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

[Lemur]

PJ's pronouncement earlier was, "The war in Afghanistan was lost in November of 2008." That should tell you most of what you need to know.

You would have done better to link to the original Rolling Stone article, rather than a third party analysis IMO.

Full article here.

McCrhystal really messed up big-time. Not in his criticism of his CIC, which is bad enough, but in bad-mouthing all sorts of colleagues to a RS reporter. Amateur hour. Examples:

Gen McChrystal also appears to joke in response to a question about the vice-president.

"Are you asking about Vice-President Biden?" McChrystal asks. 'Who's that?"

An aide then says: "Biden? Did you say: Bite Me?" [...]

Another aide refers to national security adviser, James Jones, as a "clown stuck in 1985".

Of an e-mail from US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, Gen McChrystal says: "Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke... I don't even want to open it."

[PanzerJaeger]

I love how the implication of PJ's rhetoric is that the war in Afghanistan would be sorted out if only we didn't have this incompetent bumbler socialist in the WH. Note that PJ's pronouncement on all of this earlier was, "The war in Afghanistan was lost in November of 2008."

So tell us all, PJ, what the winning strategy in Afghanistan is. Tell us who we should back, how many troops we should deploy, how many more years we should pay for their country, etc.

It is rather surprising that you would link to that thread in relation to this article, as it only seems to validate my concerns and highlight your misplaced confidence in this administration.

I did enjoy the open ended call to "solve Afghanistan", both cleverly and completely sidestepping the topic.

Also, tell us what should be done with a commanding officer who bucks civilian authority. I'm sure there must be a precedent somewhere ...

Ouch. Really? Apparently the bruised egos resulting from this extend beyond the White House.

Edit: I thought I was the only serial editor around here.

In any event, I'm not sure how much more life your whole "Panzer hates Obama so disregard everything he says" theme has left... you may consider revising your line of attack, sir.

[KukriKhan]

La guerre! C’est une chose trop grave pour la confier à des militaires.

- Georges Clemenceau

Never speak or write anything you don't want to see on the front page of NYT tomorrow.

- KukriKhan

What was General Mac thinking? That a Rolling Stone freelancer was his buddy, best pal? Fight the damned war, Sir. Leave teh politics to teh poli's.

[rory_20_uk]

I thought that he was if nothing else a very clever individual. He's senior enough to be aware of the press and associated risks.

Either this was a monumental lapse of judgement, or he's thought it through and has a strategy.

[Vladimir]

I thought that he was if nothing else a very clever individual. He's senior enough to be aware of the press and associated risks.

Either this was a monumental lapse of judgement, or he's thought it through and has a strategy.

With four stars and a sharp mind I can't help but think there is something else behind this. He knows enough not to trust Rolling Stone to provide favorable coverage when he makes these kinds of comments.

[KukriKhan]

The head of his Chief of Staff should roll.

Meanwhile, assuming

there is something else behind this

, we've seen this movie before, haven't we? All that remains is Country Joe MacDonald, choppers taking off from the roof of the US Embassy, talk of "Peace with Honor", and Afghanistan boat people.

Q: How long will it take this time to rebuild America's Army?

[drone]

and Afghanistan boat people.

I think it's safe to say, out of all the possible outcomes of this Asian adventure, that this will not happen.

[Vladimir]

Q: How long will it take this time to rebuild America's Army?

Rest assured: If that happens to us again I won't wait for a new Abrams to come along.

[Louis VI the Fat]

I thought that he was if nothing else a very clever individual. He's senior enough to be aware of the press and associated risks.

Either this was a monumental lapse of judgement, or he's thought it through and has a strategy.

Aye, that was my thought too. Is he really that naive to grant so much access to a reporter, to speak his mind this freely, without realising the result?

Did he sincerely get wobbly knees, regrets? Or is it all exactly to his liking: vent the criticism, then save his own position by backtracking before it is even published?


Either way, he's done the mission in Afghanistan a disservice.


As for Obama - Afghanistan is a quagmire. It couldn't be solved before him, nor by him. We mustn't have unrealistic expectations. There was a clear reason to go into Afghanistan, there has never been a clear exit. Or, America couldn't not have gone in, and can not get out.
In Afghanistan, I haven't seen a decisive mistake by Obama, nor any meaningful policy either.

it is usually the polictiaions fault for causing a nation to lose a war

If only armies were allowed to decide for themselves, no wars would ever be lost and both sides would win every single time!

[al Roumi]

So.... a two term senator, or a C grade ex-alcoholic drug addict was the perfect choice?

Democracies have specialists to help - all those generals and so on. I believe that the Pentagon has something to do with it.

Just sitting on a committee for 30 years makes you no better at it than Obama. Even being a general might not work as the picture is way beyond mere warfare.

Fight the damned war, Sir. Leave teh politics to teh poli's.

Good posts, bows all round:

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

- Georges Clemenceau

- KukriKhan

What was General Mac thinking? That a Rolling Stone freelancer was his buddy, best pal? Fight the damned war, Sir. Leave teh politics to teh poli's.

Easy to say that Kukri, but hard to do when the government is sticking it's nose in a place where it has no business in going ------ War. Leave the troops alone and let them do their jobs.

[Vladimir]

Easy to say that Kukri, but hard to do when the government is sticking it's nose in a place where it has no business in going ------ War. Leave the troops alone and let them do their jobs.

Wrests those wrists Kaiser. Save that aggression for the Turks.

[Gregoshi]

Easy to say that Kukri, but hard to do when the government is sticking it's nose in a place where it has no business in going ------ War.

And vis versa.

[Lemur]

Edit: I thought I was the only serial editor around here.

After a couple of minutes' reflection, I de-Panzered my post almost entirely. Although you have done future generations a service by preserving the earlier draft for all time. Cheers.

[PanzerJaeger]

Last edited by Lemur; Today at 08:52.

It's an addiction. Once you start, it cannot be stopped. On occasion, I've rewritten entire posts that are so far into internet obscurity they are almost guaranteed never to be seen again, just for my own peace of mind.

[Gregoshi]

After a couple of minutes' reflection, I de-Panzered my post almost entirely. Although you have done future generations a service by preserving the earlier draft for all time. Cheers.

Never speak or write anything you don't want to see on the front page of NYT tomorrow.