Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
edited June 2010 in A Moving Train
Obama is getting hit with crap left and right- I am starting to believe that the right wont be happy till they see our President /country fail. So much hate is being spread all over the blogs/net/media, regarding this issue - The right feels McChrystal did nothing wrong and they support McChrystal's actions....
This affects the morale of the troops- this affects the image of our leader, it creates havoc with in our country, and a ton of side tracking/B.S issues to deal with; As if we didn't already have so many real issues to deal with.
I hope Obama slaps this guy and makes sure this idiot is removed immediately. The right wont be happy until we double the deaths of 9/11 - In a war that has no purpose and that has no end. Obama wants to try and pull out (at least a huge percentage) and these donkey Conservatives just want death and destruction...

Fox is running a poll with it's views and more then 60% support McChrystal's comments..... What a fu@!ing joke!

President is talking about health care and this B.S issue by McChrystal is over shadowing it!


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38837.html

The top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has been summoned to the White House to explain biting and unflattering remarks he made to a freelance writer about President Barack Obama and others in the Obama administration.

The face to face comes as pundits are already calling for McChrystal to resign for insubordination.

McChrystal has been instructed to fly from Kabul to Washington today to attend Obama’s regular monthly security team meeting tomorrow at the White House.

An administration official says McChrystal was asked to attend in person rather than by secure video teleconference, “where he will have to explain to the Pentagon and the commander in chief his quotes about his colleagues in the piece.”

Both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have spoken with McChrystal. Capt. John Kirby, a spokesman for Mullen, said “the chairman spoke to Gen. McChrystal last night and expressed his deep disappointment with the article and with the comments expressed therein.”

McChrystal and his top aides appeared to let their guard down during a series of interviews and visits with Michael Hastings, a freelance writer for the magazine Rolling Stone.

The article, titled “The Runaway General,” appears in the magazine later this week. It contains a number of jabs by McChrystal and his staff aimed not only at the president but also at Vice President Joe Biden, special envoy Richard Holbrooke, Karl Eikenberry, the ambassador to Afghanistan, and others.

McChrystal described his first meeting with Obama as disappointing and said that Obama was unprepared for the meeting.

National Security Adviser Jim Jones is described by a McChrystal aide as a “clown” stuck in 1985.

Others aides joked about Biden’s last name as sounding like “Bite me” since Biden opposed the surge.

McChrystal issued an immediate apology for the profile, advance copies of which were sent to news organizations last night.


“It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened,” McChrystal said. “Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard. I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team, and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war, and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome.”

NATO issued a statement overnight indicating continued support for McChrystal despite the “unfortunate article.”

It will be hard for the White House to get past this since the remarks appear to amount to some level of insubordination.

“This general has to be fired; he has to be gone by the end of the day,” said Joe Scarborough, on “Morning Joe” on MSNBC.

“Gates and Petraeus have to come out and fire McChrystal.” They should have already done it — Petreaus and Gates should have already fired McChrystal.”

But analysts who are close to the situation and know McChrystal well believe that while the remarks were wrong, it would be a bigger mistake to let McChrystal go at such a critical time in the war.

“He made a big mistake, but he is a fantastic general, and not only that but a modest man who is respectful of others,” says Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at Brookings.

“That makes these comments even more uncharacteristic and unfortunate," he said. "We need him, and Ambassador Eikenberry, for this effort, and I am confident knowing both men well that they can put these issues behind them for the greater good.”

McChrystal, an expert on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, has long been thought to be uniquely qualified to lead in Afghanistan. But he is not known for being media savvy.

Hastings, who has covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for two years, according to the magazine, is not well-known within the Defense Department.

