Obama removes the top commander in the war theater because of an interview; the man who has been leading the war against terror since 2001. Is this a fair penalty? More with links as soon as available.
10-40am PT: Reports are McChrystal may be joining Obama in Rose Garden, speech now 10 minutes late.
Thank goodness we have Patraeus, and I mentioned yesterday I welcome McChrystal being out, it now frees him up to make more of a difference as opposed to being held back by a Commander-in-Chief who, IMHO, sympathizes with the enemy.
Statement by Gen. Stanley McChrystal
Fox: Obama Relieves McChrystal Over Critical Remarks, Names Petraeus as Replacement
Politico: Petraeus pick praised
CNN: What happened at McChrystal, Obama meeting
WaPo: With McChrystal out, difficult Afghan mission gets harder
This has all happened for the best, no matter who the president is. Morale is down and American casualties are up because McC’s strategy simply is not working. 2010 is lost. The buildup is not even complete, the big offensive is still months (?) away. War in slow motion? I don’t think he has been running a tight ship… maybe this interview is a sign of that, who knows, but with Patraeus back in maybe we’ll get back to killing the enemy instead of paying them off left and right while they simply wait us out.
I just saw a story last night about one of our troops that was killed by an IED because they weren’t allowed to blow the building up when they wanted to. They knew it was boobytrapped, but weren’t allowed to do what they needed to do. We can’t fight a war with both hands tied behind our backs.
I’ll be curious to see how Patraeus handles this hot mess.
Terrific! Replace a warrior general with a political corporate general. Just another mistake by our commander-in-I-don’t-know-what-to-do…………………………
Sorry, but I just don’t see McChrystal as a hero in this matter. I think he deliberately set things up to where Urkel would have to fire him after him comments in Rolling Stone came out. Now it’s back to the States where I’m sure he’ll have a huge book deal awaiting him as well as being hailed as a hero by many foolish conservatives. But what about the men whom he was leading in Afghanistan? The men whom he was supposedly standing up for. They get to stay behind and get chopped while McChrystal gets wined and dined stateside. Thank goodness we now have a real general in charge of Afghanistan (Petraeus) instead of the dimestore kind (McChrystal). Hopefully, Petraeus can pull Urkel’s chestnuts out of the fire in Afghanistan the way he did with Bush in Iraq.
I know I probably see this matter differently than a lot of my fellow TAMs but after serving in the military I tend to hold generals much the same regard as the Charles Bronson character in The Dirty Dozen did.
General McChrystal asked for more troops, and Obummer wasted several months before responding. Even then, he sent about half of what McChrystal wanted.
General McChrystal insults President Panty Waist, and that wimp wastes no time in calling the General home and punishing him.
I can see where Obummer’s REAL priorities are.
Hello Tammy and TAM’s:
Don’t cry over McChrystal. He made the “rules of engagement” even worse than Bush and the current resident occupying the WH. Just check out this article:
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/new-rules-engagement-issued-nato-forces-gen-mcchrystal
Let’s remember that GWB never once used the term “Islamist terrorism” (well, maybe once). Indeed it was he who coined the phrase three or four days after 9/11 that Islam was “the religion of peace.” Of course, I’d rather have Bush – or almost anyone else – than the current entity that roams the WH.
Personally, I don’t buy that article. Let’s see…who was it that came up with the ‘Coffin – I mean Medal for Restraint’. If McChrystal was given that as a marching order, then he has to follow that order….right you guys who are supporting the once instead of American Heroes. If Barry orders “don’t shoot” – McChrystal can’t run around saying “shoot first ask questions later”
First off…I still don’t believe the wrecking ball in the WH to be eligible as POTUS for a number of reasons and as such he doesn’t deserve any level of respect and should more likely than not, be in jail…and I’m speaking of the MAN, not the OFFICE. Just because you fake your way into that office doesn’t automatically make it so he cannot be dissented against. He’s a poser. A fake. A fraud. A playah. A partier. A pretender. A golfer (also a pretender in this context). A schiester. And, a Langolier.
It appears some would have us believe that no matter what that freak does, a military man shouldn’t speak out. That’s crap. As Tammy noted earlier, this poser has left our military no choice. He’s taken away all of their tools for God’s sake. They may as well be fighting with spoons. Would you have our military continue to support him with a snap salute if he began lining up American citizens who dissent to make them disappear down the memory hole?
I agree with Tammy – unless something else belieavebly negative (that means facts ya’ll) comes out against this guy…I stand with him any day over the freak who is destroying this country, nay, the planet at large.
McChrystal likely knew who his replacement would be. It is incoherent to say on one hand you are glad he is gone because he was incompetent and ends up being a slacker leaving his crew behind to die on the battlefield, and then on the other hand say – thank GOD they brought the REAL soldier in – now they can kick some ass.
