McChrystal Balls [Must Read Editorial]

London Times ^ | June 22, 2010

[Steelfish]

McChrystal Balls

President Obama should reprimand his general, but listen to his complaints June 23 2010

General Stanley McChrystal, commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, has a reputation as the most disciplined soldier of his generation, and one of the brightest. The asceticism of his daily life, to keep himself ready for any threat, is now legendary: an eight-mile run, only one meal and just four hours sleep. It is understandable, then, that yesterday’s revelations stunned Washington — and Kabul. The general had so far forgotten the cost of careless talk that he had griped about the President and senior White House officials to a freelance reporter from Rolling Stone magazine, and over the course of some days, allowed his aides to do so too.

The most abusive remarks, such as calling General Jim Jones, National Security Adviser, “a clown”, came from unnamed aides. So did a description of the first meeting between President Barack Obama and General McChrystal, at which the general is said to have found the President unprepared and disappointing. But General McChrystal himself complained that he could not face opening another e-mail from Richard Holbrooke, US special envoy, and that he had felt “betrayed” by a leaked critique of his strategy from Karl Eikenberry, US Ambassador to Afghanistan. He is sharply critical of the President for taking three months last year to decide to send more troops. His tone towards his civilian counterparts is one of exasperation, sometimes contempt.

The overall portrait is devastating: that senior military commanders are mockingly critical of top officials in Washington, and of the President himself. That rings true, from many reports. Clearly, General McChrystal was guilty of extraordinary folly.

[yoe]

General McChrystal and his men and their kin have had it up to the eye-balls with the politicians and their Rules of Engagement. Those rules have killed more of our Treasure than can be imagined. McCain, who was truly tortured has turned all forgiving and righteous about what is torture leaving those on the field of battle to die needlessly because of his meltdown. Other arm chair Kum-by-ya Washington clueless have put restraints on our warriors that get them wounded or killed with regularity. I suspect a man like McChrystal, a man willing to lay down his life for his country rather than the Washington Vote....I suspect this courageous man is trying to save the lives of his men.

(Rules of Engagement USA)

I heard one of our educated Obama people declare that the enemies ROE were part of the Geneva Convention...............

[EBH]

McChrystal was foolish, and rude, but he was right

And his little folly with the media has exposed the CIC with a dangerous weakness to our enemies. All of this should have been handled quietly.

[spectre]

LOL!

[cajungirl]

I keep thinking McC was an incredible doofus for allow RS into his circle for a month.

But then I remember he is from Black ops.

I just don’t know about him. Sure there is no insubordination but this whole thing just turns my stomach.

A smart general? A doofus? A saavy black ops guy? A patriot?

I don’t know about Mc,,

[beachn4fun]

Maybe he’s another in a long list of generals who have gotten pissed off that the administration is not letting them do the job. Why else have we seen so many “assigned” to solve the Afghan crisis?

I say it’s about time to say the hell with it and let’s get out of Afghan. Seems THEY don’t really want to fix their own problems. Let the middle east solve the middle east problems.

[Senator_Blutarski]

And his little folly with the media has exposed the CIC with a dangerous weakness to our enemies. All of this should have been handled quietly.

I strongly disagree. Our enemies knew exactly how weak Obama is many months ago. The purpose of this exercise is to awaken the American people to the weakness of Obama.

[MortMan]

I would like to know what his core beliefs are before I promoted his candidacy, myself. There are senior officers who have stepped into politics under both the liberal and conservative banners.

[Personal Responsibility]

There is no way McChrystal didn’t know it was on the record. Come on now....

[dennisw]

I don’t know about Mc,,>>>>>>>>

He’s not perfect. He’s only a giant among pygmies

[Rummyfan]

Marking.....

[Leisler]

Except for lying, in print, about the Tilman fiasco, telling troops no Burger King for you, but I’ll get drunk, repeatedly with a Rolling Stones( wtf? ) writer cause there’s a war on and I’m a running fool( rolls eyes ) and am so politically attuned that I couldn’t handle my own mouth. Yeah. Genius.

[OldDeckHand]

""If you are going to fall on your sword...do it in such a way there can be no doubt and do it very publicly.""

But not in Rolling Stone magazine. Serious men with serious disagreements with command speak to serious journalists. You're not going to find serious journalists at Rolling Stone.

Moreover, what substantive policy disagreements can you find in that article? None, nada, zip, zero, zilch. Instead, McChrystal criticizes personalities. How about a critique of the rules of engagement, or the inability to engage enemy forces wherever they are or whenever they are found? No such criticisms come from McChrystal.

McChrystal may be a soldier's soldier and an excellent special forces operator, but in this interview with these comments, he comes off as petty. You don't fall on your sword in a flurry of ad hominem attacks. You go out making cogent, substantive policy comments. McChrystal doesn't do that, at all.

[Steelfish]

Nice post. Thanks!

[green iguana]

President Obama should listen to the wake-up call from Kabul.

I'm laughing so hard I can barely type.

Bambi's incapable of that.

[green iguana]

McChrystal’s “rules of engagement” in Afghanistan leave a lot to be desired.

His rules of engagement come from above. It's one of the reasons why he considers the administration to be incompetent.

[night reader]

That photo looks like the source of a "Label this photo" all by itself.

[Smokin' Joe]

Something is seriously amiss here.

Either the General or a ranking staffer made the fundamental mistake of thinking that all Americans were on the same side.

Regardless of who he cast his personal ballot for, the fact remains that those who would do injury to this country will use anyone in any venue they can to weaken it--and that includes their 'own' getting thrown under the bus if they impugn the vanity of dear leader.

So much for 'truth to power'.

It is sad that someone so dedicated to the life is going to lose their job over the remarks reported, and that alone makes me wonder if the General is indeed falling on his sword to bring about awareness of the Administration's handling of the war. Any remark worth getting fired over will be in the press, and that is one way to get the word out. Such would indicate a dedication to duty which transcends personal gain or glory.

I'll wait for those who have served under the man to chime in before I decide what is most likely--they will have seen firsthand and have a better idea.

Had Obama even run a lemonade stand, he'd know the people where the rubber meets the road often have choice comments about 'management', and sometimes those comments are justified, even if in this case they are political hot potatoes which can only burn the person(s) who made them.

[Osage Orange]

Double that!

[Osage Orange]

I would loved to had heard the conversation between Obama and McChrystal......

[anglian]

“I have been posting about McC since he was appointed top dog. I have been posting about McC since he was appointed top dog.” “His ROE
His strategy
HIS failure Many DEAD WARRIORS later.”

Could you provide some examples where McChrystal was directly responsible for these deaths? A couple of articles with date - location - of incidents would be fine. Thanks.