And as a freelance reporter, Hastings would be considered a bigger risk to be given unfettered access, compared with a beat reporter, who would not risk burning bridges by publishing many of McChrystal’s remarks.




http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38837.html
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?
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  • aerialaerial Posts: 2,319
    Look how fast Obama is having a meeting this time yet it took him months to meet with the General when he became President…. I don’t think this is a left or right issue…it’s more of… is the President qualified for the job or not issue……wrong is wrong
    “We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” Abraham Lincoln
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?



    Are you comparing the Dixie Chicks to McChrystal? Are you serious?!

    what a joke
  • marcosmarcos Posts: 2,112
    tonifig8 wrote:
    I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?



    Are you comparing the Dixie Chicks to McChrystal? Are you serious?!

    what a joke


    Dixie Chicks / Generals, isn't just ok to have an opinion?
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    aerial wrote:
    Look how fast Obama is having a meeting this time yet it took him months to meet with the General when he became President…. I don’t think this is a left or right issue…it’s more of… is the President qualified for the job or not issue……wrong is wrong




    Yeah- I'm sure Sarah "barracuda" Palin and old man McCain would have been a more qualified for the job.

    Don't you get it or are you an id@!? 90,000 of our kids our sacrificing there life's for a B.S war and the commanding general is disrespecting the Commander in Chief-
    If he has something to say, say it directly to the Boss. Don't you see the country is already divided- don't you see that the country already has a million and one MASSIVE issues that are affect all of us!! All of these issues didn't surface because Obama became the President- The country was already spiraling down!!

    What FU@!ING joke!!
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    good grief..I think you are over reacting you act like this is the first time this has ever happend, this man Mr.McChrystal is under great pressure and putting his balls on the line for his/our country,I agree he should have kept his opinion to him self but lets not get carried away I mean after all a lot of people agree with him :D so lets cut him a break and let him do his job I don't think it will happen again.

    Godfather.
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    edited June 2010
    marcos wrote:
    tonifig8 wrote:
    I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?



    Are you comparing the Dixie Chicks to McChrystal? Are you serious?!

    what a joke


    Dixie Chicks / Generals, isn't just ok to have an opinion?


    :lol::lol::lol:
    Dixie Chicks/ and the man responsible for 90,000 of our kids life's is a big difference.
    What a JOKE!! What a massive distraction to our country!! With all the shit that is going on - this guy decides to create more B.S...
    Post edited by Boxes&Books on
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    Godfather. wrote:
    good grief..I think you are over reacting you act like this is the first time this has ever happend, this man Mr.McChrystal is under great pressure and putting his balls on the line for his/our country,I agree he should have kept his opinion to him self but lets not get carried away I mean after all a lot of people agree with him :D so lets cut him a break and let him do his job I don't think it will happen again.

    Godfather.


    News flash - we are at war....kids are dieing in vain.... What do you think about the mothers and fathers of the kids who are dieing out there- when they see the head commander disrespecting the Commander in Chief? When Obama wants an exit strategy to get there kids home safe and this donkey comes out and creates this mess...
    Are your children out there in the field of battle? Don't you think those families would be even more afraid of there kids safety?

    McCain and a few of the other top donkey Republicans already said that McChrystal should not have said these things.......
  • unsungunsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    tonifig8 wrote:
    Godfather. wrote:
    good grief..I think you are over reacting you act like this is the first time this has ever happend, this man Mr.McChrystal is under great pressure and putting his balls on the line for his/our country,I agree he should have kept his opinion to him self but lets not get carried away I mean after all a lot of people agree with him :D so lets cut him a break and let him do his job I don't think it will happen again.

    Godfather.


    News flash - we are at war....kids are dieing in vain.... What do you think about the mothers and fathers of the kids who are dieing out there- when they see the head commander disrespecting the Commander in Chief? When Obama wants an exit strategy to get there kids home safe and this donkey comes out and creates this mess...
    Are your children out there in the field of battle? Don't you think those families would be even more afraid of there kids safety?

