From today's Washington Post -
"Are you asking me about Vice President Biden?" McChrystal asks the [Rolling Stone] reporter at one point, laughing. "Who's that?"
"Biden?" an unnamed aide is quoted as saying. "Did you say 'Bite Me'?"
And this is what General McChrystal has to say about Richard Holbrooke, the President's senior envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan: "Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke. I don't even want to read it." McChystal described Holbrooke as "a wounded animal."
McChrystal on U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry: "Here's one [who] covers his flank."
McChrystal's aide on National Security Advisor James Jones: "a clown."
McChrystal is supposed to be working with these people. Instead, he's stabbing them in the back.
Fire him.
That's what I wished for last year on MSNBC, when McChrystal publicly demanded more troops in Afghanistan before the President had made that decision. This is what I said then:
"McChrystal is way out of line. He should remember what happened between Truman and MacArthur, another 'Big Mac.' He's pushing his luck here, because Obama needs to be the Commander in Chief. That's what the Constitution says - Article II, Section 2, that's what it says. He's the boss, not McChrystal. McChrystal should have known better. He saw what happened [to MacArthur], and I think history may repeat itself."
Let's face it. McChrystal has destroyed his working relationship with everyone who is not actually under his command. (And maybe those under his command, too; the Post quotes one as plaintively informing McChrystal, "sir, some of the guys, sir, think we're losing, sir.") For that alone, he should be fired.
But the problem goes deeper than that. The Constitution says that Congress has the power to declare war and fund (or de-fund) war, and that the President is Commander-in-Chief. Not Stanley A. McChrystal. No one elected him.
It is fundamentally wrong to set policy on war by asking the generals, "do you want more troops?" That's like asking Wall Street, "do you want more money?" That's like asking my five-year-old twins, "do you want more candy?"
McChrystal has to go. But after that, we have to make our decisions on war and peace based on what's right for America, not what's right for the generals, or Halliburton, or Blackwater. Not what's right for the military-industrial complex. But rather, what's right for us.
Follow Rep. Alan Grayson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alangrayson
Record level debt ... sky high unemployment ... collapsed housing market ... oil flooding out Gulf coast region. Yes, Congressman, I know the feeling of that "knife in the back" from those who are supposed to be working for me. Know it well ....
So, get a grip - McChrystal had two heavy strikes, this was an out, and he knew it. The problem is that negativity is contageous - and if your men don't have confidence in their country, then of course we've lost the war. It's not the "mean" language, it's the sabatage.
The President waived the time remaining for Gen McChrystal to retain is Four Stars for retirement.
McChristal got off both from his Mission, and his disgrace.
Go read the WaPo story on the Nighthawks - the people working to keep you and me safe - writing those Emails Gen. McChrystal "doesn't even want to read."
You're feeling the knife of the Bush Administration and the TeapartyRepublicans, not our President's Administration.
Can't fan.
But I bet a lot of people dream about the final arguments...
Faved too, KickstandCat. Let's watch - and see if McWC spends time on FixedNews - blabbing about 'what we should be doing' - or 'mean' adjectives for our public and military men and women serving who are *not* retired, but trying they're damnest to protect us.
Not that I'm for war. I'm not. But we can't let the Military undermine our Civilian Governance.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/06/the-fallout-of-general-mcchrystals-screw-up/
BRILLIANT move by Obama. He's made McChrystal a millionaire a few times over, made an enemy, and empowered the enemy with civilian freedoms.
GENIUS.
Tick tock tick tock
President Obama sorely needs to man up in his oval office and stop talking about kiking *ss and show us some hides on the fence.
Books, speaking tours..Stan would clean up.
You know its funny....while Stan used poor judgement in talking to the RS reporter...nothing he said seemed wrong or innaccurate.
You can spit on Obama, kick Obama, slander Obama, lie about Obama, and even yell at him during his State of the Union speech and you will not be held accountable. By now, the political establishment realizes that this man never comes back after you. Instead he prattles on about bipartisanship even when the opposition has united and stonewalled him at every turn.
No, Obama doesn't do accountability so McChrystal will stay and those who care about justice, accountability, responsiblity, law, respect and honor will once again groan as the underpinnings of our civiliation; responsibility and accountability just melt away.
President Obama names McCrystal to lead the war in Afghanistan
President Obama waits three months to discuss the situation on the ground with McCrystal
President Obama authorizes 10,000 fewer troops than was requested by McCrystal
President Obama dictates an arbitrary withdrawal time line without considering McCrystal's plea to the contrary.
I agree that an active General must respect the Commander in Chief, but I can't recall a Commander in Chief who has shown less respect for a war time General.