If McChrystal had been a good little boy, they likely wouldn’t have replaced him until THEY needed a fall-guy. The only one leaving our soldiers, and therefore, of course US compromised, is the freak at 1600 PA Ave. If that guy wants a salute, I got one for him; but it is comprised of only 1 finger and it’s not the index……
I’m still trying to figure this all out, and I expect that neither I nor the rest of us may ever know the full complete story. All I know for sure is that if I were in trouble, I’d want the warrior general beside me instead of the poofy man-boy who lives in the WH.
I’ll take McChrystal over the muslim-in-chief any day, going against obama says everything to me.
If the story’s accurate the General voted FOR Obama.
He’s getting what he deserves. (musta’ forgot that defend the Constitution against enemies foreign AND domestic part when he was doin’ his ballot)
The troops deserve a leader that understands that only when war is hell (on the other bastards – and those ‘innocents’ who dance in the streets when Americans die ) will it be conclusive.
Death to the goat pokers.
SR
This should’ve been a no-brainer, (which incidentally would fit the Community Organizer In Chief to a tee), and Urkel could’ve appeared magnanimous, demonstrated true leadership AND placated Afghan partners, but the man-child got his feelings hurt, so he blew it.
Ok, I’ve read the article and did not see even one instance of the General making any comment about his commander. I saw disparaging comments about Joe “BiteMe”, about the ambassador, about the French, but none about BHO… The comments that everyone is flipping about over seem to have been quoted from “Team America” his staff. Yeah, he grumped about orders, I’m sure he grumped about policy, but he never spoke out directly against his commander. This appears to be another instance of POTUS taking other people’s word for something and those other people not reading what they’re screaming about.
I’m listening to the local AM Morning Show in DC… some of you will know it. The Grandy Group. And they’re going on and on about how this makes Obama look good. They’re out of their heads for once. Ok, admittedly Petraeus is a proven war-fighter, but so was his predecessor. I hope that the asshat in the office has the brains and balls to allow his new General to do his damned job and win the war.
I find it amusing that, as I Recall, BHO removed Patreus to put McChrystal in that position… now he has to put Petraeus Back in that position.
Riddle me this Batman: Why would Patraeus take a demotion from Commander of CentCom? @81 – keep listening Chris Plante will likely handle this much better that that smarmy gooey Grandy
Plante’s ok, Grandy is a smarmy little bugger, but usually he shows appropriate outrage when the politicals decide to be dumbasses. But he tends to be too kitschy and wannabe edgy for my tastes. Neiman just frustrates me. He apparently doesn’t understand a lot of what he comments on. I was more interested in getting to Tammy’s last hour from yesterday. I can’t listen to her at work, gives me teh sads that I can’t use the players, but they’re blocked… stupid gubmint job.
As to why Petraeus would take a demotion, his commander in chief told him too and he’s a good little soldier. He also, I fervently hope and pray, wants to win this damned war and knows that He can do it.
Here’s Obama, sucking the United States dry, on the prowl for cash anywhere. (Oooo, look, IRA’s and 401k’s!)
Here’s a trillion dollar cost for Afghanistan.
Administration internal debate, there’s the money, let’s skip with it. First we need to set a deadline. Next, let’s kick out the general and staff that are most knowledgable. Ooops the next guy is on to us. So do it again, and lay claim to the mantle of Lincoln and Truman. Expected Petraeus on point: spend more and win or get out. Gee, spend more? Get out? Spend more? Get out?
Liberal Touchstone Chorus: Look at all the children we can help if you just give us every cent spent on NASA and the Military/Industrial Complex.
Meanwhile back in Teh Real World, Bush had surrounded Iran, and kept them isolated while he waited for Europe to decide to stop Iran’s nuke program. He rebuilt and maintained the logistics network to support armies in the field. Made nice with the pocket states along the Persian Gulf. And the nice thing about wars on both sides of Iran, no one notices what great spy network the US had. Operative word is had. Obama in, intelligence out, Iran is let go. After all, there’s principles and the prince’s pals. And there’s all that frigging money to be had.
Here’s my prediction: Obama will fulfill the liberal wetdream. Obama 2011: “We don’t need that money on war, the war’s over and my wonderous healthcare for everyone needs that money and all those poor teachers and police and firefighters all need a shot in the arm, a pick-me-up. Can’t have our liberal states’ hopes be dashed, especially when Christie is giving everyone ideas. ”
Expect draconian cuts in Pentagon budgets , somewhat offset by a token increase in Homeland Security budget. Afghanistan and Iraq will be thrown to the wolves. Taliban gets the former, Iran corners the market on Iraq’s oil, starting in the north. Turkey gets to wipe out the Kurds — “See? No poison gas is needed.” Syria gets west Iraq, land ho! Russia? Who needs Eastern Europe anyway? It’s cold up there and look at all those nice resort spots in a new set of client states that are crying for us to come develop them. Plus, psstt, nuke expertise here, good prices, just call Vlad. We love you guys, you got oil up the wazzooo….