The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: Johnny Bravo on June 23, 2010, 03:02:26 PM
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McChrystal out; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan
AP
By JENNIFER LOVEN and ANNE GEARAN, Associated Press Writers Jennifer Loven And Anne Gearan, Associated Press Writers – 26 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama sacked his loose-lipped Afghanistan commander Wednesday, a seismic shift for the military order in wartime, and chose the familiar, admired — and tightly disciplined — Gen. David Petraeus to replace him. Petraeus, architect of the Iraq war turnaround, was once again to take hands-on leadership of a troubled war effort.
Obama said bluntly that Gen. Stanley McChrystal's scornful remarks about administration officials represent conduct that "undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system." He ousted the commander after a face to face meeting in the Oval Office and named Petraeus, the Central Command chief who was McChrystal's direct boss, to step in.
In a statement expressing praise for McChrystal yet certainty he had to go, Obama said he did not make the decision over any disagreement in policy or "out of any sense of personal insult." Flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden, he said: "War is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general, or a president."
He urged the Senate to confirm Petraeus swiftly and emphasized the Afghanistan strategy he announced in December was not shifting with McChrystal's departure.
"This is a change in personnel but it is not a change in policy," Obama said.
Indeed, as Obama was speaking, McChrystal released a statement saying that he resigned out of "a desire to see the mission succeed."
"I strongly support the president's strategy in Afghanistan," McChrystal said.
Obama hit several grace notes about McChrystal and his service after their Oval Office meeting, saying that he made the decision to sack him "with considerable regret." And yet, he said the job in Afghanistan cannot be done now under McChrystal's leadership, asserting that the critical remarks from the general and his inner circle in the Rolling Stone magazine article displayed conduct that doesn't live up to the standards for a command-level officer.
Obama seemed to suggest that McChrystal's military career is over, saying the nation should be grateful "for his remarkable career in uniform" as if that has drawn to a close.
McChrystal left the White House after the meeting and returned to his military quarters at Washington's Fort McNair. A senior military official said there is no immediate decision about whether he would retire from the Army, which has been his entire career. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Petraeus, who attended a formal Afghanistan war meeting at the White House on Wednesday, has had overarching responsibility for the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq as head of Central Command. He was to vacate the Central Command post after his expected confirmation, giving Obama another key opening to fill. The Afghanistan job is actually a step down from his current post but one that filled Obama's pre-eminent need.
Petraeus is the nation's best-known military man, having risen to prominence as the commander who turned around the Iraq war in 2007, applying a counterinsurgency strategy that has been adapted for Afghanistan.
He has a reputation for rigorous discipline. He keeps a punishing pace — spending more than 300 days on the road last year. He briefly collapsed during Senate testimony last week, apparently from dehydration. It was a rare glimpse of weakness for a man known as among the military's most driven.
In the hearing last week, Petraeus told Congress he would recommend delaying the pullout of U.S. forces from Afghanistan beginning in July 2011 if need be, saying security and political conditions in Afghanistan must be ready to handle a U.S. drawdown.
That does not mean Petraeus is opposed to bringing some troops home, and he said repeatedly that he supports Obama's revamped Afghanistan strategy. Petraeus' caution is rooted in the fact that the uniformed military — and counterinsurgency specialists in particular — have always been uncomfortable with rigid parameters.
With Washington abuzz, there had been a complete lockdown on information about the morning's developments until just before Obama spoke. By pairing the decision on McChrystal's departure with the name of his replacement, Obama is seeking to move on as quickly as possible from the firestorm.
In the magazine article, McChrystal called the period last fall when the president was deciding whether to approve more troops "painful" and said the president appeared ready to hand him an "unsellable" position. McChrystal also said he was "betrayed" by Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, the man the White House chose to be his diplomatic partner in Afghanistan.
He accused Eikenberry of raising doubts about Karzai only to give himself cover in case the U.S. effort failed. "Now, if we fail, they can say 'I told you so,'" McChrystal told the magazine. And he was quoted mocking Vice President Joe Biden.
If not insubordination, the remarks — as well as even sharper commentary about Obama and his White House from several in McChrystal's inner circle — were at the least an extraordinary challenge from a military leader. The capital hadn't seen a similar public contretemps between a president and a top wartime commander since Harry Truman stripped Gen. Douglas MacArthur of his command more than a half-century ago after disagreements over Korean war strategy.
Notably, neither McChrystal nor his team questioned the accuracy of the story or the quotes in it. McChrystal issued an apology.
