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| President Obama Relieves Gen. Stanley McChrystal of Afghan Command |
| 2010-06-23 |
| Fox reporting just now Live from Obama at 1:30 -- just breaking -- will get link and story with up-dates as they happpen President Obama announced Wednesday that he has accepted Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation as the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and nominated Gen. David Petraeus to replace him, following a scathing article in which he and his aides were quoted criticizing the administration. McChrystal got his marching orders as he held a face-to-face meeting at the White House, where he met with the president after a meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the Pentagon. The Wednesday meeting preceded a regular session of the administration's strategy team for Afghanistan, held in the White House Situation Room. Normally, McChrystal would have joined via teleconference but he was summoned to Washington as he faced a private flogging over the article that appeared in Rolling Stone. If not insubordination, the remarks in the Rolling Stone magazine article were at least an indirect challenge to civilian management of the war in Washington by its top military commander. Military leaders rarely challenge their commander in chief publicly, and when they do, consequences tend to be more severe than a scolding. "I think it's clear that the article in which he and his team appeared showed a poor -- showed poor judgment," the president said Tuesday, surrounded by members of his Cabinet. "But I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make any final decisions." Gates hand-picked McChrystal to take over the war last year, calling him a driven visionary with the fortitude and intelligence to turn the war around. Obama fired the previous commander at Gates' recommendation. In Kabul on Tuesday, McChrystal issued a statement saying: "I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened." In the Rolling Stone article, McChrystal and his staff described the president as unprepared for their first one-on-one encounter. McChrystal also said he felt betrayed and blind-sided by his diplomatic partner, Ambassador Karl Eikenberry. Eikenberry remains in his post in Kabul, and although both men publicly say they are friends, their rift is on full display. McChrystal and Eikenberry, himself a retired Army general, stood as far apart as the speakers' platform would allow during a White House news conference last month. The story characterized the general as unable to convince some of his own soldiers that his strategy can win the nation's longest-running war, and dejected that the president didn't know about his commendable military record. The article says that although McChrystal voted for Obama, the two failed to connect from the start. Obama called McChrystal on the carpet last fall for speaking too bluntly about his desire for more troops. "I found that time painful," McChrystal said in the article, on newsstands Friday. "I was selling an unsellable position." It quoted an adviser to McChrystal dismissing their early meeting last year as a "10-minute photo-op." "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. The boss was pretty disappointed," the adviser told the magazine. Some of the strongest criticism was reserved for Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. "The boss says he's like a wounded animal," one of the general's aides was quoted as saying. "Holbrooke keeps hearing rumors that he's going to get fired, so that makes him dangerous." McChrystal also said he felt "betrayed" by Eikenberry for expressing doubts about his proposed troop buildup last year and accused the ambassador of giving himself cover. "Here's one that covers his flank for the history books," McChrystal told the magazine. "Now, if we fail, they can say 'I told you so."' Obama agreed to dispatch an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan only after months of study that many in the military found frustrating. The White House's troop commitment was coupled with a pledge to begin bringing troops home in July 2011, in what counterinsurgency strategists advising McChrystal regarded as an arbitrary deadline. The profile, titled "The Runaway General," emerged from several weeks of interviews and travel with McChrystal's tight circle of aides this spring. It includes a list of administration figures said to back McChrystal, including Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and puts Vice President Joe Biden at the top of a list of those who don't. The article claims McChrystal has seized control of the war "by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House." |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #48 Would have preferred to see McChrystal accepting Bammo's resignation. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2010-06-23 23:16 |
| #47 Not really. Obama accepted his resignation as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He didn't accept his resignation from the Army. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-06-23 23:00 |
| #46 It's a tremendous long shot - but - what if - the whole imbroglio is really part of a deception plan - with ultimate purpose to put McChrystal in charge of the operation to "defang" Iran? My wishful thinking, I guess. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2010-06-23 22:59 |
| #45 Before Sarah Palin resigned from the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission the "good ol boys in government" had her in a box and could control what she said and did. Once she resigned from government they could no longer control her and she put a dam dam on em. From the top down. Maybe Stanley took a few pages out of Sarah's book. |
| Posted by: junkiron 2010-06-23 22:36 |
| #44 Vietnam didn't work out calling the shots from the white house, no offense too Nam vets, maybe we should send Obama too a FOB too show them how it's done. |
| Posted by: chris 2010-06-23 21:40 |
| #43 McChrystal's a smart guy. He knows how to deal with the media. The first time I saw the comments I thought that he was shooting his way outta town. No way Barry's ginormus ego would put up with them...no matter how true they are. And he knew it. Good luck to Patraeus. He's gonna need it... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-06-23 21:35 |
