Archived material Access restricted Article
Rantburg

Today's Front Page   View All of Tue 06/22/2010 View Mon 06/21/2010 View Sun 06/20/2010 View Sat 06/19/2010 View Fri 06/18/2010 View Thu 06/17/2010 View Wed 06/16/2010
1
2010-06-22 Afghanistan
US Afghanistan commander mocks vice-president, reveals White House tensions
Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.
Posted by tipper 2010-06-22 00:09|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ]  Top

#1 Update:
McChrystal Apologies for Incendiary Article
Posted by tipper 2010-06-22 00:27||   2010-06-22 00:27|| Front Page Top

#2 That is unfortunate. Where have all the cowboys gone? Its like nobody stands up and keeps up a good fight anymore.
Posted by Anna Sasin 2010-06-22 00:31||   2010-06-22 00:31|| Front Page Top

#3 TOPIX > AZERBAIJAN IMPORTANT FOR US AFGHAN WAR PLANNING + {Turkologist] ARTAK SHAKARYAN: US WITHDRAWING FROM MIDDLE EAST. Intensive regional competition occurring mainly between TURKEY + RUSSIA [Iran?] to replace declining US influence.
NON-RELIANCE ON US FOR REGIONAL SECURITY.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-06-22 00:57||   2010-06-22 00:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Activating the explosive bolts on his career.
Posted by mojo 2010-06-22 01:45||   2010-06-22 01:45|| Front Page Top

#5 Seems to me the interview would not have gone as suggested unless the situation was hopelessly poisoned by the civilian leadership.

I cannot figure out why McChrystal would have issued an apology unless he was unaware of what happened.

Maybe his staff have given up but McChrystal hasn't?
Posted by gorb 2010-06-22 02:48||   2010-06-22 02:48|| Front Page Top

#6 
Well Obama is a supine idiot and now his Afeghanistan commander seems to be too if this all true. He must fall. If he doesn't fall then Obama is even worse.
Posted by Phosing Big Foot3926 2010-06-22 03:23||   2010-06-22 03:23|| Front Page Top

#7 WWSTD?

What would Sun Tzu do? It would not be pretty for McC, who might have been able to get away with intimating that the ROE needed to be loosened, but has gone too far and will face reassignment if not the option of "voluntary" retirement.
Posted by Jinens Lumplump6738 2010-06-22 03:54||   2010-06-22 03:54|| Front Page Top

#8 Recalled and retired would be my guess
Posted by Oscar 2010-06-22 07:15||   2010-06-22 07:15|| Front Page Top

#9 Why did McCrystal give the interview to Rolling Stone? What did he expect? Would have thought he would have had more self-discipline, diplomacy. Unless he has just had it with the circus in Washington and Afghanistan and wanted to bail out. This is a career killer.
Posted by JohnQC 2010-06-22 07:38||   2010-06-22 07:38|| Front Page Top

#10 Maybe McCrystal is a man of principle and was willing to lay his career on the line for principle? I would find it difficult to work for the crew in Washington--particularly when I had zero respect for them. Maybe he is trying to get the Afghan war of the dime and change the ROE--except for that he is a winning the hearts and minds general.
Posted by JohnQC 2010-06-22 07:43||   2010-06-22 07:43|| Front Page Top

#11 From the Fox News story:

Another aide reportedly called White House National Security Adviser Jim Jones, a retired four star general, a "clown" who was "stuck in 1985."

That is classic...I spit my coffee all over my screen!
Posted by Grunt_0369 2010-06-22 08:30||   2010-06-22 08:30|| Front Page Top

#12 The latest is that McChrystal has been recalled to Washington. Maybe the Rolling Stone article is the only way he could get a meeting with Obama.
Posted by Matt 2010-06-22 08:33||   2010-06-22 08:33|| Front Page Top

#13 If that is true Matt then his career is truly screwed.

You know how Obama doesn't like his Golf game or WH Party interrupted.
Posted by CrazyFool 2010-06-22 08:40||   2010-06-22 08:40|| Front Page Top

#14 Further update:
General McChrystal summoned to White House over Rolling Stone interview
Posted by tipper 2010-06-22 08:44||   2010-06-22 08:44|| Front Page Top

#15 Regardless of the accuracy of his opionions, the general comes across as an immature jerk.

Somewhere this morning, Michael Yon is smiling.
Posted by KBK 2010-06-22 09:25||   2010-06-22 09:25|| Front Page Top

#16 More about McChrystal being called to DC The General's civilian has already resigned.
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-06-22 10:19||   2010-06-22 10:19|| Front Page Top

#17 If you read the interview, McChrystal comes off as an immature asshole.

This is not about Obama and the civilian idiots who work for him. McChrystal should not be defended because you think America, let alone the war is headed in the wrong direction. Insubordination of generals transcends politics.

McChrystal is charge of American lives in a war zone. If he can't hack it, he should have done the honorable thing and resign. It's a political war, and his position comes with some political responsibilities. Didn't he ever read Clausewitz?