Despite McChrystal's military achievements, he has a history of making waves and this was not his first brush with Obama's anger. Last fall as Obama was weighing how to adjust Afghanistan policy, McChrystal spoke bluntly and publicly about his desire for more troops — earning a scolding from the president, who felt the general was trying to box him into a corner.
Waheed Omar, spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said Petraeus "will also be a trusted partner." Karzai had been a lonely voice in speaking out in support of McChrystal. But Omar said of Petraeus: "He is the most informed person and the most obvious choice for this job."
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In a statement expressing praise for McChrystal yet certainty he had to go, Obama said he did not make the decision over any disagreement in policy or "out of any sense of personal insult." Flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in the Rose Garden, he said: "War is bigger than any one man or woman, whether a private, a general, or a president."
bho is a leftist, therefore he is lying, this is exactly why he sacked him. Had nothing to do with military protocol, respecting the Commander in Chief. And that POS was there to add to the gloating.
I am sickened by this administration, they can't even lie well.
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I hope there is a new book coming, " What I wanted to do, and what they told me to do" Gen. Stanley McChrystal - Retired. Even though he is not the Warhawk we would have liked, he still seemed to want to win.
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McChrystal is the soldiers soldier, however, he never answered why Pat Tillman's rucsack was burned, and somehow key evidence went missing.
He just towed the line, but is far better than any Wesley Clark, McCaffrey, or Colin Powell. When you start getting "political" military men, SHTF.
Just look up Patton, or MacArthur, even Grant. Top brass in the limelight, run their mouths too much.
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Patreus is screwed. Poor guy had a great career to.
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Patreus is screwed. Poor guy had a great career to.
I notice the media phrases Patreus as "taking the risk" as if he has a choice in this.
"I'm sorry, Mr. President, I have summer plans with my family. Can this wait until Sept.?"
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Patreus is screwed. Poor guy had a great career to.
Thats also why this was a stupid move by bHo. Now we have one of our allstars playing out of position, and the other one fired.
I'm sorry, but this was NOT a fireable offense. Obama just wanted to save face and look like a tough guy, but it came at too great of a price. McChrystal was the best man for the job, but Obama put his own self serving desires ahead of what was in the best interest of our nation and our soldiers on the front lines. Give him a public flogging if you want, but why fire him? What good does that serve?
Great job, Mr. President. You showed everybody that they better not mess with you. ::)
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I read the entire article yesterday and didn't read anything that isn't being said all over Central Command or even here at home in ready rooms, barracks, and work centers around the military. It was amped up by a "journalist" to fit the target audience, it was Rolling Stone not Newsweek. McChrystal just said it in front of the wrong jerk.
Truth F-ng hurt, hey BHO? Your commanders, I'd bet even Petraeus, think your an idot.
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I read the entire article yesterday and didn't read anything that isn't being said all over Central Command or even here at home in ready rooms, barracks, and work centers around the military. It was amped up by a "journalist" to fit the target audience, it was Rolling Stone not Newsweek. McChrystal just said it in front of the wrong jerk.
Truth F-ng hurt, hey BHO? Your commanders, I'd bet even Petraeus, think KNOW your an idot.
FIFY
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I think it a hysterical irony that he chose Petraeus. The same General that they screamed at and berated and called a liar when he was running operations in Iraq. Now the same scumbags are all praising him for taking on this challenge. Like Solus said, "like he had a choice". I agree with Tom, that his career is now over, because you all know he's the scapegoat when the next thing goes wrong over there. :'(
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McChrystal had to go - he pissed in his own well. Unless he was on a kamikaze mission to draw attention to what a bunch of losers are running the civilian side of things, his actions were inexcusably stupid. You can not expect to maintain a working relationship with people after you public diss them so his effectiveness was essentially over at that point. The other option for BHO was to replace the civilian "clowns" and let it look like McChrystal was the lead dog. Aint gonna happen.
The only upside is that it will be a long time before anyone in the military says a damn thing to the media again.
This is just one of those situations where all you can do is shake your head and say "Dude, WTF were you thinking?"
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McChrystal had to go - he pissed in his own well. Unless he was on a kamikaze mission to draw attention to what a bunch of losers are running the civilian side of things, his actions were inexcusably stupid. You can not expect to maintain a working relationship with people after you public diss them so his effectiveness was essentially over at that point. The other option for BHO was to replace the civilian "clowns" and let it look like McChrystal was the lead dog. Aint gonna happen.
The only upside is that it will be a long time before anyone in the military says a damn thing to the media again.
This is just one of those situations where all you can do is shake your head and say "Dude, WTF were you thinking?"
