General McChrystal has stepped on the old McArthur Land Mine. His ego apparently got bigger than his brain. He ran his mouth when and where he shouldn’t have.
General McChrystal has been called home for an apparent trip to the woodshed with his Commander-in-Chief, President Obama. Why is McChrystal getting an ass whupping? He has been increasingly outspoken against the current administration. There is an interview in Rolling Stone Magazine that the administration simply cannot ignore. The article is not yet available. Many say his remarks border on violating military law.
According to the Washington Post:
KABUL — The top U.S. general in Afghanistan was summoned to Washington for a White House meeting after apologizing Tuesday for flippant and dismissive remarks about top Obama administration officials involved in Afghanistan policy.
The remarks in an article in this week’s in Rolling Stone magazine are certain to increase tension between the White House and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.
The profile of McChrystal, , titled the “Runaway General,” also raises fresh questions about the judgment and leadership style of the commander Obama appointed last year in an effort to turn around a worsening conflict.
McChrystal and some of his senior advisors are quoted criticizing top administration officials, at times in starkly derisive terms. An anonymous McChrystal aide is quoted calling national security adviser James Jones a “clown,” who remains “stuck in 1985.”
Referring to Richard Holbrooke, Obama’s senior envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, one McChrystal aide is quoted saying: “The Boss says he’s like a wounded animal. Holbrooke keeps hearing rumors that he’s going to get fired, so that makes him dangerous.”
On one occasion, McChrystal appears to react with exasperation when he receives an e-mail from Holbrooke, saying, “Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke. I don’t even want to read it.”
U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, a retired three-star general, isn’t spared. Referring to a leaked cable from Eikenberry that expressed concerns about the trustworthiness of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, McChrystal is quoted as having said: “Here’s one that covers his flank for the history books. Now if we fail, they can say, ‘I told you so.'”
Not good, McChrystal, not good. Remember General McArthur? Harry Truman? Don’t (%$^&*) with the Big Dog.
McChrystal also took a few swipes at the VP (WaPo):
The story also features an exchange in which McChrystal and some of his aides appear to mock Vice President Biden, who opposed McChrystal’s troop surge recommendation last year and instead urged instead for a more focused emphasis on counter-terrorism operations.
“Are you asking me about Vice President Biden?” McChrystal asks the profile’s reporter a at one point, laughing. “Who’s that?”
“Biden?” an unnamed aide is quoted as saying. “Did you say Bite me?”
Not wanting to leave any stones unturned, McChrystal also criticized the French and one of his aids made a gay remark or two. There is no such thing as free speech in the military. It is also against the code of military justice to criticize one’s superiors publically, especially the high profiled ones like the Commander-in-Chief.
Will McChrystal be fired? Will he have a new desk job in Tampa? He is a very popular general with great troop support. This puts the administration in a very tenuous position. who will blink first. Is anyone taking bets?
I support President Obama’s Afghanistan initiative. The General needs to respect the fact that Obama was elected by the American people to be Commander-in-Chief. The General needs to be shown the door.
The interview is embedded above. Keyword: interview
McChrystal apparently has a big ego and also can’t stand criticism, according to Michael Yon, a freelance embed that was kicked out of Afghanistan. However, what he did was absolutely……stupid. One can disagree with a superior, especially at that level, and argue, until given orders. Then, you either accept them or quit that post, probably as a retiree.
That said, his criticisms, since they are now part of the public record, should be examined for value.
Here’s some experts talking about this: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2010/06/stan-the-man.html
Blackfive is a good source for all things military.
GEN McChrystal is well liked and supposedly very bright. His comments and those of his subordinates that he failed to correct will likely end what had been a remarkable career. This incident is similar to one some years ago when then Chief of Staff of the Air Force Mike Dugan was fired on his 79th day in office because of some comments that then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney said reflected “poor judgment.” An officer at any level should know better. Changing horses in midstream is rarely a good idea, but it’s hard to imagine another choice in this case. The big question is who will take command? I wouldn’t want the job.
CNN is working on confirming that McChrystal has handed in his resignation.
Please let us know when you find out. What a shame. I have heard such good things about him.
The challange will now become to get a new Commander in while we’re on an offensive and pick up and run with it quickly without having to ‘review the situation’. Tall order.
McChrystal is fortunate that he won’t be charged.
