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2006-10-02 Iraq
In hunt for terrorists in Iraq, general is no armchair warrior
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Posted by Captain America 2006-10-02 01:00|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Article: "He goes on raids. He doesn't sit back at headquarters," said the source, who asked not to be named.

If the terrorists boast of bagging a general, we'll know who the victim was and why. The day of generals leading from the front went out a long time ago, beginning with the advent of reliable and accurate missile weapons.
Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-10-02 03:07|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com]  2006-10-02 03:07|| Front Page Top

#2 Inspiration! I suspect the guys love to see they Genral up front, ala Patton.
Posted by Bobby 2006-10-02 06:47||   2006-10-02 06:47|| Front Page Top

#3 As it should be, good man!
Posted by Besoeker 2006-10-02 07:19||   2006-10-02 07:19|| Front Page Top

#4 It's better not to ask why the General carries around a side of bacon with him for use when inspecting terrorist dead.
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-10-02 09:33||   2006-10-02 09:33|| Front Page Top

#5 unnamed source?

Why is my BS meter going off?
Not about the general per se, but the tone and angle of the whole piece. Maybe because its MSM that I'm suspicious.
Is the reporter creating something that is more than what it appears? And if so why?

In the pre-WWII days, the hacks would cover personalities, generals or colonels, and make great story in their reporting. The big man theme. In WWII, the focus shifted from the big man to the average citizen, the GI Joe. It was the time of Ernie Pyle. It was a democracy fighting the institutions of the personality cult. So the whole underlying structure of the approach appears eschewed. Now while reporting from the fronts have been abysmal, every now and then you detect that the trade has short flashes of their shortcoming. Is this some response to provide an upbeat story?
Posted by Glitle Grenter4308 2006-10-02 09:44||   2006-10-02 09:44|| Front Page Top

#6 GG4308: This is the Washington Times, not Post, so I'd imagine they're reporting the "good stuff" from the front lines (or at least 50/50 good/bad ratio), unlike the rest of the MSM.
Posted by BA 2006-10-02 14:56||   2006-10-02 14:56|| Front Page Top

#7 He is a great officer and leader. I hear people complaining about him all the time and his up front and in your face style. Makes him an ace in my book. Future SOCOM Commander???
Posted by 49 Pan 2006-10-02 17:56||   2006-10-02 17:56|| Front Page Top

#8 For whatever its worth--
I am of mixed feelings about having high ranking officers out in the field with me. If this story is true, I'm:
0. glad that they're willing to share the risks,
1. worried by the potential for unconstructive micromanagement,
2. annoyed by the possiblility that they are just out joyriding/glory-hoging/curing a bad case of Power Point Fever.

Still, RHIP, if this story is true. One of the (many) little annoyances that comes with the pay check.
Posted by N guard 2006-10-02 18:38||   2006-10-02 18:38|| Front Page Top

#9 One of the principle of war is the protection of command. If this two star has a deccent security team and wants to be in the action, this shoudn't be a problem. What really shouldn't have happened is this press release. Now every towel head on the planet will be gunning for this guy.
Posted by badanov 2006-10-02 18:59|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org]  2006-10-02 18:59|| Front Page Top

#10 McChrystal leads an intelligence task force, not infantry. Intelligence is what is happening on the ground, not in some bubble.

My understanding is that the task force is integrated services, requiring fast pace, on the ground coordination and command.
Posted by Captain America 2006-10-02 23:19||   2006-10-02 23:19|| Front Page Top

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