Personally, I think that is exactly what he did, knowingly. He is too smart, too experienced, not to know what would happen to him for his comments, and I think he knew full well who he was talking to (RS wanker), he chose his battleground opportunity.
He opened the gummint's kimono a bit to let us in on what's going on, knowing full well he will get a desk job and retire soon to a large retirement fund and speaking fees.
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Maybe my paranoia* is getting the better of me, but I think Odamna had another, more ulterior motive.
There has been a great deal of talk in the blagosphere about General P being a good choice as the Republican candidate for Pres in 2012. Odamna just took him out of the equation. The General won't be able to run until 2016. I am afraid our Nation won't make it until them.
*Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are NOT out to get you.
Offered as food for thought by a worried Crusader. :( ??? :P
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Compared to Swartzkopf, both of these guys are administrators.
West Point boys...
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Compared to Swartzkopf, both of these guys are administrators.
West Point boys...
I don't think I'd say that about McChrystal. JSOC is no place for sissies or "managers." It's a whole command of snake-eaters in the first degree. He's been a part of the SOF community from the very beginning. "Administrators" need not apply.
Patraeus was long part of 18th Airborne Corps/101st Air Assualt/82nd Airborne and isn't a "paper Ranger" either. He has had a lot of staff jobs and good assignments though.
The only major difference is their early careers didn't start in Vietnam.
Swatrzkopf was a West Pointer too BTW
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Maybe my paranoia* is getting the better of me, but I think Odamna had another, more ulterior motive.
There has been a great deal of talk in the blagosphere about General P being a good choice as the Republican candidate for Pres in 2012. Odamna just took him out of the equation. The General won't be able to run until 2016. I am afraid our Nation won't make it until them.
*Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are NOT out to get you.
Offered as food for thought by a worried Crusader. :( ??? :P
Sounds like the kind of Machiavellian stuff I'd post. I lke it. ;D Still, I don't think Patreus would run. Everybody loves the General, until they look at him. Then he's just another Pol and one with a fundraising disadvantage. Remember Powell as the magic bulet in '96, or Clark in '04? Powell was smart enough to say no, Clark went no where. Unless patreus wants the job (and what sane man would in these times?) and has some serious sugar daddies lined up, his odds of winning a GOP primary are slim. Hell he might be a Democrat, or Pro-choice or anti-gun or any of a hundred different things that could be a deal breaker. He's on a fast track for the Joint Chiefs or Sec Def as it is. A smart man would leave it right there.
FQ13
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Swatrzkopf was a West Pointer too BTW
True but, of the three, I'd lay odds that he's actually killed some of the enemy!
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True but, of the three, I'd lay odds that he's actually killed some of the enemy!
I thought Powell saw some action in Vietnam?
FQ13
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True but, of the three, I'd lay odds that he's actually killed some of the enemy!
Don't mean to pee in your porridge, but I would put that down to their relative ages and timing.
Kind of hard to get a combat assignment when there isn't a war going on. ::)
Yes FQ, Powell started his career as a Grunt leading a platoon in Vn.
Same as Ollie North.
Quote from: jnevis on Today at 09:43:13
Swatrzkopf was a West Pointer too BTW
Most Army Officers (career type ) are West Pointers, or from Norwich, VMI, or the Citadel.
Which school predominates is often determined by Branch.
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True enough Tom...
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True enough Tom...
Actually Tim, The McChrystal's, and Patreus's out there were probably our O1 - O3 ;D
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Sounds like the kind of Machiavellian stuff I'd post. I lke it. ;D Still, I don't think Patreus would run. Everybody loves the General, until they look at him. Then he's just another Pol and one with a fundraising disadvantage. Remember Powell as the magic bulet in '96, or Clark in '04? Powell was smart enough to say no, Clark went no where. Unless patreus wants the job (and what sane man would in these times?) and has some serious sugar daddies lined up, his odds of winning a GOP primary are slim. Hell he might be a Democrat, or Pro-choice or anti-gun or any of a hundred different things that could be a deal breaker. He's on a fast track for the Joint Chiefs or Sec Def as it is. A smart man would leave it right there.
FQ13
Well, like you, he reportedly voted for BHO.
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Well, like you, he reportedly voted for BHO.
I think you would be amazed at how many soldiers did. And for same reasons I did. Only for them it was more a "Get me the hell out here I'm on my fifth deployment" vote.
FQ13
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I think you would be amazed at how many soldiers did. And for same reasons I did. Only for them it was more a "Get me the hell out here I'm on my fifth deployment" vote.
FQ13
I don't disagree. The Obama folks did a masterful job of twisting McCain's "100 years in Iraq" statement to their advantage.