CBS has reported that McChrystal has submitted his resignation; however, President Obama has yet to accept it. Apparently McChrystal never heard of Douglas MacArthur or Harry Truman. While he may be a brilliant general, I have begun to think he looks more and more like General Westmoreland and the war looks more and more like Vietnam; i.e., just give me a few thousand more troops and a few more months/years and we will win this. I you read any history abouit this part of the world, you will quickly discover that no one has ever been able to bring Afghanistan under control except maybe Genghis Khan and he never heard of COIN (Counter Insurgency Operations). Outside the cities, Afghanistan remains very tribal with one tribe not trusting the next tribe one valley over. Warlords maintain control over large areas and anyone who comes into the area is suspect.
Yes, we have had a few MINOR successes but by in large they do not justify the more than 1,000 Americans killed and who knows how many thousands maimed for life or the billions of dollars being expended. These two wars are bleeding our nation dry and are decimating our Armed Forces. People are on their fourth, fifth and sixth tour and there seems to be no end. COIN has tied our troops hands and the persistence and resilience of the Taliban has made our efforts to pacify areas worthless. While it is perhaps too much of a generalization, but it appears that almost every operation under the new COIN rules has been a failure at great cost to us.
As for me, I vote for firing General McChrystal. Maybe this thing will get over sooner if he and his Team America are gone.
So, al-Qaeda will win again. We botch Afghanistan, and the Taliban will surely take over once more. Without us in Afghanistan, the Pakistanis will start to ease off Waziristan and the rest of their western border, no longer willing to take the terrorist attacks on their own urban installations. And al-Qaeda will once more have the breathing room to come after us. We are blowing it big time. Good luck to us. We are going to need a seamless 100% defense on our home ground — which is impossible unless you are willing to give up big chunks of your personal freedom. This old terrorist fighter is feeling mighty discouraged at this point.
For those of you who have worked in a headquarters, this type of complaining is not unusual. The stupid thing was allowing a reporter hang around during unguarded moments.
His critiques are largely accurate and reflect the views of many in the military. But he has to go because no president can allow for such public criticism.
If there is one confidence I have in Obama it is that he will not tolerate criticism.
These guys (general and his staff) are the kinda guys you shove food under the door to. They aren’t pretty and they aren’t Gucci. They get the job done. You can’t usually dress up rangers and special ops.
Why embed any reporters now? Was he nuts? I learned many years ago that reporters are for themselves, not you. It’s their job. Changing that is like asking a dog not to lift his leg on a fire hydrant.
Does everyone remember Earl Butts? What magazine was behind his firing? Hmmmmm…
McChrystal was wrong. Keep him. He is invaluable. Generals can peel potatoes also.
I hope everyone got to read the article. It is embedded under ‘interview.’
Thanks for the article link, Moon.
I agree with kelly that McChrystal is only echoing what so many others are feeling right now, but he has to go. That kind of insubordination cannot be tolerated.
That being said, this is probably going to result in the most front-page war coverage we’ve seen in over a year. Where is the daily front-page body count, the profiles of the dead soldiers, the hammering over the cost of the war, the lamentations over the cause being lost, the failures of the administration, the questioning of what our goals are? MIA since Bush left office, almost a nonstory that is secondary to healthcare reform and the evils of profitmaking industries.
It all depends on what people are pissed off over I guess.
He should go but I hate to see success go out like that. I would be more in favor of sewing up his lips and firing his buds that really got him in trouble.
I do think this case is quite different than those of Dugan and Macarthur. Dugan revealed detailed classified information including Israel’s involvement. Macarthur publicly attacked Truman’s policy to not attack China. So this case is not as aggregious as the two historical cases.
Can you imagine what would have happened if Patton operated in this environment? We would probably be speaking German today …. Somewhat of an exaggeration but you know what I mean”
I thought of that old cuss today…and his ivory handled pistols. He would never survive today. He almost didn’t then. He also left many a man disabled in some form because of his arrogance and ego.
The film glorified some behavior that has no place in the modern military, in my opinion.
That’s strike 3 for McChrystal he should be gone
I say keep him. He’s your best shot, provided he does something about those stupid rules of engagement which are reportedly driving our fighting men nuts. I recently heard that one unit was complaining about going out on dangerous patrols WITHOUT a round chambered in their weapons. I couldn’t believe it. Sheeesh!!!
Think of it this way. Patton was an SOB. He was a pain in the ass for both Eisenhower and Bradley. Other general officers disliked him to the hilt. But, when Bastogne was surrounded and under seige during the Battle of the Bulge, who did Eisenhower and Bradley turn to for an absolutely critical relief of those troops? You guessed it. And Patton’s army was on the road to Bastogne almost from the minute the order was given.
