Gen. Stanley McChrystal is in some OMG deep soup. Rush is all over it, as are the military blogs. In fact, the headline I’ve chosen for this post is a quote from Laughing Wolf at the eminently popular Blackfive.net. Why is he in deep kimshee? This Rolling Stone Magazine feature piece.
Tonight on my radio show, we’re talking to military historian and author of the recently released “New Dawn” — Richard S. Lowry who, I’m sure, will have plenty to say about this explosive, career-ender for the General.
I’ll let those in uniform give their take on it. For me? The truth hurts.
The news this morning is that General McChrystal has both issued a preemptory apology for a forthcoming article/interview in Rolling Stone Magazine, and that he has been recalled from Afghanistan — apparently because of what is being reported may be in that interview.
Anyone who has done any reading on the situation in Afghanistan would be understanding of frustration with Eikenberry (see link on recall above), much less frustration with the administration, on the part of McChrystal and staff. That said, it seems a tad bit unwise to let loose on everyone in an interview while still in the middle of the fight. In point of fact, if the interview is even half of what is being belled in advance, then the fecal matter will be hitting the rotary impeller at warp speed. Even if it is not, expect to see this used to savage not just McChrystal but all military efforts. In fact, I will bet right now that his career is over, regardless of the content as politics will rule the day and there are many in political circles that want his scalp.
Which brings me to my final point on judgment and possible lack thereof. Who thought doing a frank and/or candid political interview with Rolling Stone while you are in the middle of the fight was a good idea? I can empathize with the frustration of not being given what you asked for and needed to do the job, or in finding yourself being attacked by the person who is supposed to be helping you and instead is doing everything they can openly or otherwise to block you, and in not seeing your ideas translated out and done as you desire. Yet, you don’t do something like this unless either you are already gone (and even then it’s not a good idea because of collateral damage), or all is already lost. So, was this just incredibly poor judgment on someones part in agreeing to the interview, or are other things in play?
I will withhold judgment until the article is out and some other facts are in evidence. Yet, I will be very honest in saying that my respect for Gen. McChrystal and his judgment (and of the staff who thought this interview a good idea) has already been diminished.
LW
Remember “Laurel and Hardy”…”Abbott and Costello” and all the great comedy teams of the past? They provided laughter for millions of us. And now we have “Obama and Biden”. Unfortunately, they are nothing to laugh about. And General Stanley McChrystal is finding out the hard way. Granted, he should not have said what he said in Rolling Stones. But too often the ludicrous becomes so obvious that it must be seen for what it is. The comedy team of Obama and Biden would have been great on the stage. Too bad they were not on it when it left. If incompetency were a requirement to run a nation, then O&B have succeeded beyond all expectations. However, in their defense, let it be known that I am a 77 year old who never reached the rarified heights necessary to dictate to a nation. I am glad. Because such a position would have placed me in a situation where I could make a complete “ass” of myself. And, because of the lack of necessary experience, I probably would. Please…I am not reflecting on the current adminstration. I am only suggesting that we all have the opportunity to do that in the next, and succeeding, elections. And, to General McChrystal…you made an egregious error in being too honest. Thank you for your service and, please, continue to speak your mind in retirement. Afterall, isn’t that what America is all about? Freedom of speech..no matter the personal cost?
Bill
Gee, I feel better now. Think the White House will reprimand me and take away my voting rights?
something’s up …… a need for a new mission in the afghan region ???? Ya
just don’t see these kinds of verbal mistakes made unless its strategic in
nature under these regiments .
ASK- consider the following. The military is seeing the UnAmerican Barack that was elected. From Obama’s destructive nature to hatred of this country, they are putting him in the corner. Just like with Lakin, this General is calling out Obama on the carpet. What better way to expose the fraud called Obama then having him fire his own hand picked Commander in the Field. The Joint Chiefs of Staff can’t disregard this as a minor inconvenience. McChrystal’s men are dying everyday and Obama is pawning the blood from his own hands onto McChrystal.
Just like the lying help to Arizona, Obama was only looking for time to get his DOJ thugs in line to file a lawsuit. Obama is a sham and just like a cockroach scurries when the light of truth hits him. Obama had no intentions of sending anyone or anything to Arizona. The only thing bigger then the spillage in the Gulf, is the spillage coming from Obama’s mouth.
I can’t figure out what the General said that isn’t true. He was absolutely right about Eikenberry covering his flank so he can later say he was ahead of the event curve… and McChrystal didn’t criticize the president or his war plan… this was mostly a story about what military aides said about presidential aides.. who cares about that?
At any rate, it’s against UCMJ to criticize your CIC, congress, and any other American official relevant to what you’re doing. Warfighters can’t talk like that, not because of what Obama could do but because of what the Pentagon will do.
Carelessness? Or deliberateness? We’ll have to wait and see what develops. A friend speculates it might be something more, having to do with Kandahar and the fact that (he says he knows) we have it surrounded. Obama looking for a way to undermine it? My understanding is that the RS article was not set to be released until next week, but was leaked now. Why? Watch and learn, I guess.
A retired Army officer sent the following observation in an email:
Andrea,
My first thoughts/reactions.
The proof will be in the puddin’. Let’s see if McChrystal’s balls are crystal (no pun intended) or brass or if he will recant….and lets also see if the other uniformed “leaders” take his back….and weigh in. It will be a measure of the depth of integrity of the military leadership. Candidly, if past example is a predictor of future action, then McChrystal will be toast and he will be abandoned by the uniformed leadership. Hope I am wrong, but my view is there is just too much “Career-ism”
in our upper ranks for those who could make a difference to weigh in…don’t see many Pattons anymore.
Politics are NOT the realm of the soldier, (nor should they be) but there comes a time when the military MUST take a stand. Heretofore the traditional method to express strong disagreement with a policy or a president has been in the form of quietly retiring without comment (there was an exception, as you may recall, a Major General Singlaub…who also spoke out and got booted BUT did not recant) and letting that action speak for itself….BUT times have changed….. I’d like to see Schwarzkopf and the CENTCOM commander weigh in and speak “candidly”…but sincerely doubt that the unspoken code will permit them to do so…..a shame in this instance.
MacArthur proved that in the battle between Generals and Politicians (totally different set of issues at play here however). Politicians win…tis the nature of the beast and the mandate of the Constitution that suborns the military to civilian control….BUT there is a time and place for a “man on horseback” to take the stage and speak out…let’s see if McChrystal is that guy….there are many, many, many in the military who hold his opinions who have not spoken….maybe they too will now come forward….lets hope so and get this LOSER and his clan of thugs out of our White House and our government and put them in the Taj Mahal prison they constructed for their buddies up in Illinois.