| #42 @#7 ny thoughts exactly. and cyber sarge maybe he was criticizing because he don't know what the hell he is doing obama that is. I would hate too be a general and know that I'm sending troops under my command into battle knowing that they can't shoot at ppl until they are shot at. WDid Obama ever think that first shot might just be the one that kills one of our soldiers. Best thing for this country would be too put Obama on the front line and let him get shot at a few thousand times. I just hope we make until 2012 too get rid of this idiot |
| Posted by: chris 2010-06-23 21:28 |
| #41 My take: McChrystal is relieved, his OODA loop worked 100%. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2010-06-23 20:30 |
| #40 When a soldier STOPS bitching...watch out. anon |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-23 19:56 |
| #39 Napoleon's Old Guard earned the name the 'grumblers'. During the pursuit of the British General Moore in the Peninsula, Napoleon set out in pursuit taking his army to the Guadarrama Pass during an incredible storm which stopped his advance. Putting himself at the head of the Guard he sent them as the the lead element to force its way through. The 'grumblers' could be heard offering up their colorful commentary of the idiot who sent them on this march, along with some calls to have someone shoot the leader. He heard it all and watch them accomplish the march. He, of no slight loss of EGO and humility, could turn his ear because he knew they'd die for him. And they would at Waterloo many years hence. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-06-23 19:54 |
| #38 Good Rose Garden speech by the President, actually. (video and transcript) |
| Posted by: KBK 2010-06-23 19:53 |
| #37 Thought it was spelled Betrayus - hows ah that gonna spin? Like this. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2010-06-23 19:47 |
| #36 Pres. Lincoln put up with an unbelievable amount of crap from Gen. McClellan before he relieved him of his command during the Civil War. Lincoln said he couldn't find anyone better during that time. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-06-23 19:37 |
| #35 Phogum Sinatra, you imply McCrystal is playing politics with the attitude card; maybe. If so, I would warrant most of the free world forces sacked for thinking the same thing. Attitude is subjective, the Bazza is not on the side of all that is good. He is a community organiser of defeat. Hell, let's talk about attitude! |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2010-06-23 19:35 |
| #34 I pray that the General gets to reacquaint himself with his wife and family; relaxes after 9 years of war; and understands his "poor judgment" is far better than O'Dumbo's dilly dally wimp judgment. |
| Posted by: whatadeal 2010-06-23 19:02 |
| #33 McChrystal's suicide mission, went down taking shots at a loser Commander-In-Chief. Didn't want to implement a military crisis "that should never be wasted". Take the spear now for exposing incompetence in the White House or take the spear for the failure of the surge later. Smart man. |
| Posted by: Phogum Sinatra8759 2010-06-23 18:51 |
| #32 Spot on RF. Bia Dankie china. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-23 18:37 |
| #31 He did NOT "have to go." There were other ways this could have been handled or ignored for the good of the mission.... which is in deep kak at the moment. There WILL be more to this story. Lastly, Soetoro wouldn't make a good pimple on McChrstal's backside! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-23 18:34 |
| #30 Interum, irrelevant, Besoeker, china, Barry has his hands up and no Muzareya in sight. My view is from the ground-up, try running Fire-Force and hot ones when 6 and 9 troop aren't there, due to a lack of confidence in the 'big guys'. McChrystal and Petraeus are worth fighting for, Bambi not at all. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2010-06-23 18:33 |
| #29 ego or not, he had to go, no-ones gonna do a good job with that much distrust |
| Posted by: Bugs Spealing3182 2010-06-23 18:26 |
| #28 Narcissist Obama is entirely correct. How difficult would it have been for Obama to set his pride asside and magnanimously dismiss a Rolling Stone writer and article? Is a rag like Stones, it's staff, and it's outing of the military more important that a war-time leader, his mission, and our troops in the field? Evidently they are. How sad. How very, very sad. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-23 18:26 |
| #27 A narcissist like Obama had no choice but to axe him for that. That article was taken was a personal wound felt far too deep for it to be let go. That something anti-civilian leadership was said publicly - while certainly bad - should not have been something that lead to immediate dismissal in this case. Fact is, the admin was slinging mud at McChrystal long ago. Leadership is done by example. The blame for this one should be placed higher up the chain of command, IMO. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2010-06-23 18:13 |
| #26 My hunch is General Petraeus is an interum solution for Obama. If I had to guess, I'd say General West from AFRICOM will be the Obama pick for McChrystal's job. The relief of McChrystal will cost Obama far, far more than it will cost the general. You can be certain of that. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-06-23 17:46 |
| #25 The presidential response was necessary. I hope the action(s) taken by General McChrystal are proven a worthy sacrifice.. |
| Posted by: CB 2010-06-23 17:33 |
| #24 How wide is this river we're being sold down? Time to look at running units on two thirds capacity; wobbles and uncertainty/bs at the top filter through, resulting in less recruitment? |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2010-06-23 17:23 |
| #23 mojo, Anna - the dishonorable and dispicable always cringe in the presence of the honorable. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-06-23 17:17 |
| #22 Statement By Gen. Stanley McChrystal The statement issued by Gen. Stanley McChrystal after President Barack Obama announced his dismissal the top NATO commander in Afghanistan: ___ This morning the President accepted my resignation as Commander of U.S. and NATO Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. I strongly support the President's strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations, and the Afghan people. It was out of respect for this commitment — and a desire to see the mission succeed — that I tendered my resignation. It has been my privilege and honor to lead our nation's finest. |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-06-23 16:57 |
