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

[Azathoth]

What was the movie where some Canadian tries to launch American missiles at Russia and nearly starts WW3?

[Vladimir]

What was the movie where some Canadian tries to launch American missiles at Russia and nearly starts WW3?

You'll have to be more specific. They all want to do that.

On topic: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062300689.html

1:30

[Lemur]

Hmm. Not to get all Psychic Friends Network on this, but it sounds like McChrystal is out. I guess it had to happen, although I wish it could have been otherwise. The General may be a PR nightmare and something of a free agent, but his COIN credentials are impeccable.

[Vladimir]

Hmm. Not to get all Psychic Friends Network on this, but it sounds like McChrystal is out. I guess it had to happen, although I wish it could have been otherwise. The General may be a PR nightmare and something of a free agent, but his COIN credentials are impeccable.

He may remove the general but leave selected staff and his policies intact. I wish he'd remove a few select civilians as well.

He has to fire him but I don't know if he can. I hope he stays but that's mostly for my own selfish reasons.

[PanzerJaeger]

Sad. Now we've got an unprepared and incredibly thin-skinned president and a critical commander lost in the midst of a critical juncture in the war effort, all over a few off-handed comments. With rising violence in Iraq, Patraeus will have to take his eye off the big picture and get back in the mud. Hopefully he'll be able to replicate past success.

The president had an opportunity here to put national interests above his ego. He chose differently.

[Lemur]

The president had an opportunity here to put national interests above his ego. He chose differently.

And if he had retained McChrystal? I can imagine the rhetoric:

Sad. Now we've got an unprepared and incredibly wimpy president unable to discipline a commander in the midst of a critical juncture in the war effort, despite blatant insubordination that clearly calls for action. By bending to pressure and caving to the hysterics and theatrics of a subordinate, Obama has emboldened our enemies and shown that he lacks a spine.

The president had an opportunity here to show he would not be bullied by anyone. He chose differently.

[PanzerJaeger]

Oh boy. POTUS just said Stan McChrystal is a great general, that he has relied on him extensively, and that he is one of America's greatest soldiers.

I understand a "thank you for your service" was in order, but after such a lauding summation, letting him go over a Rolling Stone piece looks all the more petty.