Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Boxes&Books · June 2010

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

DarthSpacegrass · June 2010

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?

aerial · June 2010

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

Boxes&Books · June 2010

DarthSpacegrass 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

marcos · June 2010

tonifig8 wrote:

DarthSpacegrass 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&Books · June 2010

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. · June 2010

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

so lets cut him a break and let him do his job I don't think it will happen again.

Godfather.

Boxes&Books · June 2010

marcos wrote:

tonifig8 wrote:

DarthSpacegrass 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?

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...

Boxes&Books · June 2010

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 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.......

unsung · June 2010

Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?

Godfather. · June 2010

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 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. · June 2010

unsung wrote:

Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?

all that talent and he can golf too ? wow !!!!!

Godfather.

Boxes&Books · June 2010

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!

unsung · June 2010

Godfather. wrote:

unsung wrote:

Anyone know when obamas next tee time is?

all that talent and he can golf too ? wow !!!!!

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&Books · June 2010

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....

DarthSpacegrass · June 2010

tonifig8 wrote:

DarthSpacegrass 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.

blackredyellow · June 2010

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.

Pepe Silvia · 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.

cincybearcat · June 2010

DarthSpacegrass 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?

Nope. You don't do that. He should be relieved of his duty there.

Cosmo · 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?

cincybearcat · 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.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal

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