Obama: McChrystal showed poor judgment but the mission is paramount
posted at 6:50 pm on June 22, 2010 by Allahpundit
He says he won’t make any final decisions until after they meet tomorrow, but here’s a heavy hint from this afternoon’s war cabinet meeting that big Mac might keep his job after all. “I know Secretary Gates feels the exact same way,” says The One about prioritizing victory over punishment for insubordination, but how true is that? Gates has pulled the trapdoor on many a general in his day, which is not to say that he’s prepared to risk defeat to send a message about discipline but rather that he seems to think the Pentagon’s bench is deep enough to risk late-inning substitutions.
Regardless, via WaPo, here’s a sneak preview of the inevitable spin if McChrystal does indeed hold on:
“My advice is to call him back to Washington, publicly chastise him and then make it clear that there is something greater at stake here,” said Nathaniel Fick, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is now chief executive of the Center for a New American Security. “It takes time for anyone to get up to speed, and right now time is our most precious commodity in Afghanistan.” If Obama believes the current counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan is the right one, then he cannot afford to jettison McChrystal, Fick said…
A senior Pakistani government official said Monday that many in Pakistan already believe the Americans lack a long-term strategy in Afghanistan. The possibility of McChrystal’s being removed only deepens Pakistan’s skepticism about chances for a U.S. victory in Afghanistan, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive policy assessment.
“Now, the person who helped craft that strategy, if he’s not on the scene, how will you take this process forward?” the official added.
A “senior official” tells NBC that McChrystal can save his job tomorrow if the meeting with Obama goes well. In fact, I wonder if one benefit in The One’s mind of keeping Mac on is what Fick alludes to in the blockquote — namely, it’ll allow him to stick with his timetable to begin withdrawing next summer. McCain has already seized this as an opportunity to pressure Obama towards relenting on the drawdown schedule and moving to a “conditions-based” approach; if O cans McChrystal, the argument for doing that becomes stronger since the new commander will need time to get up to speed. Obama clearly isn’t willing to be there forever, though: If he was, he wouldn’t have announced a withdrawal date in the first place, and given the lack of progress after six months and grumbling among his base, he surely doesn’t want to prolong the commitment. Keeping McChrystal gives him the political cover he needs to eventually say, “hey, we tried.” In the meantime, he gets to look magnanimous by forgiving an act of poor judgment and offering a new vote of confidence in his commander.
Exit question: Does he stay or does he go? Get your predictions in now!
Blowback
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What a joke. The mission paramount for Øbama is punishing McChrystal and saving his own butt by blaming the fall of Afghanistan on somebody else. (Community Organizing 101.)
petefrt on June 22, 2010 at 8:23 PM
And nobody knows poor judgment like Obama knows poor judgment.
He’s built an entire administrative program around it.
SuperCool on June 22, 2010 at 8:24 PM
Obama’s Mother Marxist Stanley Ann Dunham (true story)
Compare and contrast.
ontherocks on June 22, 2010 at 8:24 PM
And Islamism. Nice attempt at obfuscation.
What a sad line of thinking. Maybe not all Afghan people want to be free from the Taliban. Has that struck your mind? Maybe a good portion of them like the Islamic savagery because they are good and purist Muslims.
You need to try to erase ideology, and relegate it as much as possible to irrelevancy if you cannot. If you don’t understand the importance of the tribal and traditionalist Islamic component in this entire picture, well…I don’t know.
More assumptive thinking. Try again.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:27 PM
I’m pretty sure GEN Stan McChrystal’s middle name is Ann or Anne….weird, huh.
ted c on June 22, 2010 at 8:29 PM
McChrystal stays. Barry doesn’t want a loose mouth out there pointing out the idiocy of Barry’s henchmen.
GarandFan on June 22, 2010 at 8:29 PM
Funny, you talk about how everyone wants to be free from the Taliban, and you mock the idea of being concerned about the hearts and minds of the indigenous peoples.
And no, I don’t like overly restrictive rules of engagement.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Is this the DOTUS way of voting “Present”?
PappyD61 on June 22, 2010 at 8:34 PM
Since this “crisis” has no new powers to usurp and no monetary
shakedown potential, look for The Weak Won to do what comes naturally and take the easy way out.
