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Tuesday, June 22, 2010
White House Summons US General To Explain Himself
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has been summoned to Washington to explain derogatory comments about President Barack Obama and his colleagues, administration officials said Tuesday...
As this is a conservative website, I know these comments will quickly descend to Obama bashing. However, that is not the issue here. Even if McChrystal is 100% correct, he shows an appalling lack of judgement.
Talking candidly to a liberal magazine?? Does his petty immaturity influence his decisions in the field?
"Discretion is the better part of valor." Where's his?
McChrystal has admitted he was wrong. Hence the firing of his PR guy and his apology. But, he needs to go! This is insubordination of the first order.
Truman fired MacArthur, a brilliant officer, responsible for our victory in the Pacific, but you just can't undermine the commander-in-chief. No matter who he is.
10:01, you're exactly right. While I am a Republican and "an Obama basher," Obama is the Commander in Chief and, accordingly, McCrystal's boss. I certainly had some negative feelings about most of the bosses I had, but I also had enough sense not to air them; I did value my job. Why in the world would a general of his stature submit to an interview for Rolling Stone Magazine--or for any magazine. Obama certainly has the right to fire him if he's not a team player.
@1001 - Uh huh. So when Biden himself referred to his president as "brain dead", should he have been fired?
And, moreover, you want to show me, where the General said anything disrespectful? I read the actual article and he never comes close. He makes a joke ("Bite Me?") but never says ANYthing derogatory.
So, until you have some facts, please STFU and GBTW.
I'm sure most of the military is so frustrated that they are having a real problem not speaking out about what is really going on under this out of control president. The military has to do what they are told but they don't have to like it and should be free to speak out.
11:59 You have obviously never served in the military...You surrender all Constutional rights when you sign up...you are subject to the Uniform Code Of Military Justice, so the "free speech" is gone...secondly, can't you imagine the chaos and breakdown of authority if soldiers were allowed to openly complain about their orders?? LOL!! NOTHING would ever get done...oh sure, as a soldier, you're "free to speak out"...you're also free to take a discharge, an Article 15, a court-martial, and maybe do some time in the stockade. I agree with the Truman historical reference...McChrystal should not have voiced ANY opinion to ANY reporter....the chain of command (no matter how much you may or may not like it) is there for a good reason...resign if you don't like it and do your complaining as a civilian.
@1:02 - again, read the article and tell me what it was that he said that was disrespectful to the CinC. If, as you appear to be alluding, you served, then you will recall the chain of command: CinC, SecDef, Sec of the Army, CJSF, ACS, then theater. Tell me what he said that was derogatory to any of those people.
Now, that being said, let's review - some (unnamed) people said that the General said some unflattering things, and the General made a joke, and talked about the past and how it has changed into the present. If the empty suit lets it slide, then he will seem weak; if he fires him, then he will seem vindictive. For McChrystal, if he keeps his job, he's all the stronger for it; if he gets fired, he's the Republicans' best friend.
I believe McChrystal was quoted as saying "those wimps in the White House" for one thing....I AM a Veteran, honorably discharged (just to clear THAT up)...and I did not read the article (yet) but if that quote is accurate (and again, not reading the article for verification or context yet), I must point out that his commander (the CinC) LIVES in the White House (for a little while longer) and so do his commander's advisors...If you, as a soldier, said the generals staff was a bunch of sissies, would the general let THAT slide?? McChrystal used very poor judgment and so did his staff for even letting that reporter have that kind of access. Thats my opinion....I could be wrong.
@2:47 - 1) Incorrect: "One unnamed McChrystal aide says the general took charge of the war 'by keeping his eye on the real enemy: the wimps in the White House.'" http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/22/candor-could-cost-top-commander/
2) According to the UCMJ, I'm not allowed to make disparaging comments against my superior officers, so, no, that wouldn't be allowed to slide. But, again, HE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING WRONG.
You're doing exactly what the left wants you to do - shoot the messenger. Since the messenger is unnamed, shoot the nearest target. They're doing it with Barton, and now McChrystal.
OK...just read the article....doesn't seem (to me) that McChrystal is guilty of much more than letting his cowboy staff run their mouth too much to a civilian reporter (from the ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE!!! did they think he was gonna write a FAVORABLE article??? LOL!) Typical piece about a general in a war zone...he's brilliant, he's a cowboy and a gunslinger, he's a politically savvy anti-authority bad-ass....seen these descriptions a dozen times....but to me, the gist of the article is that we need to get the hell out of that third world backward ass country....we can't change them into a democracy loving ally, just lose more good Americans....and I think the money we are burning through in THAT country could be much better used by THIS country. It's this generation's version of Vietnam....and when military people get involved in political decisions, it hardly ever goes well...
The mistake was (and has been for quite some time now) allowing too much access to the MSM. Don't think every military guy hasn't done this in the past - they just didn't do it in front of the media.
10:45, why don't you check YOUR facts. Biden made the "brain dead" comment when he was, briefly, running for President. Hillary also said many derogatory comments about Obama during the primary season. When the nominee is chosen, everyone usually returns to civility, something you don't seem to know much about judging from your closing thoughts. So I should "STFU" because you don't agree with me? Real class!
You say that you read the entire article. (I will accept the fact that you were able to read it; Rolling Stone is not exactly brain-challenging. So, if nothing "disrespectful" is in the article, why is McCrystal being summoned post-haste to the White House?
@8:40 Yes, I know that Biden was running for president, who cares? He was talking about a sitting president in a time of war.
And no, you should STFU because you're posting without reading! Get your facts straight, THEN post.
And McChrystal is being summoned because the people on his team are telling Rolling Stone the truth about this president, perhaps the most incompetent president ever.
