How do you solve a problem like Stanley?
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
June 23, 2010 9:55am CST
President Obama will meet with General McChrystal today to decide what should happen after McChrystal and his aides made some off the cuff comments for a Rolling Stone interview.
Here are some of those statements
An adviser to McChrystal was quoted calling the meeting a "10-minute photo-op."
The adviser continued: "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his f---ing war, but he didn't seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed."
Are you asking about Vice President Biden? Who's that?" McChrystal said, laughing.
An adviser chimed in: "Biden? Did you say: Bite Me?"
McChrystal told Rolling Stone he felt "betrayed" by the ambassador and suggested Eikenberry was just trying to look good for posterity.
"I like Karl, I've known him for years, but they'd never said anything like that to us before," he said. "Here's one that covers his flank for the history books. Now if we fail, they can say, 'I told you so.'"
he criticism at National Security Adviser James Jones in the Rolling Stone article was short and not-so-sweet.
An aide was quoted calling the retired four-star general a "clown" who is "stuck in 1985."
One member of the team was quoted saying McChrystal compares Holbrooke to a "wounded animal."
"Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke," the general said. "I don't even want to open it."
After reading the message aloud and putting the BlackBerry away, an aide joked: "Make sure you don't get any of that on your leg."
The aide was quoted saying lawmakers like McCain and Kerry "turn up, have a meeting with Karzai, criticize him at the airport press conference, then get back for the Sunday talk shows."
Afghan President Hamid Karzai - a top adviser was quoted saying: "He's been locked up in his palace the past year."
You can read more here -
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/23/gen-mcchrystal-ready-resign-officials-say/
If you were the President, what would you do? Ask for his resignation? Other sanctions or let it go? The general has made his way around apologizing.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
24 Jun 10
I have to say something even though Im Canadian and you know what they about us Canadians and wars lol.
I have worked for the Government twice in my life time. When you're out in the field, you know whats going on but the BS at the top, has NO friggin idea whats going on.
Im saying its the same with this General and Obama. The General is out in the field, he knows whats going on but the guy sitting in the oval office ---Obama, doesnt!!
So as far as Im concerned, the General was right in speaking his mind and telling the truth.
I heard he quit before Obama could fire him.......GOOD MAN! I salute him!
I thought the USA was a free country and you had freedom of speech.......sounds like you dont!!!!!!!
Ok Im off my soapbox now lol.
1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
24 Jun 10
Im typing faster than I can think.
SHOULD READ: what they SAY about us Canadians
1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
25 Jun 10
Its too bad, when you think that those people are the ones in charge of your safety or defence.
Im a true Canadian in the sense that im against wars. Im of the generation of "make love not war" ......what ever happened to that slogan?
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jun 10
I agree the general should not have said those things during an interview. You might as well say his career is over. But it shows you an issue (and fustration) in the military when we have a president that KNOWS nothing about the military or war.
I was raised in a military family and I can not tell you how fustrating it is for them to have a commander in cheif that does not understand the military. Has never been in the military, know nothing about war yet is the commander in chief of the military and in charge of our wars. I have heard a lot of them complain that the president of this country should have SOME KIND of military service in order to do the job of commander in cheif.
I can see their point. IT would be like putting me as the CEO of a huge company when I have never run a company. I would not know how to run it right or how things are suppost to be done.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jun 10
ya because I would be smart enough to realize I know nothing about running a war (much less two at one time) so I would listen and follow the advice of my military advisers...you know the people actually trained and have experience in conducting a war and running the military.
We are allowing a man to make decisions about our wars and military that costs not only lots of money...but also costs lives. An inexperienced leader causes more wasted money and unnecessary deaths.
1 person likes this
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
23 Jun 10
I don't believe any apologizing is necessary, except for the humble apology from the arrogant usurper to the people of American whose lives he is ruining every second of every day. While I do not understand McChrystal's particular style, I know he is right in statements about BHO and JB. I just wish SOMEONE would stand up to the blackmail and scourge that is BHO and tell the truth about his treason so we can reclaim our country. He is the height of deception and as vile as they come to say he's doing what's best for the country he intends to destroy.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
25 Jun 10
Sooner or later someone else will blurt out the truth and O will get him, too. By the way, O should not have said our military and citizens are domestic terrorists and about a million other things, but no one will call him to account. Again, this is an illegal alien traitor denigrating a military hero for telling the truth. How can this be tolerated? We know the Emperor Has No Clothes.
1 person likes this
@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
23 Jun 10
The General did not make most of these comments but the fact that he allowed his staff to be that unprofessional says a lot.
I also get that no generals ever like their civilian leaders and that they always think that they should be the ones in charge but that is not how America works.
He is not only comander of our troops but NATO comander and his lack of conduct becoming is appalling. This reflects on all the troops and our troops deserve better leadership.
If he worked for me his butt would have already hit the asphalt.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jun 10
I did not say that generals never like their civilian leaders...but it does put them in a harder situation when their commander in cheif has never served or have ANY military knowledge....yet gets to make all the decisions.
1 person likes this
@iloveme01 (79)
• United States
23 Jun 10
Ok good work, I just came back from Rolling Stone website trying to read the entire entevriew. But here we go you just gave it to me for this you getting 5 stars LOL.
General McChrystal is 4th generation army man and his dad was a General too. He graduated with honor from West Point and he fought in Iraq war and Afghanistan.
In a way I feel they shouldn't let him go because he is an assess to the war in Afghanistan. Oh by the why are we there?? on other hand the Prsident should be the boss and he could fire and hire any one he wants if he feels it's necessary.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
25 Jun 10
The War in Afghanistan is an ongoing coalition conflict which began on October 7, 2001,[28] as the US military's Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) that was launched, along with the British military, in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. The UK has, since 2002, led its own military operation, Operation Herrick, as part of the same war in Afghanistan. The character of the war evolved from a violent struggle against Al-Qaeda and its Taliban supporters to a complex counterinsurgency effort.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29