    McCain and a few of the other top donkey Republicans already said that McChrystal should not have said these things.......

    man bro I'm starting to think you are a radical of some sort..."NEWS FLASH !! LOTS OF AMERICANS THINK OUR PRESIDENT SUCKS !" but since your opinion is the only one that matters we'll just disreguard the all other opinions, chill it out...hay why don't you join the military and go save the world.

    Godfather.
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    unsung wrote:
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?
    all that talent and he can golf too ? wow !!!!! :lol::lol:

    Godfather.
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    unsung wrote:
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?


    Yeah - like always you come out representing the tea party as a joke...
    You wonder why no one respects your comments-

    Even fox is starting to come around on this.... What an idiot this guy is... How can the man responsible for 90,000 of our brave men and women disrespect the country like this- Doing an interview with Rolling Stone?! what a joke-what an idiot!
  • unsungunsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    Godfather. wrote:
    unsung wrote:
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?
    all that talent and he can golf too ? wow !!!!! :lol::lol:

    Godfather.


    I heard his low score for eighteen holes is a 16! It seems he averages BETTER than a hole-in-one! Who would've thunk it??!!??
  • Boxes&BooksBoxes&Books USA Posts: 2,672
    Godfather. wrote:

    man bro I'm starting to think you are a radical of some sort..."NEWS FLASH !! LOTS OF AMERICANS THINK OUR PRESIDENT SUCKS !" but since your opinion is the only one that matters we'll just disreguard the all other opinions, chill it out...hay why don't you join the military and go save the world.

    Godfather.

    Radical? are you serious- We are not talking about general American's opinions - We are talking about the man responsible for 90,000 of our kids life's..... Are you kidding?
    I hardly ever talk about this issue- it's pointless, but this idiot coming out and saying these things- is huge.
    Opinions? What opinions have you shared? the only thing you can say is that Obama can play golf? If you want your opinion respected on serious issues- then make serious comments! it's that simple -
    I would give my life for this country, but to die for donkey's would be to die in vain....
  • tonifig8 wrote:
    I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?



    Are you comparing the Dixie Chicks to McChrystal? Are you serious?!

    what a joke


    Actually, I think my statement is pretty self explanatory. Especially since I didn't really use any big words.

    And if I recall properly, during Al Gore & John Kerry's terms, it was not o.k. for anyone to criticize Bush. That went for General's & non members of the Dixie Chicks.
    http://twitter.com/DarthSpacegrass
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  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    aerial wrote:
    Look how fast Obama is having a meeting this time yet it took him months to meet with the General when he became President…. I don’t think this is a left or right issue…it’s more of… is the President qualified for the job or not issue……wrong is wrong

    This has nothing to do about a President being qualified.... How about it being an issue of a General undermining his commander if chief?

    Take away parties involved... In 2006 if a General in command of a large operation in Afghanistan or Iraq made public comments about Bush being unqualified, the republicans and right wingers would have thrown a shit-fit, and you know it... He'd be branded as a traitor in an instant (look at some of the anger towards Shinseki).


    I'm guessing McChrystal gets re-assigned after this... I doubt they are going to fire him, but I don't think he's going to be in Afghanistan much longer.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Pepe SilviaPepe Silvia Posts: 3,758
    edited June 2010
    you also have to keep in mind the type of person who would make it that far up the ranks in the military system.

    also, some things could just be a faulty perception. when i read the part about obama not being engaging and how mcchrystal felt obama wasn't in as much awe as he should be or whatever i heard the same things for the past 8 years.
    don't compete; coexist

    what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?

    "I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama

    when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
    i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    I wonder if these comments from him & his aides will get him the Dixie Chicks treatment?

    Or is it still only o.k. to criticize the POTUS during wartime if he is a Democrat?