15 comments:
What's wrong with the truth? He more or less called obamie and biden a$$ hole$. That's the truth.
As this is a conservative website, I know these comments will quickly descend to Obama bashing. However, that is not the issue here. Even if McChrystal is 100% correct, he shows an appalling lack of judgement.
Talking candidly to a liberal magazine?? Does his petty immaturity influence his decisions in the field?
"Discretion is the better part of valor." Where's his?
McChrystal has admitted he was wrong. Hence the firing of his PR guy and his apology. But, he needs to go! This is insubordination of the first order.
Truman fired MacArthur, a brilliant officer, responsible for our victory in the Pacific, but you just can't undermine the commander-in-chief. No matter who he is.
10:01, you're exactly right. While I am a Republican and "an Obama basher," Obama is the Commander in Chief and, accordingly, McCrystal's boss. I certainly had some negative feelings about most of the bosses I had, but I also had enough sense not to air them; I did value my job. Why in the world would a general of his stature submit to an interview for Rolling Stone Magazine--or for any magazine. Obama certainly has the right to fire him if he's not a team player.
Reminded of Tom Hanks line in Saving Private Ryan: "gripes go up, not down"
@1001 - Uh huh. So when Biden himself referred to his president as "brain dead", should he have been fired?
And, moreover, you want to show me, where the General said anything disrespectful? I read the actual article and he never comes close. He makes a joke ("Bite Me?") but never says ANYthing derogatory.
So, until you have some facts, please STFU and GBTW.
I'm sure most of the military is so frustrated that they are having a real problem not speaking out about what is really going on under this out of control president. The military has to do what they are told but they don't have to like it and should be free to speak out.
11:59
You have obviously never served in the military...You surrender all Constutional rights when you sign up...you are subject to the Uniform Code Of Military Justice, so the "free speech" is gone...secondly, can't you imagine the chaos and breakdown of authority if soldiers were allowed to openly complain about their orders?? LOL!! NOTHING would ever get done...oh sure, as a soldier, you're "free to speak out"...you're also free to take a discharge, an Article 15, a court-martial, and maybe do some time in the stockade. I agree with the Truman historical reference...McChrystal should not have voiced ANY opinion to ANY reporter....the chain of command (no matter how much you may or may not like it) is there for a good reason...resign if you don't like it and do your complaining as a civilian.
11:59 You are absolutely right.
@1:02 - again, read the article and tell me what it was that he said that was disrespectful to the CinC. If, as you appear to be alluding, you served, then you will recall the chain of command: CinC, SecDef, Sec of the Army, CJSF, ACS, then theater. Tell me what he said that was derogatory to any of those people.
Now, that being said, let's review - some (unnamed) people said that the General said some unflattering things, and the General made a joke, and talked about the past and how it has changed into the present. If the empty suit lets it slide, then he will seem weak; if he fires him, then he will seem vindictive. For McChrystal, if he keeps his job, he's all the stronger for it; if he gets fired, he's the Republicans' best friend.
I believe McChrystal was quoted as saying "those wimps in the White House" for one thing....I AM a Veteran, honorably discharged (just to clear THAT up)...and I did not read the article (yet) but if that quote is accurate (and again, not reading the article for verification or context yet), I must point out that his commander (the CinC) LIVES in the White House (for a little while longer) and so do his commander's advisors...If you, as a soldier, said the generals staff was a bunch of sissies, would the general let THAT slide?? McChrystal used very poor judgment and so did his staff for even letting that reporter have that kind of access. Thats my opinion....I could be wrong.
@2:47 - 1) Incorrect: "One unnamed McChrystal aide says the general took charge of the war 'by keeping his eye on the real enemy: the wimps in the White House.'" http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/22/candor-could-cost-top-commander/
2) According to the UCMJ, I'm not allowed to make disparaging comments against my superior officers, so, no, that wouldn't be allowed to slide. But, again, HE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING WRONG.
You're doing exactly what the left wants you to do - shoot the messenger. Since the messenger is unnamed, shoot the nearest target. They're doing it with Barton, and now McChrystal.
OK...just read the article....doesn't seem (to me) that McChrystal is guilty of much more than letting his cowboy staff run their mouth too much to a civilian reporter (from the ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE!!! did they think he was gonna write a FAVORABLE article??? LOL!) Typical piece about a general in a war zone...he's brilliant, he's a cowboy and a gunslinger, he's a politically savvy anti-authority bad-ass....seen these descriptions a dozen times....but to me, the gist of the article is that we need to get the hell out of that third world backward ass country....we can't change them into a democracy loving ally, just lose more good Americans....and I think the money we are burning through in THAT country could be much better used by THIS country. It's this generation's version of Vietnam....and when military people get involved in political decisions, it hardly ever goes well...
The mistake was (and has been for quite some time now) allowing too much access to the MSM. Don't think every military guy hasn't done this in the past - they just didn't do it in front of the media.
10:45, why don't you check YOUR facts. Biden made the "brain dead" comment when he was, briefly, running for President. Hillary also said many derogatory comments about Obama during the primary season. When the nominee is chosen, everyone usually returns to civility, something you don't seem to know much about judging from your closing thoughts. So I should "STFU" because you don't agree with me? Real class!
You say that you read the entire article. (I will accept the fact that you were able to read it; Rolling Stone is not exactly brain-challenging. So, if nothing "disrespectful" is in the article, why is McCrystal being summoned post-haste to the White House?
@8:40 Yes, I know that Biden was running for president, who cares? He was talking about a sitting president in a time of war.
And no, you should STFU because you're posting without reading! Get your facts straight, THEN post.
And McChrystal is being summoned because the people on his team are telling Rolling Stone the truth about this president, perhaps the most incompetent president ever.
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