If McC who’s already up to speed stays, Nitwit doesn’t have to get unprepared all over again for a replacement.
The only way General Rolling Stones gets fired is if he fires himself.
ontherocks on June 22, 2010 at 8:34 PM
heh. Barry is going to get the obamacare treatment. He may want to keep his general, but his general may not keep him.
If he thinks he’s entitled to a general, then pin a star or two on Rahms ballet skirt and call him a general and tell him to pack his stuff….we’ll see how he does.
ted c on June 22, 2010 at 8:35 PM
I understand the situation there just fine.
No need to nuance it anymore, John Kerry.
When Karzai was elected and the loya jurga met (for the first time in decades) to decide on a government, they chose to make Afghanistan an Islamist country.
But they were delighted to be freed from the tyranny of the Taliban that made them bury their TVs, beat women for going out in public without a man, whipped them for having beards that were too short.
The problem the Afghans have with us right now is that Obama and McChrystal’s new “nice” ROEs have left the people at the mercy of the Taliban again and given the Taliban free reign over big parts of the country that were once firmly under our control.
It has nothing to do with tribes or which form of Islamism is in favor.
The people there are in fear of their lives!
The Taliban executed a 7-year-old boy the other day as a “spy!”
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:35 PM
You really rely on character assassination when you have no substantive argument.
You are simply clueless.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:36 PM
Not everyone is! Not everyone hates the Taliban. Not everyone hates backwards thinking of traditional Islamic doctrine.
You are part of a large swath of Americans that are ignorant of Islam. Not everyone has a problem with Islamic overlordism.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:37 PM
You are entitled to your own stubborn opinion, but you’re not right and frankly, I could care less about local tribes when American men are being killed and not allowed to defend themselves.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:38 PM
the General has been at this for seven years, he’s been overseas so damn much that he doesn’t even know his wife Anne any longer. He sees her for maybe a month a year. His choices? Do the right thing and resign or get fired, then spend time at home in his twilight years, or conversely, keep up more of the same deployment schedule and pursue a statist and flaccid war strategy that he knows is a sh!tburger from jumpstreet??? hell, grab your clubs Stan, we’ll see you at Ft. Belvoir.
ted c on June 22, 2010 at 8:38 PM
I don’t like our president at all. No surprise. I think he’s bad on foreign policy and one of the worst wartime presidents in our history. However, he IS the president; McChrystal is his underling; there is no freedom of speech in the military; McChrystal was definitely insubordinate if the quotes are accurate; he should be fired immediately; or in the alternative, fired after this offensive and he’s had time to hand off the troops to a like-minded general.
My .02.
Tennman on June 22, 2010 at 8:38 PM
You want to solve a problem that you refuse to even attempt to understand. That’s unfortunate.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:39 PM
This shows you know nothing about Afghanistan.
They loathed the Taliban!
In fact, the Taliban were from Pakistan in the first place–they’re not even Afghans.
I’m not ignorant about Islam in the least.
Check my old blog (still online) for details.
I got a crash course on Islam on 9/11 to add to my actual experience in visiting Israel, Turkey and Egypt.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Middle initial A. in Wiki, but if you’re right, we’re at a nexus of weird cosmic coincidence and cataclysmic meaninglessness which of course is an excellent omen.
ontherocks on June 22, 2010 at 8:42 PM
The mission? To destroy America and “fundementally transform it”, you said so yourself.
“Time is our most precious cmmodity”? WHY DID YOU TAKE MONTHS TO TALK TO THE GENERAL LAST WINTER?
I know an azz to kick…he temporarily resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
dthorny on June 22, 2010 at 8:42 PM
Easy there Jen Hillary was within an eyelash of gettin one of those Jon Karyesque Purple Hearts over there in Kosavo or Serbia or somewhere where she deplaned and ran (ha would love to see that one run ) oops , distraction, ran for the safety of the command center under heavy and withering sniper fire.
Must of been piss poor snipers to miss that fat butt headin fo the hills.
dhunter on June 22, 2010 at 8:43 PM
I’ll pass.