    Nope. You don't do that. He should be relieved of his duty there.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    edited June 2010
    The question that people need to answer is this, "Is General McChrystal doing an effective job in Afghanistan, Yes/No?"
    Answer that and keep the political bullshit out of it.
    Generals may question Washington, but do they follow the chain of command? Privates and Sargents question their commanders all the time... they may also think their commanders have their heads up their asses or are dipshits... BUT, they follow their orders. It works like that all the way up the chain.
    ...
    The other question you have to ask is... why is it okay to question a President during wartime today... but from 2003-2008 it was considered to be 'Unpatriotic'? What has changed?
    Post edited by Cosmo on
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  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    tonifig8 wrote:
    Godfather. wrote:

    man bro I'm starting to think you are a radical of some sort..."NEWS FLASH !! LOTS OF AMERICANS THINK OUR PRESIDENT SUCKS !" but since your opinion is the only one that matters we'll just disreguard the all other opinions, chill it out...hay why don't you join the military and go save the world.

    Godfather.

    We are talking about the man responsible for 90,000 of our kids life's....

    It's his job. Obama is his boss. If he is going to say those things to the media, Obama must respond by asking him to step down from his post. If he doesn't, Obama must remove him. It is unacceptable behavior.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    edited June 2010
    tonifig8 wrote:
    Godfather. wrote:

    man bro I'm starting to think you are a radical of some sort..."NEWS FLASH !! LOTS OF AMERICANS THINK OUR PRESIDENT SUCKS !" but since your opinion is the only one that matters we'll just disreguard the all other opinions, chill it out...hay why don't you join the military and go save the world.

    Godfather.

    We are talking about the man responsible for 90,000 of our kids life's....

    It's his job. Obama is his boss. If he is going to say those things to the media, Obama must respond by asking him to step down from his post. If he doesn't, Obama must remove him. It is unacceptable behavior.

    Exactly... if he made these comments in private to Sec Gates, the Army Chief of Staff, or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then that's fine... that's his superiors and it's his duty to be truthful with them about the operation he's running... But you don't say those things to a fucking Rolling Stone reporter... how dumb can you be?
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • Pepe SilviaPepe Silvia Posts: 3,758
    tonifig8 wrote:
    Godfather. wrote:

    man bro I'm starting to think you are a radical of some sort..."NEWS FLASH !! LOTS OF AMERICANS THINK OUR PRESIDENT SUCKS !" but since your opinion is the only one that matters we'll just disreguard the all other opinions, chill it out...hay why don't you join the military and go save the world.

    Godfather.

    We are talking about the man responsible for 90,000 of our kids life's....

    It's his job. Obama is his boss. If he is going to say those things to the media, Obama must respond by asking him to step down from his post. If he doesn't, Obama must remove him. It is unacceptable behavior.


    can ya imagine the shit fit some on the right would have if he did that?

    though, it would be funny because some would say 'first he took over the banks, then he took over the auto industry, now he's taking over the military!' and it would be so hilarious because obama IS the commander in chief of the military and we all could have a good laugh......
    don't compete; coexist

    what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?

    "I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama

    when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
    i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    If McChrystal avoids getting sacked, he should consider himself lucky. I think it is well known that generals are not allowed to criticize the commander-in-chief, no matter if he is doing a crappy job of supporting his efforts. General MacAurthor was sacked by Truman after he wrote a critical letter during the Korean War.

    Also, why in the hell he was letting Rolling Stone interview him is beyond stupid. That would be like Peyton Manning hiring a Boston Globe writer to publish his autobiography.
    Be Excellent To Each Other
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  • Cliffy6745Cliffy6745 Posts: 33,912
    unsung wrote:
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?

    What a dumb comment.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Jason P wrote:
    If McChrystal avoids getting sacked, he should consider himself lucky. I think it is well known that generals are not allowed to criticize the commander-in-chief, no matter if he is doing a crappy job of supporting his efforts. General MacAurthor was sacked by Truman after he wrote a critical letter during the Korean War.

