Barack Obama furious at General Stanley McChrystal speech on Afghanistan

Telegraph UK ^ | 05 Oct 2009 | Alex Spillius

[opentalk]

According to sources close to the administration, Gen McChrystal shocked and angered presidential advisers with the bluntness of a speech given in London last week.

The next day he was summoned to an awkward 25-minute face-to-face meeting on board Air Force One on the tarmac in Copenhagen, where the president had arrived to tout Chicago's unsuccessful Olympic bid.

[behzinlea]

Oh, this is interesting.

[devane617]

Who else but the UK press.

[Sacajaweau]

I think the general wanted some TRUTH out there before Obama (the great decision maker) altered it.

[donmeaker]

That great Democratic president had a little sign on his desk “The Buck Stops Here”

If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

[RummyChick]

didn’t this guy come out after the meeting and say he was okay with the Obamapresent not giving him the troops?

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Could also read:

“furious that the truth leaked out”

[Rocko]

"You can't handle the truth!"
-- Jack Nicholson

[Safrguns]

Well, now we need to see the speech.
link?

[omega4179]

if Gen. is replaced 0 looks indecisive
if Gen. does not get reinforcements 0 looks like a bad CIC and indecisive.

[arthurus]

Hard decisions are required right now. Hussein votes “Present.”

[Carley]

General Zinni of all people is suggesting that O is nearly ‘dithering’. That there has been a plan in place since last March and there is no reason for the delay.

[Dallas59]

Obammy is a great general! Love and kisses and olympics will save Afghanistan!

[NewHampshireDuo]

White House inner circle: “How do we blame this one on Bush.”

Methinks Zero’s lack of everything that counts is really showing.

[teletech]

General McChrystal should tell ZERO that either ZERO gives General McChrystal what he needs to win or General McChrystal will submit his resignation and then IMMEDIATELY go to Fox News and tell America how it REALLY is under ZERO.

[pacpam]

Why do modern day Democrat President’s make lousy Commander in Chiefs?

[smokingfrog]

Sounds like McCrystal and British Army General David Richards are on the same page.

Time for Zero to make a decision.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Suppose the general and his boss Petraeus resign in protest of the O policies?

[Upstate NY Guy]

He went on to say: "Waiting does not prolong a favorable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely, and nor will public support." The remarks have been seen by some in the Obama administration as a barbed reference to the slow pace of debate within the White House.
Gen McChrystal delivered a report on Afghanistan requested by the president on Aug 31, but Mr Obama held only his second "principals meeting" on the issue last week.

Ouch. Better put some ice on that Barry.

[mware]

If Obama doesn't like it let him sack him.

The general has a responsibility to those who are serving.

[EverOnward]

The picture on the front page of the Washington Times shows Obama yacking away, mouth wide open, at Gen McChrystal. Gen McChrystal was shown sitting, mouth closed. Obama is clearly not about to listen to anything Gen McChrystal has to say about the matter. We’re screwed.

[behzinlea]

That's what was reported: that if Obama said "no," he'd make do with existing troop levels.

I wonder what the truth is?

[jimbo123]

If the Kenyan is unhappy with the general, he should fire him. If not, the magic muslim and his winged monkeys should STFU and give the general the requested troops

[mware]

Yeap, The Telegraphy. I have taken to reading that paper before any in the states.

[Venturer]

No President should ever be elected without military experience. It must be terriblty humiliating for a general who worjked his way to the top ranks to be ordered to report to a Kenyan who hates America.

[Jackson57]

I’d like to have been a fly on the wall during that meeting. I have very little doubt that Gen McChrystal just about made Obambi wee wee himself by not backing down. Does anyone else think that McChrystal told him, “You hired me. How do you think it’ll look when you fire me?” But, since Obambi can’t stand being told he’s wrong, it won’t be long before McChrystal is gone. Maybe Clark will return to active duty?

[Mamzelle]

re: "People aren't sure whether McChrystal is being naïve or an upstart. To my mind he doesn't seem ready for this Washington hard-ball and is just speaking his mind too plainly.")))

