Photo: Getty
General Stanley McChrystal, the man in charge in Afghanistan, has been summoned to the White House. It would seem he was stitched up by the popular American magazine Rollingstone although surely he knew that being in the company of a magazine writer for several days wasn't a smart idea.
I've read the article and don't see anything which necessitates an apology - nothing said by the General is a sacking offence. Yet, the President is upset and demands his military chief leave his post and nip the few thousand miles for a reprimand or the sack. Can't have the military top brass criticising the civilian top brass can we?
There are all sorts of rumours flying about the American media. He 'could face court marshall' says one paper and suggests that he would end up sitting behind a desk like the disgraced Canadian Brigadier General Dan Menard, who was speedily removed from his post in Afghanistan.
Another rumour is that he will offer to resign, but will he?
He has shown exceptionally poor judgement in this case and it's not the first time, but the US is at war and thousands of US military depend upon this man's decisions. It's a crucial time in Afghanistan right now and the possible departure of McChrystal is just bizarre. Obama should look a little closer to home and allow his military chief to get on with his job.
Why has a magazine article acquired so much attention from the White House? I can only think President Obama can't accept criticism and is fairly thin-skinned. Not good attributes for a man who likes to be thought of as the leader of the western world.
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22 comments:
Why,
Maybe a very unpopular President clinging by his socialist fingers to a deepy conservative USA, knowing full well a single term in office is looking very likely and to branded a single term President would send him to the history books as a failure.
So best also try to screw over a Britsh oil company and throw the word British all over the place, but keep quiet that 43% of shares are owned by Americans.
So then a Military Man because we all love the "Stars and Stripes" and well lets take a big scalp because he has dared to go against the flag.
What crap and what total desparation.
I hope McChrystal stays.
SR I've got deep reservations about McC's methodology however this has a Stalnist show trial feel to it. Very understandable if you know Barry's background and indoctrination. As I've said repeatedly the troops are there to cause maximum chaos,this setup adds to that dynamic, they have no mision with clear victory or endgame in sight. McC should never have mentioned "What's your real handle" Holbrooke, trouble maker extraordinaire.
All troops home now. They are not on a mission that any of us with sound minds can consider just.
Breaking news on the internet is that the general has offered his resignation - though whether it will be accepted is another matter
of course. But from what I have read of General M and his background, he is more than capable of telling Mr Obama where to stick his Oval Office. More generally, there seems to be widespread disaffection amongst the US military with what is perceived as the President's attempts to micro manage a war/situation which he really knows nothing about. One would have thought that a frank telephone call would have resolved all issues in this case - or is it a case of control freakery and over sensitivity of Brownian proportions?
Gildas the Monk
Well in the company of military people, I'd not want to make offer an opinion contradictory to what you guys think. Clearly you know a lot more than I do about it.... but I noted Subrosa, that you said that he had shown exceptionally poor judgment ... and it's not the first time.
I'm just wondering if I had a son out there, would I want his multi-thousand dollar boss to be someone who shows, on a regular basis, exceptionlly poor judgment?
I don't think there are many military people here tris! Certainly I am a man of the cloth, not of war! My observations as to the state of US military thinking are purely based on what I have read and heard. However, General M does have something of a reputation for being a pretty smart cookie, and having read the article, I can't say I found it too out of order.
Gildas the Monk
Obama is starting to make Bush look like a half decent President. Slowly but surely we are seeing what a socialist with a chip on his shoulders can do when in charge of governing a country. Brown was one fortunately he has been seen off, Obama another one needs getting rid of too.
It scares me a little to think that an American President can be so close ( or even appear to be close ) to losing control over one of his Generals in the field.
Put it another way , if this were a Soviet general shortly after the cracks appeared in the USSR , how would you feel about it ?
Or do we just put it down to McCs' naievety and Obamas over sensitivity and pretend nothing is wrong at all ? ..............
I too hope he stays LotF. It now seems Karzai has told Obama there must be continuity in Afghanistan.
Well said Incoming. Can't disagree with a word.
It does appear like control freakery doesn't it gildas. What amazes me is that Obama has such little regard for the war his country initiated that he can insist the head man can fly thousands of miles just to be told off. Arrogance and abuse of power methinks.
I don't hold with some of his policies tris and if you read some articles, McCrystal isn't well like by his men, but this war can't afford a change at the top right now. Not for making a few silly (and perhaps honest) remarks about politicians.
I think tris is referring to a few of us who have an interest in military matters, for one reason or another, gildas.
He is isn't he Antisthenes. Even the British press have eased up on the idolising. You're point does show he could be dangerous though.
No Sandy, if we put it down to that then we become on a par with them and we must not reach that depth. We need to keep watching closely although, as you know, the US are the best spinmasters in the world. Trouble is their spokesmen aren't so good at controlling their emotions on TV.
SR got it in a one the gildas. I was really referring to Subrosa herself and to LoTF, both of whom have, I know, personal knowledge of the military.
I only express an opinion on these matters: they are professionals with some measure,at least, of expertise in the subject.
I bow to their greater knowlege in these matters as I am sure they do to my knowledge of matters relating to employment and employability matters.
Jings Tris, I'm no professional in this subject - just an interested bystander. The professionals are LotF, CD et al.
Sorry SR. I thought you had some professional experience with the military. My mistake, I maybe mixed you up with someone else .... oooooops!
I should stop commenting on things. I keep on getting it all wrong these days... Too busy, I guess.
You're right Tris, I did but my experience is long ago now, although things never change speedily in the MoD. So sorry to have confused you, entirely my fault. The others I mentioned are up to date with issues on the ground and have current experience. I'm always willing to learn from them.
You don't get it wrong, it was a misunderstanding in this instance.
Keep being busy though. ;)
Oops that reads badly Tris. By saying keep being busy I mean it's good to be busy and involved with things - otherwise you might watch a football match today or something daft like that. :)
Gotcha SR.
I thought the painkillers were starting to affect my brain!!!!
As for watching the match....what match!!??!?!?!***!
The boss might be wrong, but he's always the boss.
But not for long at this rate Joe.
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