Those experiences clearly taught you nothing, when you think that the issue of Islamism is immaterial to victory in Afghanistan.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:43 PM
And that problem would be what?
Knowing we can’t change Muslim tribes in Afghanistan into Liberty-loving American Christians overnight without it costing us millions of lives and billions of dollars?
Puh-lease.
You are a hopeless dreamer who listens to way too much NPR!
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:44 PM
Dear Lord, I watch Glenn Beck, read Hot Air, Michael Yon, and listen to Michael Savage. Enough with that typical, reactionary response that too many right wingers are engaging in nowadays.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:46 PM
Jihadi Islamism, as practiced by the Taliban, is one thing.
Being a Muslim is another.
We are not going to get the Middle East, including Afghanistan, to give up Islam altogether any time soon.
More’s the pity.
I loathe Islam and think it’s a religion of evil, but the Islamists kicked out all the Jews in the Middle East when Israel came into being and they persecute Muslims who become Christians, usually with death.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:47 PM
if it’s not “Anne” it’s “Arne” or something. I’m 90% certain on that.
ted c on June 22, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Thinking that Islam is not relevant to Afghanistan is like thinking that water is irrelevant to watermellon.
Tav on June 22, 2010 at 8:48 PM
I thought the Afghans loved freedom and just couldn’t have it because of the big mean Taliban.
That is, what you are saying, after all.
Pick a side, Jen. You keep trying to burn a candle at both ends.
The Taliban have had help from Pakistanis, but were composed of former Mujahideen, who were generally local Afghans themselves.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:49 PM
As I remember, no Afghani asked for Nato to come to Afghanistan. And outside of a corrupt elite telling you whatever keeps the aid money flowing, it is unlikely they ever thought of being rescued from Islam and the Taliban. You cannot win hearts and minds when the hearts are black with hatred for the unbelievers by Gods command and the minds are stunted and corrupted by Islam.
I passed by the war memorial in my little town tonight, the flags are at half mast again. But it is hard to tell who they are for as the local Legion also lowers them for local veterans who have passed. I don’t want to check anymore.
BL@KBIRD on June 22, 2010 at 8:49 PM
Look, Dude, we are not there (or we shouldn’t be there) to win hearts and minds, set up a government we feel comfortable with or facilitate franchises for McDonald’s and Walmart.
We’re supposed to be there to defeat the Taliban.
And to train the Afghan army to keep defeating the Taliban.
Anything beyond that is “empire building” and a waste of time as well as our soldiers.
If you want nation building, send in the Peace Corps.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:50 PM
I think everyone that reads HotAir understands the problems with Islam and the extent to which their philosophy enslaves their most rabid adherents, if not nearly all of Dar al-Islam.
What is your solution, O Wise One?
hillbillyjim on June 22, 2010 at 8:50 PM
You mean like Mullah Omar?
Who was hated.
The Taliban seized power only one way: by killing people.
And to stay in power, they kept killing people.
Innocent people.
Ever seen “Behind the Veil” where they shoot the woman in the head for “committing adultery?”
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:52 PM
Then no use in engaging in these pointless, mindless, fruitless attempts at nation building in backwards nations such as Afghanistan. Things will only have a chance of truly changing after many, many, MANY more years of US intervention there. Ten years won’t change jack.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:53 PM
…or should I have said: nearly all of the Ummah?
I think you get my drift.
hillbillyjim on June 22, 2010 at 8:54 PM
Yes, Jen. You read correctly. The Taliban was predominantly composed of former mujahids, who were mostly national Afghans.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 8:55 PM
That’s correct.
Afghanistan was a peaceful happy country before the Soviets came.
And when the Muhjahadeen defeated them, then they started the Afghan civil war, aided by the Taliban from Pakistan to turn Afghanistan into a strict Islamist country.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:56 PM
They were still regarded as “foreign usurpers” by the natives, especially Bin Laden, who was calling the shots of the Taliban after he set up his Al Queda HQ there around 1998.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 8:57 PM
I blame Obama. If he was someone McChrystal could look up to, the General would have. I mean, the guy eats Taliban for breakfast and shaves with concertina wire. You can’t blame him for not respecting Obama. Or for getting sh*tfaced and talking to a reporter.
