Obama Is Right to Fire McChrystal, But He's Still Feckless

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@Roma Clewell
You know that the fifth amendment does not apply to those in Military service right?

lion of WA 8:36PM June 23, 2010

I am not all that certain the details of ROLLING STONE that got General out of there are accurate. Doesn’t matter. One of few times obama did right in my book. One of his better speeches.
On Special Report with Bret Baier a member of the All Star Panel last night called the actions of obama. Including the General to be replacement.
One important call has not been done. Obama needs to say withdraw date is not set in stone.

Bill Hedges of MO 7:00PM June 23, 2010

Absolutely from TX is absolutely wrong. 10 months elapsed between McChrystal's speech calling for 40 thousand more troops for Afghanistan and the meeting he had with Obama - which was done by video call. It was in all the papers and on TV - I don't know how you could have missed it - or else you are just being deliberately wrong.

Sam 6:40PM June 23, 2010

"In May 2009, as McChrystal prepared for his confirmation hearings, his staff prepared him for hard questions about Camp Nama and the Tillman cover-up. But the scandals barely made a ripple in Congress, and McChrystal was soon on his way back to Kabul to run the war in Afghanistan."
Congress should have done their job long ago, McChrystal thought he could get away with anything by now. Narcissism, arrogance ran rampant with him and his staff. The general should have been fired long ago. RIP, Pat Tillman. I hope the general's staff gets the boot as well. Interesting McChrystal bans alcohol to the troops on base, but yet we read about him and his staff getting ****-faced drunk while running their vile mouths.

truth of KS 5:48PM June 23, 2010

General McChrystal overstepped the line and his resignation was warranted. But there is no escaping the fact that this war is going badly and it remains to be seen if General Petraeus can pull a victory out of the bag. If anything, removing the general will likely widen the gap between the Afghan and US administrations as McChrystal is popular with the Afghans.
The biggest issue Petraeus will face in Afghanistan is the Karzai government who don't like Obama one bit. Afghans will always go with who appears stronger. Right now they see the Taliban efforts to win this fight as a stronger possibility than the Obama's administrations effort. If Petraeus is unable to convince them otherwise then he and the whole operation in Afghanistan are toast. This is not just a war on the ground, it is a battle to win hearts and minds. Right now we are losing that fight and this war is shaping up to be Vietnam all over again.
As Abe Lincoln once put it: "With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed."
I wish General Petraeus well.

Buster Bunns of OR 5:45PM June 23, 2010

I do not agree with the last individual's comments as they are ignorant and overly emotional. If you were a member of the United States Military or know anything about the Oath one takes when they enter the Military you wouldn't make the ignorant comments you just made. United States Service Men and Women are held to a different and higher standard than the American Civilian that is why we have the Uniformed Code of Military Justice which speaks out against the very nature of General McChrystal's and his aides actions. In fact, General McChrystal and his aides violated several articles of the UCMJ (Article 88,89, and 91)Please do your research before discussing something you have no knowledge of or about. I am a military service member, and we are taught from the onset that we will support our Command, the Commander in Chief, and the US Constitution. All of personal feelings are to be set aside and not discussed in a public forum because to do so can erode the esprit de corp and climate of the entire unit or military in this case.

Tasha of GA 4:54PM June 23, 2010

The anointed one: "Now is the time for all of us to come together."
America to POTUS: Yeah, like you and your lackeys have been engaged in that so far. We've got some news for you: we are coming together. You'll get the full memo in November. You have our word on it.
Oh, BTW, we caught Rahm lying. His lips were moving. Fire him too.

America of CA 4:41PM June 23, 2010

Every military wife, no matter what the rank of her husband, knows that because of their special position, their right to free speech comes with an enormous responsibliity. Surely, someone with McChrystle's rank and command knows this as well.
The right to speak freely does not guarantee that speech will nto have consequences.
McChrystal, a 4 star general, chose the worst, most damaging way possible to exercise his right to voice his opinion. That there would be consequences, he must surely have known.
Shame on him, if he knew what he was doing. And shame on him, if he did not, or did not care.
In either case, he could not be left in command.

Donna Wolf of CA 4:30PM June 23, 2010

You say President Obama is feckless and use, as an example, the notable "fact" that President Obama took nearly 10 months to meet his general, and even then only by video. Not an element of which is fact.
If you are going to be considered, as a reporter, anything less than "feckless", you should get your facts straight before you confabulate them with your own unbiased opinion. If you are purely an opinion writer, you shouldn't feel the need for supporting "facts" unless they are, indeed facts.

Absolutely of TX 4:24PM June 23, 2010

President Obama has no respect for the constitution or American Law. General Stanley McChrystal may say anything he wants. President Obama was not fired for making dispairing statements about America on his ego tour to Europe. General McChrysal should not be fired for speaking the truth as he sees it. Small men, like President Obama, who want constantly to have their egos stroked and cannot hear truth are not who we need running the country. President Obama should be chastised by everyone in powere for ignoring Gen. McChrysal's fifth amendment right and we should thank him for having the honor and courage to state what is right and not what a small egocentric President wants to hear. President Obama steps all over the rights of American's, ignores law, and speaks untruths about America, but I don't see the media calling him to account for it. I am ashamed that our media don't call out the President, but turn around and crucify a person who is acting with integrity. Shame on all of you.

Roma Clewell of NV 4:16PM June 23, 2010