Gen. Stanley McChrystal Comments that Have Angered the White House

[Xiphos0292]

It's the White House's nature to despise a military leader who will not submit to the idiotic agenda of an ignorant majority of politicians. Such a shame how things turned out for him. It's partially the fault of the American people for electing a president who knew nothing about war and never served in the military during a time of war.

[csbob2004]

Gen McChrystal was given the job of leading the fight against the Taliban....then instead of letting him do his job they tie his hands behind his back. They don't listen to what he recommends and he's getting pissed. I bet he fucking quit and to save face the President just said that he fired him. Bush fired several Generals and many Presidents have in the past. All it is is a fail safe for them so they can act like its not their fault if something goes wrong. Spineless bastards.....

[syphe101]

@csbob2004 Yes, Killcullen, Gonzalez and others work for him (anthropologists)....however, the way the military is created and trained is not for societal reconstruction since its more than just building homes and hospitals...but its all about soft power influence and winning the hearts and minds of teh population. The military is not designed for this responsibility despite whoever they hire.

The locals will have to pick up the pace for this to work.

[TheJrgriffin]

I thought we had "freedom of speach" but if you say something the president doesn't like he fires you.

[csbob2004]

@TheJrgriffin That's not how the military works.....soldiers don't have freedom of speech when it comes to talking about their superiors or slandering their leadership. Especially Generals.....the President is the highest ranking member in the Military.

[WingThaiJ]

He shouldn't have said what he said, but it reinforces the obvious and it really pisses me off that an admin. can be so inept and still hold office and not be fired. Each and every thing that is happening is poorly handled by the admin. and we are stuck with them in our time of need and all we have is time and hope that there aren't an abundant cult members to lead our fate to more of the Obama Admin..

[xGUNxBUNNYx]

LOL that's my General, that's the problem when you put Special OPs Generals in charge they'll say whats on their mind.

[steeleye65]

This pissed off the white house? Oh! He accidentally called Obama "short sighted"! Well, Obama should just accept that he is "short sighted" by now.

[sniffy45]

happens everyday to all walks of life. My boss thinks he is an engineer and directs me but I actually direct him otherwise he would run his business into the goddamn ground. Some say, thats his choice not yours, wrong! not while I am here and paid to do what I do, he is my employer not my boss, big difference.

[WingThaiJ]

I'm so glad that the General spoke up; maybe some Obama Cult Members will wise up when they realize that the Obama Admin is considered a bad Joke by the Military. Imagine a Lawyer trying to run the Military instead of listening to his Generals. What, no freedom of speech for Military huh?

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ Well your outlook is similar to the General's and that is why it is wrong. This is not a state vs. state war. This is an insurgent vs COIN war.....it depends on Soft power politics, and influence, on top of reconstructive techniques.

The military is NOT designed for these efforts, and in the last couple of years since Mullen, Peatreaus est have taken control, they have evolved the military into a lighter, more soft powered approach.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ This change is because the 2001-2008 approach of aggressive military action, and PATHETIC anthpological understanding of the people in Iraq and Afgh. has created a total resentment towards American troops.

My point: McChrystal clearly is not on the same page as these points, and is clearly not understanding the situation in Afghanistan, because if he understood the 'all agreed upon mission' in Afgh., he would never have brazenly underminded the efforts being made.

[WingThaiJ]

McChrystal was pissed off about the wait for over a month for Obama to come to a decision, among other things; & he's pissed off because quite clearly Obama, for obvious reasons, doesn't know what he's doing. That being said, McChrystal isn't suppose to undermine Obama & made a mistake for doing so. McChrystal did what a lot of people do; they made a mistake by leaking popular Military sentiment. Military would like to do their job w/out having 1 arm tied behind their back.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ The wait was a must, and I was suprised that he did not take longer since he is prolonging a war that is not doing well. Also he is ramping up military personel which I already iterated is doing a job that is not typical for GIs.

I agree with you on McChrystal not undermining his boss.

However, you say the military would like to work without having one arm tied behind their back. Look at my previous statement to you again, and you will see its more like they only have one arm.

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 the wait was not necessary, it allowed our troops to be more at risk during the time period and the military were 'pissed off.' It showed a weakness and indecisiveness and it's no wonder the lack of respect the Obama Admin. now has with the military and the public.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ Again, that is not really true.

