Replies

More McChrystal [Rich Lowry]

I’ve now read the piece, which — as you might expect — is very defeatist. I’ll make some more observations later, but it’s worth recalling that — whatever his media-management skills — McChrystal is an extraordinarily brave man. Rolling Stone reminds us of this:

He went out on dozens of night-time raids during his time in Iraq, unprecedented for a top commander, and turned up on missions unannounced, with almost no entourage. “The f—-ing lads love Stan McChrystal,” says a British officer who serves in Kabul. “You’d be out in Somewhere, Iraq, and someone would take a knee beside you, and a corporal would be like ‘Who the f—- is that?’ And it’s f—-ing Stan McChrystal.”

And there’s this from Afghanistan:

In March, McChrystal traveled to Combat Outpost JFM — a small encampment on the outskirts of Kandahar — to confront such accusations from the troops directly. It was a typically bold move by the general. Only two days earlier, he had received an email from Israel Arroyo, a 25-year-old staff sergeant who asked McChrystal to go on a mission with his unit. “I am writing because it was said you don’t care about the troops and have made it harder to defend outselves,” Arroyo wrote.

Within hours, McChrystal responded personally: “I’m saddened by the accusation that I don’t care about soldiers, as it is something I suspect any soldier takes both personally and professionally — at least I do. But I know perceptions depend upon your perspective at the time, and I respect that every soldier’s view is his own.” Then he showed up at Arroyo’s outpost and went on a foot patrol with the troops — not some bulls—-t photo-op stroll through a market, but a real live operation in a dangerous war zone.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTE2YzM1NTk4ZDk4NjIwMDQ4YmU5MmZiOTE0NmJkNDA=