The curious sacking of Gen McKiernan

The Guardian ^ | Tuesday 12 May 2009 15.11 BST | Simon Tisdall

[garyhope]

It seems harsh to suggest the Pentagon top brass don't know what they're doing. But those who care to read the transcript of the press conference at which the sacking of the top American general in Afghanistan was announced may find that conclusion hard to resist. "In some ways we're learning as we go here," said Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs. It was not a reassuring admission.

The public defenestration of General David McKiernan, a distinguished career officer who took command in Kabul less than one year ago, was brutal in that cold, callous way peculiar to American officialdom. More to the point, it remains largely unexplained. "We can and must do better ... We have a new policy set by our president, a new strategy, a new mission ... I believe new military leadership is also needed," said Robert Gates, the defence secretary.

[MeanGreen2008]

Think an American newspaper would dare to use the word “defenestration”?

[Grampa Dave]

“Is Afghanistan/Pakistan going to be ZERO’s Vietnam?”

Probably, when both “stans” are thrown into the stew.

Jack Kennedy had a similiar fixation on Viet Nam before and when he became president. That was the real beginning of our large involvement in that area.

[McGruff]

Bumping this in light of current events.

The public defenestration of General David McKiernan, a distinguished career officer who took command in Kabul less than one year ago, was brutal in that cold, callous way peculiar to American officialdom. More to the point, it remains largely unexplained. “We can and must do better ... We have a new policy set by our president, a new strategy, a new mission ... I believe new military leadership is also needed,” said Robert Gates, the defence secretary.

But when asked what McKiernan had done wrong, or what his mooted replacement, Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal, might do better, Gates and Mullen grew confused in thought and word. “Nothing went wrong, there was nothing specific,” said Gates. “There probably is no more critical ingredient than that – than leadership. And again, along with all the other changes, it's time now,” said Mullen.

Maybe it is Gates who needs replacement (since no one can fire Obama).

[Night Hides Not]

Very timely bump.

The stage is being set for the ouster of McChrystal, Obama's hand-picked general to implement Obama's counterinsurgency strategy.

The libs complained about Bush "being cheap" on his Iraq strategy, yet now proclaim that McChrystal is being insubordinate for publicly saying he needs more troops to accomplish the CINC's strategy.

As a self-described "expert" on insubordination (lol-just ask a few REMFs that I served under), allow me to reassure everyone that McChrystal is looking out for the lives of the men and women entrusted to him, not to mention the lives of millions of Afghans. That's leadership, not insubordination.