Not long ago, I was at a church dinner in a Michigan town. I spotted a very old gentleman wearing a military jacket full of patches of various kinds. My brother went over to inquire. It turns out the old guy had been with Patton all across Western Europe, and he was still busting with pride more than 60 years later. Sometimes you have to swallow hard and put up with your SOB’s when those SOB’s are the best chance of giving you a victory.
I gotta agree with Wolverine–the military needs a certain number of folks who just don’t fit the present PC mold. McChrystal might be one of those guys, but his COIN rules are just nothing but makaka. Who fights a war with one hand tied behind them? I doubt he will be willing to change since he would be killing his “baby.” He also is unwilling to admit that his strategy is not working.
I keep switching back and forth. Yes to he’s our best short. He is scrappy, you can’t take him out in public but if he is getting the job done…..
Shove food under the door to him, tell him to never entertain reporters again….
The other part of me thinks it should be painful to be stupid and that the Prez, and not just this Prez, cannot tolerate this type of disrespect and violation of military rules. McChrystal must go.
I don’t know. Glad it isn’t my decision.
The question for me is whether Obama is big enough to separate personal attacks – largely on his staff – as compared to McChrystal’s ability and willingness to continue to agressively pursue their comon agenda / Strategy /plan. Remember that we are talking primarilly about Biden – who is no Rhodes scholar, Biden’s personality, Biden’s ego and Biden’s foot in the mouth disease along with his own sense of self importance. My sense is that McChrystal does not suffer fools well. He’s a very successful politician/soldier – has to be to get that high up the system, so this is not just about his ego. He is a player. Just a thought, but I am not sure it is a dumb play on the General’s part. He must have thought a lot of this through. McChrystal is either is playing for more control and less stupid political interference – or is trying to get out before the fall. Either way he wins. Not so sure “we” will however.
I would disagree that McChrystal is a successful politician. Read the embedded Rolling Stone article. He is a more successful soldier than politician.
McChrystal has no business dissing anyone, much less the President, Vice President ambassadors, etc. Unacceptable. Lapse in judgement? Totally. He needs better control of his underlyings. We are speaking leadership here.
From George Harris:
The Daily Beast has a plethora of opinions:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-23/general-mcchrystal-failing-to-follow-obamas-afghan-policy/
An opinion piece in the WSJ..
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704853404575322800914018876.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_opinion
Gen. Stanley McChrystal is a hero—a selfless, fearless and inspiring soldier. He is also something of a military genius. In Iraq, as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003-2008, he created an extraordinary military operation….
I think the General has a future in politics and my tin foil hat tells me…. look for him being swooned over for a future VP or Cabinet nod.
Patreus over McChrystal. While McChrystal may be all of the above, anyone that orders Rules of Engagement that include not shooting at the bad guys……somethings wrong.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/mcchrystals-real-offense-96873364.html#ixzz0rh1jpkfR
“One soldier shows me the list of new regulations the platoon was given. “Patrol only in areas that you are reasonably certain that you will not have to defend yourselves with lethal force,” the laminated card reads.”
Does this sound like a combat environment that is supported by its Chain of Command?
Commanders have ordered a U.S. military unit in Afghanistan to patrol with unloaded weapons, according to a source in Afghanistan.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=37125
“American soldiers in at least one unit have been ordered to conduct patrols without a round chambered in their weapons, an anonymous source stationed at a forward operating base in Afghanistan said in an interview. The source was unsure where the order originated or how many other units were affected.”
Actually, I don’t blame the General for the above. I blame whatever strategic orders are being given to him that do not include the words “win the damn war.” If we are just there to build hospitals, etc, and then get out, then we need to leave NOW. Not one more trooper should be hurt or killed because Obama doesn’t want to commit our forces to winning this theater. Our commitment is either “until defeated or success” or its just theater.
All good articles – thanks to all. I am going to keep my own counsel here as noted above – I think he is playing for the support he needs or wants to get out. Better to be a McArther than a Westmoreland — and we know how both turned out.
No one is but so brilliant that allows a Rolling Stones reporter that close to them letting their hair down. On the record/off the record. Anyone remember Earl Butts? That was Rolling Stone.
McChrystal is out.
Fox News is already criticizing the Prez.
Honestly, BHO was in a tough spot. Fire him and you look petty and now you can’t say you don’t own the war. Keep him on and you look soft against a sub-ordinate even though the Afghan’s and NATO didn’t think it was that big of a deal.