    Also, why in the hell he was letting Rolling Stone interview him is beyond stupid. That would be like Peyton Manning hiring a Boston Globe writer to publish his autobiography.
    ...
    The problem with Gen. McArthur was, he wanted to fight the Korean War the same way the Wars in Europe and the Pacific were fought... all out war. The Korean War was closer to a limited, police action than a war... with demlitarized zones and diplomats arguing behind the scenes with words. This was something McArthur didn't like, fighting with his hands tied. McArthur was convinved that the victory, as in the recent past wars, was the only option.
    But, there was a huge game changer in effect in 1951 that wasn't in 1942... nuclear weapons. McArthur was authorized to use nuclear weapons against China if attacks were launched from their borders.
    A commander who wants only victory... armed with nuclear weapons... against an adversary who has nuclear weapons... run the numbers. Is the risk too great?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • Godfather.Godfather. Posts: 12,504
    after reading all the comments on here and thinking about it you all are right that the General should be reprimanded in some way, even though I am not a obama fan the generals comments to rollingstone about the commander and chief...(lord it pains me to say that) was way out of line and man his position should have known better.
    but in his defense maybe the general being there on the front lines knows some thing that we the public don't know regarding obamas performance and decisions in this war, maybe, maybe not.

    Godfather.
  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,158
    Cosmo wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    If McChrystal avoids getting sacked, he should consider himself lucky. I think it is well known that generals are not allowed to criticize the commander-in-chief, no matter if he is doing a crappy job of supporting his efforts. General MacAurthor was sacked by Truman after he wrote a critical letter during the Korean War.

    Also, why in the hell he was letting Rolling Stone interview him is beyond stupid. That would be like Peyton Manning hiring a Boston Globe writer to publish his autobiography.
    ...
    The problem with Gen. McArthur was, he wanted to fight the Korean War the same way the Wars in Europe and the Pacific were fought... all out war. The Korean War was closer to a limited, police action than a war... with demlitarized zones and diplomats arguing behind the scenes with words. This was something McArthur didn't like, fighting with his hands tied. McArthur was convinved that the victory, as in the recent past wars, was the only option.
    But, there was a huge game changer in effect in 1951 that wasn't in 1942... nuclear weapons. McArthur was authorized to use nuclear weapons against China if attacks were launched from their borders.
    A commander who wants only victory... armed with nuclear weapons... against an adversary who has nuclear weapons... run the numbers. Is the risk too great?
    You are spot on about the "real" reasons he was sacked but I believe the Korean War was much more then a limited police action. Limited police actions don't result in 37,000 G.I.s getting killed along with hundreds of thousands of Korean solders and civilians. But, since congress didn't actually declare war, that is what is was referred to. Sorta like the Vietnam "conflict" . . .
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • mikepegg44mikepegg44 Posts: 3,353
    well, I think it was in poor taste to make comments to the media that he wouldn't make to the president himself. And that is what it seems to me he did. He may just have been ventin frustration and made some poor choices. Should he be removed? I guess the answer to that is do we have a suitable replacement? Can someone else step in with the same expertise and knowledge and conduct the war in a way that minimizes casualties?

    If the answer is yes, then remove him, if the answer is no he needs to remain at the very least for the sake of the troops who are in harms way.

    But lets not forget the retired generals that were celebrated during the bush administration. Either way, it seems that not all people in the military agree on what needs to be done...that makes sense to me... Lots of different individuals...but anyone in command of armed forces on the ground needs to be much smarter as to who he speaks with and how he vents his frustrations.
    that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
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  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    Cliffy6745 wrote:
    unsung wrote:
    Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?

    What a dumb comment.

    Yep, just as dumb as all those GW at the ranch posts the last 8 years.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,497
    mikepegg44 wrote:
    well, I think it was in poor taste to make comments to the media

    It's not just poor taste, it's disgraceful.

    The president is his boss. What would your boss do to you if you made these types of comments to the media about the company and it's leaders? Fire your ass, that's what he/she'd do.
    hippiemom = goodness
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