GTR640 on June 22, 2010 at 8:58 PM
The ROE/”COIN/”Hearts and Minds”/”Unicorns and Flowers” are McChrystal’s. Have you never read his past statements?
Tav on June 22, 2010 at 8:59 PM
I didn’t say it wasn’t relevant.
But Islam isn’t the problem here, not really.
It’s allowing the Taliban to have free reign and they will impose their version of Islam by the sword, as always.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 9:00 PM
DefenseNews: In a blunt statement, [U.S. Special Operations Command chief Adm. Eric] Olson called “COIN doctrine an oxymoron.”
“It is an imperfect template from which we must deviate,” Olson said to a silent room.
His comments came 24 hours after Garry Reid, deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and combat terrorism, told the conference that Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants the entire military to adopt counterinsurgency standards “in line” with those applied in Afghanistan by Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces there.
Gates on May 24 signed a directive ordering the services and military components to “take McChrystal’s COIN training and proficiency standards … and adapt those or the whole force,” Reid said.
In other words, U.S. Special Operations Command chief Adm. Eric Olson, politely called Obama, Gates, McChrystal and Petraeus, morons.
Tav on June 22, 2010 at 9:02 PM
Yeah, I know.
Which is why I think Maobama likes him and won’t fire him.
Also, it’s why NObama fired McKiernan and gave the nod to McChrystal in the first place.
Added bonus for both men: it’s a losing strategy.
I’m still not sure why Stanley gave this interview to Rolling Stone, but it wasn’t to criticize Obama.
I think it was so he could go on the record that if we lose the war (and a lot more men), it’s not his fault or something…
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 9:03 PM
Imam McCrystal strikes again:
He said: “The government of Afghanistan has got to get control of that to a degree where the people believe it’s at least an acceptable political environment”.
What is needed is “probably a hybrid of using natural leaders in the community and their natural traditional structure like shuras and jirgas”.
He added: “In some cases it’s using sharia law down at the local level to get timely and fair justice.
Alcohol is now banned at the headquarters and he has just ordered that Burger King and Pizza Hut fast food outlets on Americans bases be closed.
Tav on June 22, 2010 at 9:04 PM
By whom, precisely?
The Taliban did work for the Sunni Afghans, annihilating the Hazara Shi’ite tribes, and doing work on the tribes in Northern Afgahnistan.
I’ll BBL
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 9:04 PM
OT…the clown posse doubling down on killing our state of LA…to issue new moratorium
GOD in Heaven, what happened to my country?
lukespapa on June 22, 2010 at 9:05 PM
I say we give ‘em a crash course in nuclear power, starting with the persians.
But that will never happen our S#@tstain in Chief.
ontherocks on June 22, 2010 at 9:08 PM
There are your tribes, who are not happy with this outcome.
The Taliban, those who were Afghans, were working for the PSI in Pakistan and for Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi Wahhabi Sunni.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Really, really late to this thread, but my two cents worth is he stays. Obama looks leader like in his realization that it’s the mission that’s important. I want to puke.
sandee on June 22, 2010 at 9:09 PM
The Mujihadeen were multinational, many being Arabs mainly from Saudi Arabia, and of course had a huge influence on the course of Afghanistan. They came from many Islamic nations, (again, mostly Arab), and did have a huge influence after the Soviets were repulsed. I really don’t know that your assertion that most were from Afghanistan holds water or not. I think you are underestimating the influence of foreign powers in the mix; I will do a little research before I claim to know more than I do.
Blatantblue, I think you haven’t yet figured out who you are, much less what you believe in. Until you do, maybe you should be less strident in condemnation of others? Maybe?
hillbillyjim on June 22, 2010 at 9:10 PM
As much as I admire Gen. McChrystal, he did a bad no-no and should be relieved. Then he would be free to criticize Obama’s handling of the war as often as he wants. However, unlike Harry Truman, I don’t think Obama has the gonads to fire McChrystal.
ddrintn on June 22, 2010 at 9:11 PM
What could go wrong!? Success is just around the next corner. Pictures of Hamid Karzai holding hands with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were obviously photoshopped. No sane person could possibly believe the two of them have anything at all in common. And those reports of Hamid Karzai threatening to join the Taliban, well that was just a case of another one of those all too transparent Mossad disinformation campaigns, because for some strange reason they don’t like The Religion of Peace. Go figure! Rest assured, everything is going very well. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus all know what they are doing. The Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter are advising them every step of the way. You are in good hands. Soon all of Afghan’s Muslims will be singing “Sweet Land of Liberty” and asking for Mark Levine’s pocket sized copies of the U.S. Constitution. Stay the course. Stay the course.
