America's Top Commander Exposes Obama Administration Incompetence; Walks It Back

[PanzerJaeger]

Gates advocated keeping McChrystal.

Washington (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates backed keeping Gen. Stanley McChrystal on the job because he was vital to the war effort in Afghanistan, but Gates was overruled, a senior Pentagon official told CNN's Barbara Starr.

I guess a president's ego takes precedence over the war effort after all.

[Lemur]

I guess a president's ego takes precedence over the war effort after all.

Out of curiosity, would you be willing to accept any interpretation of this event that does not hinge on Obama being craven, incompetent, thin-skinned and evil?

Meanwhile, a deploying officer muses on the relevance of COIN in Afghanistan:

You say that Petraeus's strategy of COIN is misplaced in Afghanistan because it's missing certain components. I would say that you understate the case. COIN isn't merely the wrong strategy in Afghanistan. It is, in scientific parlance, "not even wrong." It's the sort of wrongness that doesn't even bring you closer to understanding what the right move is.

As a contrast, Operation Market Garden was the wrong move. It needed more troops, more armor, more logistical support, etc. It was an excellent try, though, and it nearly succeeded in taking the Rhein.

By contrast, to say "we're going to pursue a strategy of counterinsurgency in Afghanistan" makes about as much sense as "We're going to pursue a strategy of de-Nazification in Afghanistan." It's a non-sequitur. I mean, for goodness sakes, an insurgency is a campaign to overthrow, reduce the reach of, delegitimize, or destabilize a local government. There is no government in Afghanistan to be an 'insurgent' against, merely a collection of warlords, drug barons, and theocratic gangsters of whom the Taliban and the Kabul Mayor Karzai are merely two of the most notable.

You can't have a "counterinsurgency" in a country that doesn't have an insurgency, and you can't have an insurgency in a country that doesn't have a government to begin with.

COIN in Afghanistan? What next, building a GOTV operation in Mogadishu? Striving to become an Admiral in the Swiss Imperial Navy? Writing a book on the mating habits of the North American Snipe? It's a non-sequitur!

Having said that, I'll likely be deploying in February, and will do my darnedest to fulfill the mission my commanding officer assigns me, even if I think that his playbook is about as relevant to Afghanistan as would be "The Art of French Cooking." And you can bet I won't be mouthing off about my CO's particular merits to the newsies who occasionally pass by.

[PanzerJaeger]

Out of curiosity, how do you know that "military reader" is an officer?

[Lemur]

Out of curiosity, how do you know that "military reader" is an officer?

Based on how he writes, he's college-educated, and he's prolly had some academic miltary instruction as well. Sounds a lot like a Westie. Unlikely to be enlisted.

[Vladimir]

Based on how he writes, he's college-educated, and he's prolly had some academic miltary instruction as well. Sounds a lot like a Westie. Unlikely to be enlisted.

Because enlisted people rarely have a college education. Many of them can't even read.

The use of "commanding officer" and repeated use of "non-sequitur" smells enlisted to me.

[Lemur]

Because enlisted people rarely have a college education. Many of them can't even read.

If you'd like some help stuffing that straw man, just let me know. Then again, you seem to be doing fine on your own.

Are you up for addressing the author's points about COIN, or does your interest in the topic end at scolding me for guessing the author's rank?

[Major Robert Dump]

Suddenly, my lack of judgement and big mouthed-ness makes me all the more paranoid about posting my "journal." Now you all know why my only post to date went in the backroom. If only they gave warning points like the .org.......

[Vladimir]

If you'd like some help stuffing that straw man, just let me know. Then again, you seem to be doing fine on your own.

Are you up for addressing the author's points about COIN, or does your interest in the topic end at scolding me for guessing the author's rank?

Teasing, not scolding. I love pro-simians; I really do.

No, not really. I can understand his points but all he is doing is criticizing. What is he proposing? Carpet bombing and a return to massive aerial retaliation? Just because there is no strong central government doesn't mean COIN principles will not work. He constructed a straw man of his own.

MRD, your posts are, by definition, anonymous. Just mind yourself if some creature from cable news interviews you for man-on-the-scene junk. And note that McChrystal mouthed off to the press in large, embarrassing ways not once, but three times before being yanked.

In less she's like the reporter from the opening scene of Three Kings. Then tell here everything she wants to know.