WAKE UP AMERICA
Posted on 06/22/2010 11:36:25 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
After President Barack Hussein Obama meets with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Mr. Obama will be painted into a political corner from which he cannot escape. In an upcoming article in Rolling Stone magazine, soon to be on the newsstands, McChrystal and his aides were critical of Obama's handling of the war in Afghanistan. McChrystal was hand-picked by the Obama administration to fight the battle against the Taliban. However, I am pleased to see that a high-ranking member of the U.S. military has decided to put the defense of his nation before politics.
Yes, some will say McChrystal was insubordinate with his criticism of the Obama administration's handling of the war on terror in Afghanistan, and they are technically right to do so, but it is refreshing to see a man put the welfare of our nation and the men and women under his command who put their lives on the line to defend it.
Many believe McChrystal may be forced to resign which would be akin to being fired. Or perhaps there is the slim chance the very thin-skinned President of the United States will scold McChrystal and send him back to the Middle East to continue his command.
No matter what decision Obama, as Commander in Chief, makes regarding the situation, it will be the President who will be the loser. This President, who in the minds of many Americans puts politics ahead of sound policy, finds himself in an untenable position. There are a number of scenarios which may unfold regarding McChrystal that will result in Obama being seen as an inept leader. If he fires McChrystal, the General--who is highly respected in many quarters--will be free to go in front of the American people and tell the whole story about the Obama administration's failure to promote sound military strategy. On the other hand, if Obama simply scolds McChrystal, Obama will lose face and credibility with the American public.
It is clear McChrystal will not be in a bread line, if Obama forces him to resign. And it is also clear that McChrystal is not willing to play the political game that the President wants him to.
Many Americans believe Colonels and Generals achieve their ranks due to their ability to command. In reality, and unbelievably, politics plays an inordinate role in how (and how far) an individual can climb up the ranks in the United States Armed Forces. Those who play the political game, no matter their qualifications, often advance to positions of highest authority. Majors--who go against the flow--do not become Colonels and, if they do not become Colonels, they do not become Generals.
How does one become a General? He or she must be confirmed by Congress. Therefore, it is not necessarily the merit achieved on the battlefield, in administration or in tactical proficiency which, far too often, puts individuals in positions of high command. But there are rare opportunities in peace time when the most qualified reach the ultimate military rank.
Obviously, McChrystal's willingness to tell it like it is demonstrates he is a special man. In contrast, Obama is now put in a place where he cannot win. No one can impugn McChrystal's integrity. They can say he did not follow military protocol, but they cannot say he does not care for his country and those under his command.
It will be interesting to see how an administration--which uses political spin at every opportunity--will handle the "dilemma" regarding Gen. McChrystal. And let there be no doubt, the White House does not see this as an opportunity for Obama to demonstrate leadership and authority with either the military or the American people. There's no question, if polled, the public would indicate they trust McChrystal more than they do the President of the United States regarding the assessment of what needs to be done in Afghanistan. The only doubt remaining is how far Obama's polling numbers will drop after his meeting with McChrystal and the decision Obama makes over McChrystal's fate.
Obama knows he’s a fraud.
I am sure the bamster and bite me will find a way to blame Bush/Cheney for McCrystal.
bookmark
B.S. Where was that integrity in the Pat Tillman investigation? Where is that integrity in the Afghanistan RoE?
All this boils down to is that GEN McChyrstal is very angry at DC politicians (understandable) and let it slip in some remarks to a Rolling Stone journalist. I haven't been able to read the article, but it sounds like most of the negative comments came from his staff and aides.
Contrary to popular belief, the military doesn't rob people of their personal opinions and convictions, and this attempt to practically deify GEN McChrystal b/c he doesn't like the current CinC is ridiculous.
If McChrystal is the warrior Michael Savage and others say he is , why did Obama appoint him in the first place IF Obama had no intention of winning the war ? McChrystal voted for Obama and is a Hilary fan . Why give an interview to commie dope smoking anti-America Rolling Stone ? Somethings smells here ...
Reminds me of a unit commander back in the day at Fort Sill, OK. At the time there were some very strict weather considerations that “had” to occur each spring before one was allowed to turn on the air conditioning in their quarters, even the highest officers. If it hadn’t reached a heat index of something like 95 degrees 3 out of 5 consecutive days you weren’t allowed to turn on the AC.
His wife ratted him out to other wives at a coffee, telling us that he had discovered they actually locked the controls to all the a/c units on post and could only be unlocked by the MPs. He had apparently gone out at midnight one night and tried to force the thing on, telling his wife, “what are they going to do to me, draft me into the Army and send me to Fort Sill?” Turned out he still couldn’t manage it, and he was still stuck in the Army at Fort Sill.
The text of the “P4” memo, about the death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman, that then-Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal sent on April 29, 2004, to Gen. John Abizaid, then head of U.S. Central Command; Gen. Bryan Douglas Brown, then head of the U.S. Special Operations Command; and Lt. Gen. Philip R. Kensinger, then head of the Army Special Operations Command.
