Obama Should Fire General McChrystal, Fast

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I strongly recommend reading the article that ignited this firestorm ‘The Runaway General’ in Rolling Stone Magazine. General McChrystal is certainly to be admired for his commitment to fighting counter insurgencies in Iraq, but it is an entirely different operation in Afghanistan. And it is a largely failed operation that McChrystal has sold to the President. One authority refers to the COIN policy in Afghanistan as a fraud against America as it is largely ineffective and is costing us hundreds of billions of dollars, some of which is making its way into the hands of the Taliban. It was effective in Iraq but the number of civilian deaths, the death toll for our troops and the number of IEDs has increased since McChrystal has taken command and implemented COIN. After witnessing his inability to work with our allies as well as our leaders the question arises, is he the right man for the job? McChrystal was involved in the cover-up surrounding Pat Tillman's death. He was also on the scene at the detention camps that were abusing Iraqi prisoners. With him you get a mixed bag, some good some not so good, perhaps his resignation was inevitable. But a bigger question remains-is the COIN policy doomed to fail? Michael Hastings has done his homework and some very good points are made in the Rolling Stones article. President Obama has a much bigger problem than replacing General McChrystal and that is whether to stay the course or not. I say not. It was tying General Mc Chrystal’s hands and its tying up our resources. He convinced the President to follow this course of action, how better to remove himself from the folly of the plan as every good soldier knows that there is no future for the loser. I hope the Pentagon takes a good hard look at this and pulls the plug, perhaps then, General McChrystal would have accomplished more with his resignation than he could have; had he been forced to ride out a situation that he knew would not and could not succeed

N Verhey of WI 12:24AM June 24, 2010

What a sorry thing to see 3 articles about General’s firing on here. Not that it is not worthy topic. But 3 and none on increase in oil release in Gulf. First article on obama that I recall. Was obama’s only shinning moment in a LONG TIME. One could believe no leak existed by your articles here. No article on obama's mistakes in eradicating the released oil.
Why ? Is it possible obama protectionism ? Fear of admitting obama’s failures ? Catering to leftist ? Hair, ways to improve Republican party from liberal authors. Really !
Fewer and fewer types like Lose Lips sink ships are commenting here now. More that give thoughtful expression instead of insults and innuendos.

Bill Hedges of MO 7:50PM June 23, 2010

Telling the truth ? That's something the mainstream media should try , what a concept.
If what the general did was outrageous conduct to get him fired , then 75% of congress needs to get fired , oh , that's right , Nov. is comming and they will be..

Hunter of WI 6:08PM June 23, 2010

Just before is was a fact that we lost the Vetnam War, generals and cia officials were getting fired for not underestmating the enemy. They gave reports that were truthful, but against the popular wisedom of the Washington elite, that the vet cong were well equiped and capable of winning. Boom, off with their head. We'll get someone who will agree us, that will lie for us, that we can blame later when we lose the war. I want to hear everything McChrystal has to say, and I'll believe him, not the white house.

william of CA 5:40PM June 23, 2010

It's obvious that McChrystal knew exactly what he was doing when he made those comments, and equally obvious that he knew what the result would be--he had his resignation prepared. So, he must have planned it this way all along--his "quick & dirty" way out of what he sees as a bad situation, so he can join a Palin/McChrystal ticket at the head of the Tea Party? If that happens it will be ironic that each of them found a way to quit their duly appointed jobs in government service to further a political career. Yeah, Yeah, I can hear all you pointy-headed neocoms (NOT a misspelling) quacking and I really hope I'm wrong--an uneducated failure and an arrogant warlord are bad choices to lead a democracy.
Speaking of irony, anyone else see the irony of Palin and her idiots co-opting the Boston Tea Party as a symbol of their anti-democracy lunacy?? They want a theocracy so they can enforce their Christ-ian version of Sharia Law. Too bad that teaching history, (not to mention reading history) has become a thing of the past. NOW do you understand the importance of a well-rounded education?????

VietNamVet 5:33PM June 23, 2010

“Hope that he becomes an Oliver North type” ... I think that was the plan. This reminds me of Sarah Palin. She went rouge and immediately became a household name and a millionaire. Why else would he get on the bullhorn and announce to the world that he has no respect for his boss and that everyone else at the top are idiots? There is no way he believed that after this article he would keep his job. There is a code of conduct in every organization. If you go around bad mouthing your leaders, even if it is true, you can best believe your relationship with that organization will be severed. Even in Corporate America, if you make a statement that goes against the current views of those in power you will be labeled a trouble maker and so goes your career. He had obviously had it up to here but didn’t want to look bad by being a quitter. Why should he look bad when he could be make Obama look bad twice!!
I'll wait for the book to hear the rest...Why work and be aggravated when you can just go rouge, enjoy your retirement and make millions...See you at the top McChrystal!

Lose Lips sink ships of GA 5:08PM June 23, 2010

first off, let me say that I served 8 years in the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS and 2 deployments to iraq. Second dont come at us with that "Abraham Lincoln had a problem" crap... He had a problem getting a general to fight (and wasnt scared of the military..) now we have a president that doesnt want our general to fight.. Two different scenarios.... You liberal people SUCK! enough said... SEMPER FIDELIS till I die!

Disgruntled Marine of CA 4:59PM June 23, 2010

I know that Petraeus will take over. But that will be short lived. I assume he will find a replacement very quickly. I would expect any potential candidate to avoid the position like the plague because they would respect themselves enought to not be a lap dog to a narcissist.

David of ID 3:51PM June 23, 2010

All the congressmen and senators are supporting Obama's decision to remove General McChrystal, because the biggest threat to them would be public opinion backing the General over the already mistrusted government ... because this is how governments fall victim to military coups. It's a faster way of removing a corrupt government than fixed elections, or appealing to a government who disregards the electorate.

Howard of CA 3:47PM June 23, 2010

So critical, non-contributors, toppled a general. If Obama wants any respect that he should clean house. How about a public flogging for Joe Biden who clearly attempted to undermine the General or John Kerry whose made snide comments? How about quickly replacing inept Ambassador Eikenberry (or whatever his name is who cherry picked McChrystal since day one? How about a strong meaculpa from Obama for allowing his staff to ridcule the military. I'd love to see stuffed shirt Gibbs drawn and quartered for his besmerching, condescending remarks about McChrystal.
But NO, the only thing we see is McChrystal packing his duffle and retiring. I hope, as a civilian, he becomes an Oliver North type and becomes a tireless thorn in the side of this administration.

David of ID 3:41PM June 23, 2010