Furious President Obama summons Gen. Stanley McChrystal to D.C

[CathFaith1]

I’m not so sure about that. Bush did the same thing. In 2009, Adm. William J. Fallon, then head of U.S. forces in the Middle East, was the subject of an Esquire magazine piece in which he questioned the Bush administration’s policies. He was forced to retire soon afterward.

I’m not sure Adm. Fallon’s resignation as commander of U.S. Central Command was ‘forced’. Gates Accepts Resignation of CENTCOM Chief Fallon

I’d say the Adm. did the correct action. Just as Gen. McChrystal should do.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

I pretend to no expertise on the subject. But this whole situation over there reminds me of nothing so much as the Indian Wars.

It seems to me that war with an implacable, primitive and vicious enemy involves employment of overwhelming and unremitting force, total destruction and the creation of much misery. It’s chasing the “Comanches” into their Palo Duro Canyon refuge, shooting all their horses, burning their tents and food supplies and leaving them utterly destitute. Then, and only then, one can tell them what they are to do next. Then, and only then, will they do it.

We’re not willing to do that.

Alternatively, one hires the Tonkawas to wage unremitting war on the Comanches,whom they already hate, keeps them armed and looks the other way while they wage a distracting war among themselves forever. There are those in Afghanistan who would do that.

We’re not willing to do that either.

If we get out, Iran will hire the Tonkawas and Pakistan will hire the Comanches. When Iran goes nuclear, neither the U.S. nor any other western power will ever venture to set foot there again. It will become a haven, not only for Al Quaeda, but for every other terrorist group on earth, just as it was before we got there. Now and then, Russia may drop a missile on some Chechen training camp, and we may drop a missile on some Al Quaeda training camp.

As little as it may seem so to many, Western Asia is an even more savage place than is the Middle East. Frankly, in my opinion, Obama sent the “surge” to the wrong place. There still is a chance that the line of at least some semblance of civilization may be drawn on the eastern border of Iraq, and we should try to ensure that happens. I think Bush was right in instituting “Round 2” of the Iraq War and in blasting the Taliban power structure. But having done the latter, he should have left, promising to return to do the same if the Taliban again conspired with anyone in any hostile act against the U.S.

But campaign rhetoric has a tendency to bind politicians into staying with bad choices.

Our rules of engagement have been designed in such a way that our people are there on suicide missions, with their hands tied behind their backs and their eyes blindfolded.

 

[estesbob]

Their soldiers and our soldiers might not get along, but there’s large cooperation in intelligence.

How could that happen? The French are a bunch of gay sissies who run away from a starter’s pistol.

Rminds me of the ad in soldier of fortune:

For sale-French Army Rifles-only been dopped once"

Or:

“Why does the new French Navy have glass bottomed boats? So they can see the Old french Navy”

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Rminds me of the ad in soldier of fortune:

For sale-French Army Rifles-only been dopped once"

Or:

“Why does the new French Navy have glass bottomed boats? So they can see the Old french Navy”

Nice piece of work. The IDF can’t be criticized, but the French who saved us during the War of Independence and who stopped the Germans at Verdun are to be made fun of. Look up the Battle of Kasserine Pass if you want to find accounts of another army that was routed and ran away.

 

[Ocean52680]

So, perhaps the general has first hand knowledge, (as I do), about the behavior of the French. A little contemptious? So what!

I agree. I’m not a bit concerned with the General’s comment about the French. One would think that their people would finally appreciate that the city of Paris, Germania only exists in a fictional universe.

 

[joe_clark]

Interesting blog post on a Navy blog:

General McCrystal will be fired, as he almost certainly should be. That really isn’t the problem facing the Obama administration and the country. The problem is that we appear to be losing the war, and now you have an internal distraction the enemy had nothing to do with.

The President made Afghanistan his war when he decided to go with General McCrystal’s counterinsurgency strategy and began surging additional troops. I don’t want to hear how the President of the United States had no choice regarding Afghanistan and was backed into the corner - because to suggest that is true is to basically say Barack Obama is not qualified to be the leader of the free world. The President has lost his General. Has he lost the General McCrystal counterinsurgency strategy too? Is losing the war not so far behind?

I just wish there was one thing so far during the Obama administration to date I could point to and suggest there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but the lack of direction and focus that is displayed in every emerging challenge this administration has faced to date suggests that a pattern of panic, confusion, chaos, and indecision regarding what to do will become the next phase of the Afghanistan war.

informationdissemination.net/2010/06/more-on-mccrystal.html

I also believe that McCrystal will resign or be fired because of his behavior that he could not control? It is different for civillians than people in the service who cannot disrespect the commander in chief, especially while fighting a war. IN doing so, McCrystal also injures the the men and women fighting in the service and also harms the reputation of the the United States with his display of public stupidity. Whether you like the president before or now, while he is commander and chief if you are in uniform and or in the armed forces, there is a code of conduct that cannot be ignored.