The president should fire him. The Peter Principle is once again proven.
Posted by Penguin 2010-06-22 10:24||   2010-06-22 10:24|| Front Page Top

#18 The General's civilian press aide has already resigned.
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-06-22 10:26||   2010-06-22 10:26|| Front Page Top

#19 Perhaps the General didn't want to command Obama's "Necessary War" when is surrounded for hundreds of miles by hostile forces with air the only reliable method of supply. I also read of another General who wasn't too happy about the situation of getting an Army surrounded in bumfuck because of the The Leader wrote ego checks his intellect couldn't cash, when the real objective was the oil fields.

Unlike Gen. Paulus, Gen. McCrystal just did commit suicide.
Posted by ed 2010-06-22 10:36||   2010-06-22 10:36|| Front Page Top

#20 “The other thing about him is that he is probably one of the more arrogant, cocksure military guys I have run across. That in itself is not necessarily a character flaw, but when you couple it with his great disdain for civilians, it’s a very volatile combination.”
Posted by KBK 2010-06-22 11:08||   2010-06-22 11:08|| Front Page Top

#21 Looks like Yon was right. Again.
Posted by Pstanley 2010-06-22 11:23||   2010-06-22 11:23|| Front Page Top

#22 Don't believe anything which comes out of the current magazines for accuracy, especially Rolling Stone - interviews get the cut and paste with op/ed inserts.

That being known, don't get interviewed in the first place...unless Matt is right.
Posted by swksvolFF 2010-06-22 11:26||   2010-06-22 11:26|| Front Page Top

#23 Politically speaking, Gen. McCrystal has had one too many Gen. Douglas McArthur moments.

"Never give an order that can't be obeyed."
Douglas MacArthur

"I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within."
Douglas MacArthur

"One cannot wage war under present conditions without the support of public opinion, which is tremendously molded by the press and other forms of propaganda."
Douglas MacArthur

"Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye."
Douglas MacArthur


Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2010-06-22 11:39||   2010-06-22 11:39|| Front Page Top

#24 Michael Yon has been calling for General McChrystal to be fired for insubordination since the Rolling Stone article came out...on Facebook.
Posted by trailing wife 2010-06-22 11:51||   2010-06-22 11:51|| Front Page Top

#25 I have a .pdf copy of the article in question; saved it off Politico before they got smarter. I would be happy to send it to anybody who can host it.
Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-06-22 12:19||   2010-06-22 12:19|| Front Page Top

#26 I would not trust anything that comes out of Rolling Stone(d) - bunch of lefty idiots. Matt Taibbi for example, is a douche of the first rate. On the same token, McChrystal has to be a monumental moron to be on the record disparaging his senior leaders to this numb-nutted rag. Totally un-professional and idiotic. If he truly doesn't believe in the mission then he ought to do the right thing and re-sign very publicly - which is the only way to send shockwaves.

BTW - I've hated Rolling Stone for abt the past decade -- The same supposed music magazine that had Eddie Van Halen not even ranked in the top 50 of greatest rock guitarits of all time. Bunch of tossers.
Posted by Broadhead6 2010-06-22 16:05||   2010-06-22 16:05|| Front Page Top

#27 Every high level individual that Obama has met with, from Karzai to Nicolas Sarkozy of France, on and on, felt compelled to speak out in negative terms regarding Obama. Every single one of them after being in a meeting with him.

There is something very disturbing that one comes away with after sitting down with Obama that makes you want to forget protocol and tell just tell the world about it. It must be an incredibly, incredibly unsettling experience.
Posted by Tiny Clainter3366 2010-06-22 16:12||   2010-06-22 16:12|| Front Page Top

#28 There is something very disturbing that one comes away with after sitting down with Obama

If everyone who meets with Obama thinks Obama is an SOB, it is most likely true.
Posted by JohnQC 2010-06-22 16:47||   2010-06-22 16:47|| Front Page Top

#29 BREAKING: Gen. McCrystal submits letter of resignation. Joe Klein on Rick Sanchez, CNN... Developing...
Posted by Phinert Sinatra8465 2010-06-22 17:21||   2010-06-22 17:21|| Front Page Top

#30 I would just to imput that I am acquaintances with the author, Michael Hastings.
Yeah, I'm a journalist (one of the three things Missouri is really good in). I'm not a lefty, and I don't know if Michael is (I'm never talked politics with him), but I DO KNOW that his fiance, Andi, was killed in a car bombing in Iraq two years ago. She was an aid worker, and he was in country at the time.
I also think highly enough of him that unless you've got something to show me, I think that every direct quote in the article is iron-plated gold. It's not like anybody is denying A SINGLE SENTENCE of anything that has been said.
I think some of you should calibrate that into your ad hominem rants.
Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-06-22 17:26||   2010-06-22 17:26|| Front Page Top

#31 @ trailing wife: To my knowledge, it actually hit Twitter first. There's a Twitter, handle: "Taken for action" who released it. Yon is trying to find out who it is. But he seems to be in the Afghanistan/McCrystal hierarchy.
Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-06-22 17:29||   2010-06-22 17:29|| Front Page Top

#32 According to the Twitter source I mentioned, the resignation is a formality, doesn't mean Obama has to accept it. But at this point, can you see how he wouldn't?
Posted by Mizzou Mafia 2010-06-22 17:32||   2010-06-22 17:32|| Front Page Top

#33  General Stanley McChrystal tenders his resignation

By Toby Harnden World Last updated: June 22nd, 2010 (Telegraph)

A senior Capitol Hill source tells me that General Stanley McChrystal had tendered his resignation to President Barack Obama and that the White House is actively discussing a replacement who could be quickly confirmed by the Senate.

