The Runaway General - Rolling Stone

[boaz]

The Runaway General

Stanley McChrystal, Obama's top commander in Afghanistan, has seized control of the war by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House

By Michael Hastings
Jun 22, 2010 10:00 AM EDT


"How'd I get screwed into going to this dinner?" demands Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It's a Thursday night in mid-April, and the commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is sitting in a four-star suite at the Hôtel Westminster in Paris. He's in France to sell his new war strategy to our NATO allies â?? to keep up the fiction, in essence, that we actually have allies. Since McChrystal took over a year ago, the Afghan war has become the exclusive property of the United States. Opposition to the war has already toppled the Dutch government, forced the resignation of Germany's president and sparked both Canada and the Netherlands to announce the withdrawal of their 4,500 troops. McChrystal is in Paris to keep the French, who have lost more than 40 soldiers in Afghanistan, from going all wobbly on him.

"The dinner comes with the position, sir," says his chief of staff, Col. Charlie Flynn.

McChrystal turns sharply in his chair.

"Hey, Charlie," he asks, "does this come with the position?"

McChrystal gives him the middle finger.

continued . . .

boaz Reviewed by boaz on 06-23-2010. The Runaway General - Rolling Stone The Runaway General Stanley McChrystal, Obama's top commander in Afghanistan, has seized control of the war by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House By Michael Hastings Jun 22, 2010 10:00 AM EDT "How'd I get screwed into going to this dinner?" demands Gen. Stanley McChrystal. It's a Thursday night in mid-April, and the commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is sitting in a four-star suite at the Hôtel Westminster in Paris. He's in Rating: 5

[gypski]

McChrystal and his whole staff should be shit canned and forced to retire. Then let the Marines take over command and get the fucking job done. Semper Fi. :thumbsup:

[boaz]

can't we just shit can Obama instead? its all true.

[gypski]

can't we just shit can Obama instead? its all true.

The shit can is what Bush left for Obama. A government undermined to near collapse is a tricky thing to repair and stabilize. Nearly done in from within by Jr and the Dick. Gotta give Obama a break with the shit he's been handed by the under miners. And McChrystal appears to be an under miner. :wtf:

Be careful not to swallow the bait. :jointsmile:

[boaz]

Nope, Obama will not be getting any breaks from me on how he has handled this war. He has fucked it up and our soldiers and marines are killed by the dozens every single fucking week. Obama is the commander in chief, he is responsible for every single soldier in combat. He is not up the task. :twocents:

[Dutch Pimp]

a general talking to Rolling Stone mag?..."everybody, must get stoned"-Bob Dylan...:silly:

[boaz]

^ yeah, I read it last night, pretty good read. I really didn't think it was too critical of the white house but I've never been in the military. except for maybe the Biden remarks but they were pretty funny. :rastasmoke: he actually had some kind things to say about the Sec of State, I guess she has been supportive of our efforts there.

Personally, I don't like the way this is being ran, from the 3 month delay as the annointed one pondered the surge, to the mounting casualties every single day after nine years there. This is a quagmire that Obama has allowed us to continue down. It is becoming the classic vietman clusterfuck that our clueless politicians and war profiteers seem to love so much. :twocents:

[Dutch Pimp]

option A- pure war for 50 years...they have the boneyards to prove it

option B- cut your losses & run

personally...imp:I say fuck it...and go back to hitting from a distance, if needed, we're good at that..:thumbsup:...we're hi-teck

[Islandborn]

I agree, a General speaking like this is way outta line and doesnt follow his chain of command....However.....this was TOTALLY planned ahead of time and the general approved the article before hand......so what does that mean? He did the EXACT same thing with the troop levels in Afghanistan if people remember that in his interview in Germany. He planned this 100%. West Point Grad, special forces member, very smart guy.....this was totally planned. Or Obama's Afghan strategy is a loser and McChrystal wants nothing to do with it.

Its also amusing that when generals left during the Bush years they were celebrated as heroes amongst the loony left for bashing him....now the shoes on the other foot and McChrystal thinks Obama's rules for engagement are a joke and they were watered down as they went up the chain of command.

He shouldn't have said what he said, especially to a biased out of date Rolling Stone...;..but what he said was 100% TRUE about Obama's administration and their man-made disasters.

If I was Obama, I'd be scared McChrystal was gonna resign and RUN AGAINST Me....

[gypski]

Nope, Obama will not be getting any breaks from me on how he has handled this war. He has fucked it up and our soldiers and marines are killed by the dozens every single fucking week. Obama is the commander in chief, he is responsible for every single soldier in combat. He is not up the task. :twocents:

Just like Bush, Obama was never involved in the tactical mission. They leave that up to the experts. Any failures rest with McChrystal. Again, Obama is cleaning up a Bush/Cheney mess.