Cheshire Cat on June 22, 2010 at 9:11 PM
No
the Mujahideen was a majority of national Afghans. the rest was multi-national.
Don’t tell me what I believe until you get your basic facts straight.
blatantblue on June 22, 2010 at 9:12 PM
I don’t see what McChrystal did that is so wrong.
58% of Americans think Pinnochio is a lyin crapweasal and a whimp that is out to destroy our country or hasn’t a clue, McChrystal agrees.
Promote him, SecDef.
dhunter on June 22, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Dear God.
No wonder we’re losing the war there.
How Obama must love him and I can totally see that Stanley probably did vote for “Muslim friendly” Osama Obama.
Yeah, that’s right–make the Afghans go back to shari’ah.
And what do our soldiers drinking on our bases have to do with anything?
As for Burger King and Pizza Hut, did they have the b*lls to serve pork?!?
I am beyond disgusted.
I wish Obama would fire him, but he won’t.
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 9:16 PM
How about you get your facts straight and start posting some links, cites and authoritative references to your set of purported “facts?”
Jenfidel on June 22, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Now you are just being silly and showing your immaturity. Reread what I wrote, and you will see that your response was a knee-jerk one and not appropriate.
Also, you need to grow up; you insist on being the smartest one in the room, despite the fact that you’re just not.
hillbillyjim on June 22, 2010 at 9:17 PM
FORE!!!
David2.0 on June 22, 2010 at 9:19 PM
If Bams were smart, he would have the general unleash the full metal of his forces and win Kandahar this summer. It would be good for his party in November. This slow drip drip of stinking defeat and restraint medals will kill our treasure in the field–and the Dems at home.
PattyJ on June 22, 2010 at 9:26 PM
An officer is never to badmouth the CinC publicly, no matter how inept that CinC is. Period. The thing for McChrystal to do is to resign.
ddrintn on June 22, 2010 at 9:29 PM
First, a general like M is a pretty savvy politician in his own right, so don’t get to feeling too sorry for him. You don’t get to his rank without knowing how to sidestep a few landmines. Second, Afghanistan is practically a career-ender, so it was very ballsy/risky/dangerous for M to take it and promise results. That said, M is the only game in town, so now the issue is between O’s famously thin skin and insecurity around military men and being called a p*ssy by military men pretty much straight to his face (which Obama is, a PUSSY) and O’s interest in winning the war.
Which is virtually nil. O’s been looking for someone to blame for Afghanistan for some time and M is going under the bus. Plus, O doesn’t care about the threat posed by Afghanistan, or Iran, or Mexico, or China…all he cares about is appeasing our enemies and sucking up to them. So why in Hell would he care about ending a career officer?
GTR640 on June 22, 2010 at 9:30 PM
Obama is a pussy and should swallow his little pussy pride and keep M to accomplish the mission.
GTR640 on June 22, 2010 at 9:32 PM
Do you have a problem with Islamic “overlordism” (not a word)?
hillbillyjim on June 22, 2010 at 9:43 PM
The pot says the kettle shows poor judgment? Ho-hum.
petefrt on June 22, 2010 at 10:05 PM
GTR640 on June 22, 2010 at 9:30 PM
We’ll see. McChrystal is not stupid. He knows a fight is more often won with the mind than the weapons. McChrystal has owned Pinnochio from day one.
He may have game on now.
He has pushed a narrative that is unflattering to Pinnochio but evidently said very little himself.
Its a game Pinnochio plays also.
We may yet have a shakedown goin on or a cat and mouse between the General and the community organizer.
Popcorn please!
dhunter on June 22, 2010 at 10:26 PM
McChrystal told the inconvenient truth about Obama and people in his Administration. It was impolitic, but it was not insubordinate in the sense of refusing to follow orders.