The source said that among the names being touted as possible successors are General James Mattis, the outgoing head of the US Joint Forces Command and due to retire after being passed over as US Marine Corps commander, and Lieutenant General William Caldwell, commander of Nato’s Training Mission in Afghanistan.


Posted by Willy 2010-06-22 18:32||   2010-06-22 18:32|| Front Page Top

#34 What would happen if none of the proposed replacements accepted the nomination?
Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-06-22 19:30||   2010-06-22 19:30|| Front Page Top

#35 2 points

1) Stan has submitted his resignation but has it been accepted?

2) Stan apologized for the article but not for the contents - and he reviewed/approved same prior publication - presumably he would anticipate this reaction and plan accordingly
Posted by Flailet White6069 2010-06-22 19:40||   2010-06-22 19:40|| Front Page Top

#36 This episode just goes to show why gaff-prone people shouldn't be allowed to hold responsible positions.
Posted by Joe Biden 2010-06-22 19:45||   2010-06-22 19:45|| Front Page Top

#37 Joe Biden, I don't think this was a gaffe. I think it was planned.
Posted by Deacon Blues 2010-06-22 19:47||   2010-06-22 19:47|| Front Page Top

#38 What, it wasn't all intentional?
Posted by Anna Sasin 2010-06-22 19:49||   2010-06-22 19:49|| Front Page Top

#39 Please, ofcourse it was planned.
Posted by Anna Sasin 2010-06-22 19:50||   2010-06-22 19:50|| Front Page Top

#40 Please, by the time someone gets around to slander, they've usually rehearsed at least some portion of the insults they will hurl in their mind. It shouldn't come as a surprise. And I do NOT think someone this calculating would truly fly off the handle for no reason.
Posted by Anna Sasin 2010-06-22 19:53||   2010-06-22 19:53|| Front Page Top

#41 Neither of those possible replacements listed above is the right man for the job. The right man for the job currently does not have enough stars, but he's the guy.
Posted by Mike N. 2010-06-22 20:26||   2010-06-22 20:26|| Front Page Top

#42 MG Joe Peterson?
Posted by Besoeker 2010-06-22 20:35||   2010-06-22 20:35|| Front Page Top

#43 I fear this is one of those situations from which no one will emerge with his honor intact. Barry seems compelled to be LBJ as farce.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-06-22 21:37||   2010-06-22 21:37|| Front Page Top

#44 The right man for the job currently does not have enough stars, but he's the guy.

Ghengis Khan? Attila, the Hun? Conan, the Destroyer? 'Cause I'm kinda sorta OK with the whole "crush your enemies, drive them before you and hear the lamentations of their women" thing. We can always Marshall Plan 'em after the fact.

As for McCrystal, I'm guessing he has had quite enough and no longer gives a rat's patoot.
Posted by SteveS 2010-06-22 21:57||   2010-06-22 21:57|| Front Page Top

#45 I think SteveS is too soft.
Posted by Frank G 2010-06-22 22:13||   2010-06-22 22:13|| Front Page Top

#46 I've read the entire article - I don't see anything in there that is directly attributed to the General that he should either be fired for or should even apologize for. All of the quotes "from the boss" are attributed to some big mouthed aid-de-camp or exec. Now is not the time to change commanders - I don't care for McC's ROE, but hell, he is executing a well resourced plan. This ain't about egos right now - the war is in the balance. We have went "all in" and we need to execute.
Posted by Barry Goldwater 2010-06-22 22:26||   2010-06-22 22:26|| Front Page Top

#47 "This ain't about egos right now"

Barry, honey, it's all about ego - Bambi's supersized one. :-(
Posted by Barbara Skolaut 2010-06-22 22:37||   2010-06-22 22:37|| Front Page Top

23:56 junkiron
23:52 Mike N.
23:45 bman
23:38 Mike N.
23:37 AzCat
23:26 Attention on Deck
23:19 gorb
23:17 gorb
23:16 bigjim-CA
23:13 Attention on Deck
22:59 Attention on Deck
22:43 49 Pan
22:37 Barbara Skolaut
22:29 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:27 JosephMendiola
22:26 Barry Goldwater
22:18 Pappy
22:17 JosephMendiola
22:15 JosephMendiola
22:13 Frank G
22:12 SteveS
22:08 DMFD
22:03 Pappy
22:01 JosephMendiola









Paypal:
Google
Search WWW Search rantburg.com