Re:The wrong man went away.... The problems started at the top-Obama-so a general's resignation will do very little to improve the problems. Obama is the poorest excuse for a CINC that we have had since Jimmy Carter. Now, if we could experience a resignation from Oblama......LTC (R)
McChrystal made a stupid mistake and paid the price for it. He showed disrespect for his boss by demeaning the Commander-in-Chief and that is a justification for his dismissal. Had Obama done anything less he would have looked weak. No one is indispensible. Retired USAFR (8 years active; 12 reserve).
This is not about whether or not you like, support or agree with Obama. It is about civilan control over the military and the need for military discipline. If McChrystal has issues with Obama, he has every right - even the responsibility - to speak with Obama in private about those issues. He does not have the right to address those issues in the public forum.
My dad always said the military probably has the fewest civil rights of all, but he understood that. He served with a lot of guys he didn't care for but he certainly gave rank the respect it commanded. He knew how to fight for what he thought was right without crossing the line. He would be the first to tell you this is not about Obama being right or wrong, but the General being wrong.
It's simple - they get to kill people and break things. Usually without threat of jail. They just have to be quiet.
I don't think the pres. had much choice but to accept his resignation. Fire McChrystal? A new test for Obama - USATODAY.com The man sealed his own fate.
I fully agree on the candidly but privately. Just about anyone that criticizes the big boss in such a public manner is gonna pay the consequences, no matter what the sector. Another reason for discipline may have to be found, but it will happen.
Re: The wrong man went away.... This is horribly untrue. His resignation will bring moral to the troops in the field as certainty in operations will not remain in doubt. Troops do not want to hear how ate up sh!t is at the top. They require a sense of competence which is certainly not the case here. Obama actually gets an ataboy for accepting his reasons along with his resignation. He handled this matter as any CIC should.
I had a long post about war, politics and all, but deleted it. As soon as constraints are placed on war, it reverts to politics. Per Clauswitz, "War is nothing more than the continuation of politics by other means." Once the "other means" revert to politics...that is bad news. Kind of a mindless "do loop." Clauswitz again, "Woe to the government, which, relying on half-hearted politics and a shackled military policy, meets a foe who, like the untamed elements, knows no law other than his own power!" Petraeus is a very very political general. He is a great fit between Kabul and Washington (though the demotion from theater commander is somewhat interesting). Not so sure about how he does downstream of Kabul. Admiral Fallon (prior COMCENTCOM) told Petraeus that he considered him to be "an ass-kissing little chicken****" and added, "I hate people like that", the sources say. That remark reportedly came after Petraeus began the meeting by making remarks that Fallon interpreted as trying to ingratiate himself with a superior. I think the good Admiral summed it up pretty good. Finally, before you start cheering about how Petraeus led the "surge" you need to re-read Woodward's book. Having stated all that, I hope he is immensely successful and this escapade can be brought to a rapid, make that immediate, end.
This is off topic, but what is the point in staying in Afghanistan? I mean we have been there 9 years, and estimates are it will take another 10 years and another trillion dollars to build a nation, and after all that investment and loss of US troops a nation with the economic output of Chad may stand. Is building another Chad worth 20 years and 2 trillion dollars?