What’s more interesting and telling here is that he wasn’t allowed to resign. He was stripped of his command (fired) is very telling of what occured in that 30~ minutes that the spoke in the Oval Office.
I’m curious to see Fox’s take on this….
McChrystal’s resignation was accepted. That is the stripping of his command. He’s resigned his position and probably will retire. Now, if they push it past this with prosecution, THEN I will criticize Obama. Obama had no choice and the general did the honorable thing.
Of course, Patraeus will be hamstrung by an unworkable strategy, but, he, too, has the choice of resigning.
Cargo, your right. Unfortunatly some news articles are going with the ‘striped of command’ title rather than ‘accepted his resignation’. Understood that there is a difference. My mistake for not delving further until I found an article that mentioned the resignation being accepted.
Had this general been under Bush, Fox News would have had a different take. Just a hunch 🙄
I think Obama did the right thing, here. I didn’t hear fox news criticize, but I wasn’t watching Fox news today. I did, however, hear Sean Hannity criticizing Obama for this move and it’s one of the few times I really got disgusted with Hannity. It really blows holes in his credibility when he criticizes Obama for doing what everyone agrees was the right thing, especially the replacement. Hannity annoys the living hell of me every once in a while.
@Moon-howler
Faux News would criticise Jesus Christ if he were to come back.
@Captain Idiot-Face
Hannity has all the credibility of a wart hog. Never served in the military or politics–just has a big mouth and a little brain.
I agree with my fellow Squid (which happens to be an extremely intelligent form of marine life) that President Obama did the right thing and that it should stop here. General McChrystal should have enough common sense to know that he should retire since his judgement will be suspect in any job in the military. But prosecuting him–not needed.
@marinm
Did the president accept his resignation or did he fire McChrystal? The choice was his. If he accepted McChrystal’s resignation that is a little more honorable but if he said he wasn’t going to accept it and that he was going to “fire” him–big difference. Do you suppose we will ever know for certain?
It is going to be interesting to see what General Patraeus does. He is between a rock and a hard place. He is the one who dreamed up COIN and now he is stuck with trying to make an unworkable plan work. It is too bad that the oil leak has pushed the war off the front page–Americans are forgetting about it, except, of course, those families who have lost a loved one or had someone maimed for life–one of those pesky “life altering injury” things.
George, I disagree. The country hasn’t forgotten Afghanistan. The PRESS has forgotten Afghanistan. No hotels.
Take a look at the conflicts that get covered. The ones with hotels…..
I’m surprised that the put General Patraeus in charge. He’s already has CENTCOM. McChrystal had numerous seconds. And if his chain is under suspicion, then use another general of the same rank. Patraeus had his hands full already. His COIN ops will not work under Obama’s strategic plans.
Has the left forgotten deriding Petraeus as “General Betray-Us”? Now he’s coming to the rescue. Not too much irony there.
Especially since McChrystal was Obama’s hand picked replacement for the previous general he stripped of that theater command. And now he picks Patraeus, the general he didn’t trust in Iraq and criticized as a Senator.
Things that make you go hmmmmmm……
I haven’t heard Fox News criticizing Obama for this move. In fact, all I’ve heard is agreement that it was the right thing to do.
Destroying a brilliant military career in order to “save” the egos of your foot in the mouth Vice President and a holier than thou egg-head ambassador is going to have consequences inside the military and outside of it. That the administration has so successfully spun this as an insubordination and an I am in charge issue – or maybe the Rolling Stone (no friend of the military) did – will only last until the real story comes out and McChrystal begins to talk. And I am not so sure that we won’t find that the WH spun this in ways not agreed to behind closed doors – we will see.
That General Patraeus stepped up to limit the damage says more about the military than it does about his loyalty to Obama
PWC, McChrystal destroyed his own career. Once those opinions became public, there was no other choice. The UCMJ forbids expressing contempt for the chain of command. Recent information reveals the the general was actually very “liberal” in his politics. Maybe that is why he felt comfortable enough with a Rolling Stone reporter to open his mouth and insert foot.
General Patraeus was his boss. Having him take over a theater of war actually discredits, at least in my eyes, McChrystal’s seconds in command. It also puts Petraeus in a position of supporting Obama’s strategy in theater directly. When it all goes to hell, Patraeus will be blamed.
On the other hand, it could be that Petraeus, having bailed the President out by taking on this assignment, might just find himself in a position to write his own ticket in Afghanistan. Watch for telltale changes in the Rules of Engagement and for slippage in that 2011 exit date.