| #21 Trust me you don't want the people with guns to start playing politics while they are wearing a uniform. If someone under McChrystal's command said anything critical of the CIC or his staff, he should have taken immediate disciplinary action. Once you let discipline to erode your military command will fall apart soon afterward. Military 101 folks, it's taught in Basic, Academies, and in ROTC. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-06-23 16:41 |
| #20 I wonder if McChrystal is relieved now that he has been relieved? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2010-06-23 16:40 |
| #19 Occam's razor: Obama felt intimidated and left out. Military is not a world he knows or can control. He feels the need to use the long arm of his position because he's out-gamed, and he knows it. |
| Posted by: Anna Graham 2010-06-23 15:50 |
| #18 Right. Junior E-3's, etc., not paid to think just to work. And still if something comes to their attention that stinks, they can bring it to their superiors attention by using the phrase "permission to speak freely." And if permission granted, they can speak their thoughts. However, a General had damn well be able to think, shoot, move and communicate! Very telling was the article (attribution, idk) having illuminated that McCrystal observed Obamao looking intimidated and uncomfortable around top brass. I am sure there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. |
| Posted by: Anna Graham 2010-06-23 15:43 |
| #17 Generals can protest, they can complain. They are allowed to think, it's kinda their job. They can even get nasty about it. In private. A CiC that was secure in his role could have allowed McK to continue after a brief smack-down. But Barry ain't secure. He's lost. |
| Posted by: mojo 2010-06-23 15:38 |
| #16 Yes "But IMHO yes CIC does out rank a General - but the first rule of the military is to defend the country from threats outside and inside the country. And i see the current POTUS trying to lose a war that will badly damage this country" First and foremost, it is a military member's job to obey all LAWFUL orders, but not UNLAWFUL orders. Is it at all possible that some unlawful stuff had come accross his desk that didn't pass the sniff test, and his code of ethics caused him to become disobedient? IMHO, I think it is likely. And it is not like he can TALK about it to anyone publicly, so it stews, and comes out in an offhand comment to Rolling Stone. |
| Posted by: Anna Graham 2010-06-23 15:35 |
| #15 'McChrystal told the magazine. "Now, if we fail, they can say 'I told you so."' ' 'McChrystal has seized control of the war "by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House' 'Generals don't outrank Presidents and should never be critical of them while in uniform.' cyber sarge But IMHO yes CIC does out rank a General - but the first rule of the military is to defend the country from threats outside and inside the country. And i see the current POTUS trying to lose a war that will badly damage this country. |
| Posted by: linker 2010-06-23 15:27 |
| #14 Thought it was spelled Betrayus - hows ah that gonna spin? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-06-23 15:20 |
| #13 maybe this is a chance to change the ROEs so troops can defend themselves more expeditiously lord garth, To be or not to be will then become the question. Bidens counterterrorism v. McChrystals counterinsurgency. If the switch is made to Bidens strategy, the ROE's become a mute point as there will be no engagement with the population. Just drones and hit-squads against Al Qaeda with a compliant Taliban running things with or without Karzai. |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-06-23 15:00 |
| #12 Uh, isn't that a demotion for Petraeus? Obama *had* to can McCrystal, but I expected him to replace the general with his second-in-command. Who takes over CentCom? |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2010-06-23 14:57 |
| #11 My so non-military mind wonders, can Patraeus appoint McChrystal under his command, like he had General Ray Odierno in Iraq, running the daily operations? |
| Posted by: Sherry 2010-06-23 14:48 |
| #10 I can't wait for THIS book to come out!! |
| Posted by: armyguy 2010-06-23 14:35 |
| #9 Hopefully him taking the job means he doesn't see civilian leadership undermining victory. On the other hand, maybe he's taking the job out of hope of preventing a disaster. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2010-06-23 14:34 |
| #8 Petraeus is making a brass ballsy move here. His name is gold and certainly didn't need to put his reputation on the line again. Hopefully him taking the job means he doesn't see civilian leadership undermining victory. Or it just means the man will do anything asked of him for his country. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2010-06-23 14:14 |
| #7 maybe this is a chance to change the ROEs so troops can defend themselves more expeditiously |
| Posted by: lord garth 2010-06-23 14:11 |
| #6 According to CNN (spi) Petraeuswill be taking command. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2010-06-23 14:06 |
| #5 Like I said on the other thread. Generals don't outrank Presidents and should never be critical of them while in uniform. It's clear that he fostered a atmosphere that was critical of the Commander in Chief. Once that became public the President had to take this action. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-06-23 14:02 |
| #4 According to AP source Petraeus is to assume the command. |
| Posted by: KBK 2010-06-23 14:00 |
| #3 Good luck Petraeus! |
| Posted by: Clairt Phomp6215 2010-06-23 13:59 |
| #2 Looks like The One's ego wouldn't allow it. I wonder if The One can see past the "insubordination" (which he probably views as a personal affront) and make some much-needed changes to his own character, behavior and decision-making. Nah. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-06-23 13:53 |
| #1 Obama showed him! Yup Yup, he showed us all who's in charge! Now lets see, he has pissed off McCrystal, Jindel, Brewer, and a whole host of next generation republican leaders. He is hand picking his firing squad. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2010-06-23 13:52 |