Sir,
In the aftermath of Corporal Patrick Tillman’s untimely yet heroic death in Afghanistan on 22 April 04, it is anticipated that a 15-6 investigation nearing completion will find that it is highly possible that Corporal Tillman was killed by friendly fire. This potential finding is exacerbated by the unconfirmed but suspected reports that POTUS and the secretary of the Army might include comments about Corporal Tillman’s heroism and his approved Silver Star medal in speeches currently being prepared, not knowing the specifics surrounding his death.
The potential that he might have been killed by friendly fire in no way detracts from his witnessed heroism or the recommended personal decoration for valor in the face of the enemy. Corporal Tillman was killed in a complicated battlespace geometry involving two separate Ranger vehicle serials traversing through severe terrain along a winding 500-600 foot defile in which friendly forces were fired upon by multiple enemy positions. Corporal Tillman disembarked from his vehicle, and in support of his fellow Rangers and demonstrating great concern for their welfare over care for his own safety entered the enemy kill-zone into which both enemy and friendly fire impacted.
I felt that it was essential that you received this information as soon as we detected it in order to preclude any unknowing statements by our country’s leaders which might cause public embarrassment if the circumstances of Corporal Tillman’s death become public.
———Maj. Gen. Stanley McChrystal
The McCrystal insiders said they liked Hillary and she was giving them what they needed.
This Rolling Stone story is a plant and we have been had, follow me on this.....
I have been noticing all the Hillary Dems, the Mort Zuchermann's, the Carville's of the world coming out against the Anointed One. They (The Clinton's) still have contacts in the media, and I see their game plan calling in some old chits, planting seeds of doubt about Oboingo's leadership, Carville on the Gulf along with all the clowns on CNBC and Mo Dowd, can't anyone see them lining this up.
The question I have is what us the connection of this Rolling Stone writer to Hilda?
Me thinks the big power-play liberals are having buyers remorse, will not pull the "R" lever, but are looking for the 2012 version of the 2004 "Acceptable Dean", i.e. a John Kerry for 2012, and it is Hilda.
We have been played....
I think I heard Rush say something yesterday that may explain all this. If I understood correctly, MyChrystal is not stupid. (Firstly) Apparently there had been some White House planning to announce support for the timeline and closing down of the war. The general “preempted” this with this article. Now, in order to “take the moral high ground” Zero and friends have to thump their chests and get into a frenzy about how “this general has undermined their war effort”. Now Zero has to embrace the war and “own” it in order to react to this general. If this is true it is a masterstroke of strategy on the part of the general. Knowing his oponent’s weakness (his narcissim) he said things that weren’t really insubordinate and things we all know to probably be true. Zero probably was pretty nervous in a room full of generals. LOL. He let his staff say things to the reporter that allowed the “journalist” to cobble this article which probably came out just as the general figured it would (how hard was that to predict, fer cryin’ out loud? “The Rolling Stone”? C’mon!)
The general’s strategy is working, too. Gibbs, Zero, all of them have loudly proclaimed their “unending support for (the war)”. Zero up against MyChrystal reminds me of the old saying about taking a knife to a gunfight...
To your point about the next general election, I can see a contingent of House and Senate power brokers going up to the Whitehouse aka: nixonian like and telling Zero 2012 re- election isn’t going to happen
Sooner than that. I have read where some Wonk that has been real good at prognostication forsees them even asking Oboingo to go soon, and we end up with Biden/Hillary.
Yep, there are a lot of @$$ kissers that get to the top by wearing out cases of kneepads. Sad to say, but our current crop of officers knows this and they will do anything to get higher up the chain. It's not who you know, it's who you blow.
It's all manipulation. The next race is expected to be between Hillary and Sarah Palin, and Hillary is being positioned as the popular one with all the experience.
Yes it is Clear....
2 things just hit me reading your post.
All the Conservative talkers are talking about should he or shouldn't he have said it and or resigned.
I am going to go out on a limb here.
Not only are they being manipulated, Hillary is way ahead, 3 level chess ahead, maybe even ahead of Palin.
My Bombshell....
McCrystal is Hillary's V.P. Candidate when she runs.
Think of it, he is a Spec-Op career officer that has a get-er-done atittude, and gives her Military gravitas, on top of all over her "other" experience, and has a wedge issue for the pro-military South. She can carry middle of the road Dems and RINO's with a pro-military bent with him aboard.
We are being set up....
Wesley Clark is past his expiration date, and the Democrats need a new military man who can give them cover. Hillary understands how this game is played.
Obama needs to be impeached, tried for treason and sent to Gitmo to rot with his muslim buddies.
“McCrystal is Hillary’s V.P. Candidate when she runs.
Think of it, he is a Spec-Op career officer that has a get-er-done atittude, and gives her Military gravitas, on top of all over her “other” experience, and has a wedge issue for the pro-military South. She can carry middle of the road Dems and RINO’s with a pro-military bent with him aboard.
We are being set up....”
Exactly, look at all the BS polls released just before this happened about how Shrill is better than anyone.
Then, she is on record that “Stan” should get whatever he wants.
Excellent summary and projections about what may happen!
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