Huh? A general with this kind of experience being "naive"? Does this idiot mean politically naive? McChrystal, who face down terrorists, is hardly intimidated by ballet-dancers and Mayor Daley's Fixer.

[mazda77]

I don’t recall him saying anything after the meeting or should I say Dressing Down. Hopefully Stanley will stand his ground and make the Post Turtle fire him so he doesn’t give the impression that he is giving up on those under his command. By forcing the Post Turtle’s hand General McCrystal will put this charlatain in a box he will never be able to extricate himself from.

[NonValueAdded]

HA!!! I posted that the 25 mins was just enough time for the Kenyan to give the general the dressing down he so richly didn’t deserve.

[AZLiberty]

He added that it was highly unusual for a senior military officer to "pressure the president in public to adopt his strategy".

It's also highly unusual for a Commander-in-Chief to meet with the leader of what he calls the most important front in the the War on Terror Overseas Contingency Operation only once in 70+ days.

They finally met for 25 minutes, most of which was probably spent dressing down the general and explaining to the general how he was messing up the One's plans.

[Marysecretary]

Heh, heh. Sweet! I guess he was expected to tow the line and he somehow stepped over it and gave his own opinion instead of Obambi’s. I LOVE IT.

[Marysecretary]

Because they hate the military.

[Yorlik803]

Great, the general get bitched out because Obama couldnt shine on the IOC.
Crap does flow downhill, doesnt it.
Instead of spending the time asking questions, Obamas mangina flairs up and screams like a scorned woman.
Disgusting.....

[50mm]

A picture of our hero:

[GregB]

Well I am furious at Obama for killing our SOLIDERS!!!!!!

[Cicero]

So he didn’t listen to McCrystal after all. No talk about the needs in Afghanistan.

Just a scolding for embarrassing the President. That’s the really IMPORTANT thing. Never mind that our troops are dying because of ludicrous ROEs and insufficient support.

[spectre]

Our boy king of zamunda knows more than all our generals put together...NOT!

[y6162]

“Gen McChrystal shocked and angered presidential advisers ...”

The military answers the question who lost Afghanistan.

The Kenyan did.

[PGR88]

If Obama doesn’t want truth from his Generals, what does he want?

[omega4179]

I think they all where except Truman.

[rabidralph]

An adviser to the administration said: "People aren't sure whether McChrystal is being naïve or an upstart. To my mind he doesn't seem ready for this Washington hard-ball and is just speaking his mind too plainly."

I'm speechless. Who's the naive one in this episode?

[omega4179]

Hope.

[Jeff Chandler]

Bruce Ackerman, an expert on constitutional law at Yale University, said in the Washington Post: "As commanding general, McChrystal has no business making such public pronouncements."

[omega4179]

and if 0 sends reinforcements he looks Bushlike. He cannot win.

[tx_eggman]

People aren't sure whether McChrystal is being naïve or an upstart. To my mind he doesn't seem ready for this Washington hard-ball and is just speaking his mind too plainly."

There's only one person in the equation that's a naive upstart ... and it isn't the good General.

[aimhigh]

Telegraph UK = Media Free America, to counter the US government media censorship.

[NonValueAdded]

Suppose the general and his boss Petraeus resign in protest of the O policies?

Enter Wesley Clark and neither general wants to have that happen. Clark is Obama's checkmate to their resignation threat.

[Grams A]

I know a lot of people do not like the draft but in the U.S. not only do we no longer stress the concept of winning with our children in any arena, most of the people in the U.S. have never been in the military and haven’t a clue. Either we elect a President who understands military engagement and the rules of this game or they must rely on their field commanders. BO has neither attribute nor does anyone around him. This is not lawn tennis at the local club on Sunday afternoon!

[carumba]

Why do modern day Democrat President’s make lousy Commander in Chiefs?

Because their true calling is to be on Saturday Night Live or some other appropriate entertainment venue.

[clee1]

WAAAAAAAAAHHHH!

Truth hurts, don’t it, Zero?