 

[livnlern]

This is sort of off topic, but I find it interesting that Obama is finally “furious” about something. Why hasn’t he been so impassioned about the oil spill? Or all the people who are out of work? Is it because this has wounded his pride?

 

[estesbob]

Nice piece of work. The IDF can’t be criticized, but the French who saved us during the War of Independence and who stopped the Germans at Verdun are to be made fun of. Look up the Battle of Kasserine Pass if you want to find accounts of another army that was routed and ran away.

If the IDF faced the French the French would run away with their tails between their legs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If the IDF faced the French the French would run away with their tails between their legs.

Wellllllll, the Foreign Legion is still a pretty tough group, no?

 

[Cactus]

Someone said that if the general doesn’t trust the Commander in Chief he should step down. This brings up a problem: no competent officer in the US military trusts this man.

 

[joe_clark]

This is sort of off topic, but I find it interesting that Obama is finally “furious” about something. Why hasn’t he been so impassioned about the oil spill? Or all the people who are out of work? Is it because this has wounded his pride?

Only the poster knows about how furious President Obama is, because President Obama never made any public statement. I quess the poster has a hotline to the President’s office?

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

If the IDF faced the French the French would run away with their tails between their legs.

I wouldn’t count on it.

If you can envision a war between France and Israel, it would be, in any case, the first time the Jews will have faced anything more than the rabble armies of their neighbors. They look good because they never fought anything except junk armies and terrorists.

 

[estesbob]

Wellllllll, the Foreign Legion is still a pretty tough group, no?

Yes-because it is staffed with foriegners!

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Someone said that if the general doesn’t trust the Commander in Chief he should step down. This brings up a problem: no competent officer in the US military trusts this man.

A sweeping and broad brush statement. Can you provide any documentation for this?

You can’t.

 

[estesbob]

I wouldn’t count on it.

If you can envision a war between France and Israel, it would be, in any case, the first time the Jews will have faced anything more than the rabble armies of their neighbors. They look good because they never fought anything except junk armies and terrorists.

Given the French record of shipping Jews off to Death Camps I supect the Jews would have a lot more incentive to win

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Yes-becuase it is staffed with foriegners!

The officers in the Legion are French, and 24% of the enlisted men are also French, as they can legally join the Legion.

BTW, they have far more battle honors than your precious IDF.

 

[revert_jen]

Anyone who’s been in the Military, would understand the “Personality Conflict.”

It would not be easy working under one who’s calling the shots-and obviously clueless.

Well, yes. Probably a lot of people understand and even agree with the general’s sentiments. Nonetheless it was a huge mistake to air those sentiments in front of a reporter, and one that, as a powerful career military man, he should have been able to avoid making. And it makes people uncomfortable when their 4-star generals make huge errors in judgement.

Now, me, I’d probably say some of the same stuff (expressed a bit less crudely), but that is one of the reasons I’m really glad that I am completely unimportant and it doesn’t matter one hoot what I say. If I were a general, I’d have to be more circumspect.

–Jen

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Given the French record of shipping Jews off to Death Camps I supect the Jews would have a lot more incentive to win

Is that what the French Army did? When? Between the start of the “phony war” and Dunquerque? While they were fighting in North Africa? Or was it while they took part in campaigns in Norway and Syria?

 

[DawnInTexas]

Obama had already deployed an additional 17,000 troops in February of 2009. In September, McChrystal wanted 500,000 more! Just to put that in perspective; it would mean that 57% of all active duty forces in the United States military would be in Afghanistan. I’d say that’s a lot to think about especially while our Ambassador to Afghanistan, a retired 3 star General which led our forces in Afghanistan between 2006-2007, is speaking out against an increase in troop levels. Obama also had to consider the fact that Hamad Karzai’s commitment was, and still is, questionable as he had entered into negotiations with the Taliban. In the end, he gave McChrystal another 30,000.

You got a source for that 500,000?

That’s news to me.

To put that in perspective: You’re either really mixed up-or a troublemaker.

God Bless.
+Jesus, I Trust In You!
Love, Dawn

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Well, yes. Probably a lot of people understand and even agree with the general’s sentiments. Nonetheless it was a huge mistake to air those sentiments in front of a reporter, and one that, as a powerful career military man, he should have been able to avoid making. And it makes people uncomfortable when their 4-star generals make huge errors in judgement.

Look at General MacArthur. He was a great general, but his statements intended to provoke a general war with China and perhaps to drag the Soviet Union into the war were more than Truman, the “ex-artillery captain,” and the Joint Chiefs of Staff who backed Truman could tolerate. Either you respect who is at the top of the chain of command and have his respect or you must leave. Truman knew that and rightly removed MacArthur.