The McChrystal Firing

[Just_A_Guy]

A couple of interesting articles:

Obama Borrows the Military Back

McChrystal's Tragedy

[dazed-and-confused]

i still haven't read the orignal article, but these that you've posted are very interesting. thanks for that.

[john doe]

I didn't read the linked articles, but I agree that he needed to go. When a general officer publicly voices his concerns about those whom he works for, he loses his ability to be a good leader to those under him. I likely agree with everything he (and his aides) said, but he should have known that it would reflect poorly on him and affect his ability to work with the people he reports to. If he wanted to say those things, he should have retired and then held those interviews. He had to know that Rolling Stone was not going to paint him on a good light on this, and that they would use his words against him for political gain if they could.

[Hemidakota]

A couple of interesting articles:

Obama Borrows the Military Back

McChrystal's Tragedy

Nice...but like always with many generals of the past, who saw the truth while serving their post, become frustrated with the administration, those that fill the post by this group, in trying to complete the task at hand.

I suspect, we will be given more insight down the road (book perhaps) on why this man had such a great contempt with various individuals.

[Voyager]

He should run for president. Is he a Democrat or Republican. I heard he voted for Obama. I wonder what insights he has. I also wonder if he has been warned to not say too much after he retires.

[Moksha]

Makes me wonder if some foreign agent slipped something into General McChrystal's food which inhibited his common sense. Foreign agents are tricky in that manner.

[marshac]

I didn't read the linked articles, but I agree that he needed to go. When a general officer publicly voices his concerns about those whom he works for, he loses his ability to be a good leader to those under him. I likely agree with everything he (and his aides) said, but he should have known that it would reflect poorly on him and affect his ability to work with the people he reports to. If he wanted to say those things, he should have retired and then held those interviews. He had to know that Rolling Stone was not going to paint him on a good light on this, and that they would use his words against him for political gain if they could.

Which is why I liked Powell so much- he was a good soldier to the end, even after the chicken-hawks in the Bush administration used his honor and reputation as a tool to push their agenda.

[Hemidakota]

He should run for president. Is he a Democrat or Republican. I heard he voted for Obama. I wonder what insights he has. I also wonder if he has been warned to not say too much after he retires.

He did vote for the man. Probably why he was totally disappointed.

[Hemidakota]

Which is why I liked Powell so much- he was a good soldier to the end, even after the chicken-hawks in the Bush administration used his honor and reputation as a tool to push their agenda.

Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. is the man who should of ran for president.

[Traveler]

I have mixed feelings about all this. I served in the military during the Vietnam era – I was never in combat but I had friends and colleges that did. I realize that in our era it is considered patriotic to support the military. I do. My experience in the military was rather frustrating in dealing with gross incompetence. For example, during a bivouac exercise I was ordered to park my vehicle in a barren desert area and camouflage it – making it the only “green” thing within 50 miles. Our company was ordered to dig 6 foot fox holes in an area of solid bed rock a little more than 1 foot deep and when this information was passed on to command we were simply informed – no excuses.

One thing I have learned about serving in the military – especially under pressure. When things are not going well and moral is extremely low – people under pressure will say things - things that appear to be insubordinate. The greater the problems and the less the needed recourses are supplied the more the complaint of incompetence towards those in charge. I see this as a precursor to problems that will most likely unnecessarily send with many of our boys coming home in body bags. And I suspect that we are seeing just the beginning of how the blame game will be played out.

Very few of the current generation have actually served in the military. Most have no intention of ever serving their country in such a manner thinking that someone else should worry about such things. If citizens were under real threat of war we would be less concerned about politics and more concerned about ending the conflict in a manner that those that fight against us will not even think of ever trying such a thing again for more than a generation. If we are not willing to end a conflict – it will continue until someone is willing to end it regardless of the cost and political fall out.

The Traveler

Edited June 25, 2010 by Traveler

[Hemidakota]

How McChrystal lost his job | Deseret News