadership, or lack thereof. We had an election. Obama won. On November 4, 2008 Barack Obama represented the will of the American people, and he will continue to represent the will of the American people until Jan. 20, 2013 around 12:00 pm, and that's all the military should worry about.
I frequently remind people that the US military was around LONG before Barack Obama, and they'll be around LONG after Barack Obama. Presidents come and go, but DoD is forever.
Lastly, with respect to McChrystal and his subordinates...if you read the interview, all they offer is pettiness and superficial comments on personality differences they have with Obama and Biden and a few employees at State. Not a SINGLE substantive policy difference is offered by those people who are either quoted on or off the record. Keep that in mind before rushing to the defense of these officers with VERY loose tongues.
IIRC, most of the comments came when they were out on the town. They put down a few drinks, got stupid and got their boss fired. I don’t know if that adds up to a disciplinary infraction or not, but I’m sure their G Staff gig is over.
Really? You must have missed the opening paragraph...
"The dinner comes with the position, sir," says his chief of staff, Col. Charlie Flynn.This isn't a a fraternity party, it's a theater of combat. What is the Unified Combatant Commander doing "flying the bird" to a subordinate officer IN THE PRESENCE OF A REPORTER? I don't care if he was joking. It's absent even a shred of military bearing.McChrystal turns sharply in his chair.
"Hey, Charlie," he asks, "does this come with the position?"
McChrystal gives him the middle finger.
McChrstal's comments weren't as bad as his subordinate's comments. BUT, McChrystal is the CO, and as such he sets the tone and is responsible for the professionalism of his junior officers. Is that fair? Probably not. But, there's nothing fair about being a commander of troops.
Yes, I think that's absolutely right. Could they make a 133 case? Maybe. Would it be worth it? No. There are more important things to worry about. BUT, David Petraeus doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who puts up with crap like this, ever.
About giving the finger…well, that reminds me of something that several German ex-WWII soldiers who became American POWs have independently told me: They couldn’t believe how little respect soldiers had for their officers, and how little discipline there was in the entire American army. Yet look who won the war…;-) It made a great impression on them and got them thinking. Victor Davis Hanson also often writes that it is the great strength of the armies of the Western world that they are not just an army of mindless YESSIR! drones, but people who have their own minds who are not afraid to speak up occasionally. I have always found that idea quite convincing.
Remember though, this was McChrystal giving the finger. No way for a 4-star general to act in the company of a Rolling Stone reporter.
I agree that the US military has been served well at times by a little insubordination. But, there a wide divide between when that insubordination is done behind closed doors, and when it's done in the pages of a magazine that clearly HATES AMERICA.
Ok, you certainly have a point there.
I'm sure you're right. Not least because the Democrats have been after his hash ever since he had the nerve to propose the Surge and then make it work. Of course, now that Barry has turned to him in desperation, that may change.
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