I personally appreciated seeing McChrystal’s words because they reflect a “no B.S.” assessment. I have become increasingly concerned that Afghanistan may be winnable, but not with Obama as Commander in Chief. We might keep in mind what really matters: that we have our best in Afghanistan. With the lives of our military men at stake, I really don’t give a rat’s ass about how McChrystal was impolitic.
Phil Byler on June 22, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Phil Byler on June 22, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Thankyou!
dhunter on June 22, 2010 at 10:35 PM
McChrystal proved that he has a poor judgment when he voted for Obama.
finallyhere on June 22, 2010 at 10:35 PM
Obama thought he could choose McChrystal to fight and win a war, then choose to ignore him for six to eight months at a stretch while McChrystal ate his crap sandwich while sitting on an ammo can. It appears that McChrystal doesn’t like crap sandwiches and is looking to show the empty suit that dudes that issue jihadis their share of virgins don’t take nicely to eating crap sandwiches.
ted c on June 22, 2010 at 10:44 PM
McChrystal is an effing genius:
Ask politely for a meeting with the President; wait 6 months while our people are fighting and dying.
Speak the truth about the Idjit in Chief; get hauled into the White House within 24 hours.
Maybe the general just found a more efficient way to schedule a meeting.
Laura in Maryland on June 22, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Yes, maybe this is Mac’s last ditch effort to force the issue of Obama’s wishy washy war.
PattyJ on June 22, 2010 at 10:52 PM
Oilbama would never say that to a black General.
Oilbama is a racist, plain and simple.
Mr Purple on June 22, 2010 at 11:36 PM
Allah said:
Uh, huh. Never waste a crisis, especially when it also undermines the discipline the military relies on for effectiveness. This one’s a twofer.
Nichevo on June 22, 2010 at 11:59 PM
The truth of the matter (and everybody is denying it) is that this is a war of civilizations. Will the Islamic world dominate or the Christian west? Islam does not respect weakness. It was spread throughout the world at the edge of the sword. Too many western pollyannas refuse to acknowledge this global conflict. Islam is not a theology or philosophy that respects a difference of opinion. It means in itself SUBMISSION. It is a religion of compulsion, not freedom of choice. Trying to be a “secular on the fence” kinda person will only allow them to eat your lunch. This movement is religiously inspired and can only be defeated by the truth of the Gospel.
Rudemeister on June 23, 2010 at 12:25 AM
He did close down the concessions, but booze was “always” banned in theater. We haven’t been allowed drinks anywhere but Camp Andy in Qatar since the war started.
hawkdriver on June 23, 2010 at 12:36 AM
I don’t think he’ll still be in command at COB tomorrow. Him being in charge after demonstrating that behavior and Obama’s comments in reply make him absolutely ineffective as a leader. Once your boss gets a pass for breaking the rules, there are no rules. Once you see a superior dressed down by his superior, it’s hard to take them serious again.
hawkdriver on June 23, 2010 at 12:41 AM
You can win a war, you can lose a war, and you can halt a war if you can get both parties to agree. But you can’t unilaterally ‘end’ a war. Obama is a nut case for insisting we can. McChrystal I’m withholding judgment on. Obama is ultimately responsible for the execution of this war — and he’s been ignoring it, and delegating it, and bumbling around for months. McChrystal has certainly brought the war back to the front burner for a time with this. (I’ve got my Obama Meltdown Clock counting down.)
starboardhelm on June 23, 2010 at 1:35 AM
I figure Zero’s paramount mission is getting his snack on while cruising to the golf course.
viking01 on June 23, 2010 at 1:39 AM
I certainly agree with that, but I would note that McChrystal has said very little negative about Obama, and what little is in there is mostly second-hand. The criticism mostly comes from others on his staff, and is mostly directed at others like Eikenberry and Holbrooke. There may be enough wiggle room left for this to be repaired.
I’m heartened by the realization that McChrystal was not as out-of-control as I first thought before I had a chance to read the story. An awful lot of this is from a reporter pumping his staff for the “real dirt,” probably with the implication that it was somewhat off the record and he was just looking to understand the players.