First, the information that was being collected is completely new to ANY military. It was not like they had all the info, and were sitting around the table everyday for months. Counterinsurgency planning is a difficult thing, this is not a state vs state war, so it is not conventional. My point is that in COIN simply adding more troops does not solve the situation, he knew that but also knew that stabilizing the country from firefights est does.

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 from what I understand McChrystal had come up with the required number of men because he had already gone through all of the military planning to utilize these men; from what I understand, much time was wasted while Obama pondered, not planned. McChrystal had been there long enough and worked with his military colleagues to formulate and come up with the number they needed.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ McChrystal is an expert in COIN, but so are the many other experts that have been hired by the government, moreso than him (Kilcullen, Gonzalez, Gen. Petraeaus, and many others have published much more than McChrystal). ALWAYS remember that he is a soldier, and the militaries function has never been about reconstruction OR COIN. This is why his oppinion was not taken as heavily as your might have thought.

[csbob2004]

@syphe101 The military is still going to know more about reconstruction and counter insurgency than the dumb asses in the Government.....McChrystal isn't just some guy that makes shit up and shouts orders...he has a giant staff full of highly intelligent strategists and analyst who work in conjunction with the Afghans to come up with the best possible strategy.....he also has tons of experience with war and knows the capabilities of all the units in his command.....clowns in Gov. don't know shit

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ There are also many variables here as well. McChrystal knew this, but he was upset because he didnt get his full way. Remember this, because it is easy to confuse. He wanted 40 000 troops in certiain areas, but he recieved 30 000 in both civilian and combat troops, with the mission focus being development and COIN, not constant offensives. This disagreement has set McChrystal off, but disdain in the military I would say exist because of a long, protracted war, not because of one man

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 I'm not saying disdain is solely regarding the Admin.. A prolonged sustained battle has it's effects; however, those who are fighting wanted those men sooner as this would have brought greater safety to the one's fighting. I do not believe, however, that the Obama admin. is respected by the military in general or by the generals, lol.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ I am a proponent of getting it right the first time, and not making a mistake on how many troops to send because remember he was telling troops who thought they were leaving to stay and those who had just finished tours to go back for a 4th tour.....plus civilian numbers and contractor numbers, where they all need go specifically, much planning involved.

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 If you recall, McChrystals critiisms had to do w/Obama 'Not being Prepared.' Seeing how Obama has handled other issues; not hard to believe. If McChrystal has a problem w/Obama's preparedness, then he would have to be the type of person who is prepared, not only w/what the military can do but w/those who know how to deal w/a variety of facets involved in their tasks. Also, Obama is an expert in nothing and apparently did what he should have done to be prepared to deal w/McChrystial.

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 I'm curious about something. I saw a picture with Obama and his wife laying their left hand over the right side of their heart; wedding bands/rings were on the ring fingers so it wasn't a mirror image. I don't want to make a mountain over a mole hill, however, how many people use their left hand and how likely is this to occur with both of them? Maybe it's nothing, but it is rather odd.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ I am Canadian, I do not know.

[WingThaiJ]

@syphe101 here is yet another thing that really irritates me. EVERYONE knows, you don't give up your hand before you use it. You NEVER tell your enemy your pull-out date. They could just wait it out until the troops leave, then Afkanistan turns into another terrorist training country again.

[syphe101]

@WingThaiJ Involving your comment of troops pulling out. Do you think the military pulls out and that is it, its finished??? Two things remain, civilian military contrators HIRED by the American governemnt like Xe (same size as american forces). 2) American civilian personel dealing with reconstructive services who also have protection by military contractors. So pulling out is not a bad thing.....

[csbob2004]

@WingThaiJ Yes, but the clowns in Washington are the ones who want to publicize a pull out date, not the military. Dumb asses in Congress need to get off their power tripping high horses and let the military do its fucking job.

[NHMntnHIGH]

obama needs to shit or get off the pot. As for Joe Biden perhaps we could strap his ass to a drine and send him to osama

[syphe101]

@NHMntnHIGH That was so fucking insane I dont even know how to comment. If you have a job, tell me where you work so I can call them and tell them to fire you since you are clearly to stupid to have any responsibility.

[ezekial38yo]

notice how many times the idiot says alciaduh...that because there is no alciaduh.just al cia duh lol