But then, I find it hard to judge anyone for mocking Biden.
The reporter’s bias is also clear in the first paragraph:
Jerk.
But while all the focus is on General McChrystal, it’s also clear from the article that there’s backbiting among all the members of the team over there. Eikenberry even dished the dirt on his opinion of McChrystal well before this interview.
Frankly, the whole team needs to get on the same page and learn to work together and keep their disagreements private. I think this reflects worst of all on Obama, who should have made clear to them all that they needed to be a team.
For all that, I think McChrystal has been the wrong choice all along. He seems to have turned COIN into a “never offend anyone anywhere at any time” strategy, which may avoid causing some offense directly to the Afghans, but has let the Taliban and Al Quaeda have pretty much free reign. I think a big part of the success in Iraq had to do with our protecting them from Al Quaeda. The ROE in Afghanistan is so restrictive that our guys can’t really protect the “innocents.”
Don’t get me wrong, McChrystal has a great record that he can be proud of. That doesn’t mean he’s the right person in this case.
Probably the best thing to do would be to replace Holbrooke, Eikenberry, and McChrystal and get in a new team. (And ideally, Biden, Hillary, and Obama. Oh well.) But that would completely blow the deadline, and I bet Obama won’t do it.
So Obama will probably either a) take steps to dress down McChrystal to save face, but send him back, or b) make McChrystal the sacrificial lamb while leaving the other backbiters in place, but stick to the same 18-month deadline.
Given the One’s notorious thin skin, I’m betting option B.
The interesting thing here, given my usual disdain for Obama and general respect for the military, is that option B may turn out to be the best thing that could happen for the Afghan war at this point.
There Goes The Neighborhood on June 23, 2010 at 2:55 AM
I would agree with that, but I’m not so sure Obama understands this. He may keep him just to make sure his 18-month deadline stays intact. But Obama doesn’t tolerate any criticism well, so who knows.
And of course McChrystal understands your point even if Obama doesn’t.
There Goes The Neighborhood on June 23, 2010 at 3:05 AM
Agreed, a full housekeeping is in order. The General, the Ambassador, and the Envoy should all be replaced. McChrystal simply has to go for insubordination, though, or Obama looks weak. He may not fire the General because he IS weak.
`
It’s a mess, but it’s a mess which has only been made worse by Obama from the day he took office. He owns it now, no matter who the commander is. But at the rate Obama is going, one failure more or less isn’t likely to be noticed.
Adjoran on June 23, 2010 at 3:08 AM
Let’s face it, for this administration, it has never been about winning, or even putting ourselves in a better strategic position.
It’s all been about the optics of the thing; IOW, how it’s going to play on the front page of NYT. That is it in a nutshell. Please prove me wrong.
Had he not overextended himself with his unrealistic blather during the campaign, this would be a far different conversation.
hillbillyjim on June 23, 2010 at 3:24 AM
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ojesus is unfit for command.
hillbillyjim on June 23, 2010 at 3:26 AM
Heh. Obama has finally found a war he can handle. Commander-in-Chief vs McChrystal. Who will win?
It will be a tough fight. Obama may have to give up a few rounds of golf. This is a war, after all. Obama once even considered joining the military, so now, he can use that experience to outflank the General.
I suggest, to minimize collateral damage, Obama should use a drone and take out the General before he enters the WH grounds.
entagor on June 23, 2010 at 3:42 AM
I’m still trying to figure out what McCrhystal’s game is.
I know there’s a game, I just don’t know what it is.
Such success in Iraq, yet such apparent failure in Afghanistan – and then Karzai comes out with the hugs? Not saying I trust Karzai, but he doesn’t do that for anyone.
Maybe McC is just trying to get out – I doubt it, but maybe. Maybe he has another card to play.
It’s puzzling because there’s enough time involved that it pretty much has to be deliberate – this isn’t some moment of indiscretion.
If Obama loses McC, he pretty much loses the operation. He knows McC’s staff doesn’t respect him. I don’t know how well that registers, he’s pretty much screwed either way – unless he keeps McC, addresses the insubordination issue head-on, and takes delayed or administrative disciplinary action.
None of the options work well.
Merovign on June 23, 2010 at 5:41 AM
Will Obama bow to the General? Will he scrape? Will he genuflect? Will the General be received like Hu Jintao? Will he get to play basketball? These are the things the peeps want to know.
ted c on June 23, 2010 at 5:53 AM
it sounds like dear laeder will be accepting his resignation….
cmsinaz on June 23, 2010 at 5:58 AM
GEN McChrystal is going to pass the crap sandwich back to the president today so he can finish it for him.
chow down bud.
ted c on June 23, 2010 at 6:09 AM
yes!
cmsinaz on June 23, 2010 at 6:14 AM
Ted, I just read your comment about Obama pinning military badges to Rahm’s ballet skirt and sending him to Afghanistan instead of McChrystal. I laughed out loud! What a visual!
:-)
I think that Obummer will not accept McChystal’s resignation. Of all the options, this makes him look most “presidential”…and he’s most concerned with how he’s perceived, not about the security of the nation he swore on a Bible to protect.
Grace_is_sufficient on June 23, 2010 at 6:50 AM
I need to find my DVD of Dr. Strangelove so I can hear President Merkin Obama Muffley famously exclaim:
“Gentlemen, this is a War Room ! You can’t fight in here!”
viking01 on June 23, 2010 at 6:51 AM
man, they are already calling this the ‘public humiliation tour’
cmsinaz on June 23, 2010 at 7:15 AM
President Spock will have to take time out from his golf, war on Arizona, Louisiana, the people and American industry to show his lib friends some strong leadership by kicking the general’s ass. This will no doubt bouy the boy up a notch or to.
Gibb’s attitude in the press conference was one that I’d like to slap him up along side of his feckless head. Notice how smug, condecending he was to a General leading our nation’s war effort…a man Gibbs isn’t worthy to tie his shoes. On the other hand how obtuse Gibbs was in answering questions about Sestak and the White House offer. These people are sick clowns all.
wepeople on June 23, 2010 at 7:39 AM
There is irony here. During his campaign, Øbama cynically made his ‘commitment’ to Afghanistan as a counterweight to his surrender policy in Iraq, without any serious interest in the merits of the policy but mainly to show he wasn’t a total foreign policy wuss. During his campaign, pronouncing his support for Afghanistan was a tactical convenience.
Now that he’s prez, Afghanistan has flipped from convenience to inconvenience. Totally obsessed with transforming America into a socialist state, Teh Won sees any crisis abroad is a distraction from his domestic agenda. Like that fly on his face yesterday, Afghanistan is an annoyance.
Afghanistan may be headed down the tubes. It would be the last straw for Øbama’s presidency, already so damaged by other missteps. Afghanistan, which he cynically embraced during his campaign as a matter of political expedience, may become the crisis that finally brings him down.
petefrt on June 23, 2010 at 7:45 AM
It’ll be a miracle if the country makes it through one term of the empty suit. At least Soros and Petrobras will do well.
adamsmith on June 23, 2010 at 7:51 AM
GEN McC has the upper hand. I believe he will resign and give Obama the opportunity to continue the war he thought was so important to campaign upon, yet has failed to embrace sufficiently enough to attempt to win it.
ted c on June 23, 2010 at 8:01 AM
wi farmgirl on June 23, 2010 at 8:09 AM
I’m hoping you’re right. I’ll be on the edge of my chair to see what happens.
petefrt on June 23, 2010 at 8:10 AM
This is a situation tailor-made for Obama to show some leadership and decisiveness to a broad audience (hell, even conservatives are calling for McChrystal’s ouster) and Obams’s even dithering on this?!
It’s a no brainer. Polish your boss cred, fire the insubordinate, and use the resulting chaos to get out of a war you have no interest in pursuing anyway. Conservatives have to admit he did the right thing and he panders to his lefty base by leaving Afghanistan.
Instead he’s fortifying his reputation as an indecisive “vote present” guy, especially in the wake of the Rolling Stone article’s portrayal of him as intimidated by high-ranking military officers.
JohnTant on June 23, 2010 at 8:22 AM
He knew that if he offloaded to RS that they would paint him in the worse possible light, right?
Hening on June 23, 2010 at 8:38 AM
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