Thread: US General bashes Obama Administration

Originally Posted by deputyfestus

In the theater yes on the front line no.

That's exactly what I meant.

This is from a correspondence with one of my bros from STA platoon who mustanged and is now a CO of a Bn leaving for Afghanistan in a few months..........

Judgment, loyalty, and the perspective of the Afghan population. General McChrystal exercised deplorable judgment when he allowed a reporter from the Rolling Stone (whose girlfriend was killed in Iraq in 2007) to follow him and his entourage in to every intimate detail of their lives together. This is not the first time his judgment has left something to be desired. General McChrystal was responsible for covering up the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident. His loyalty is also a central issue. The Commander-in-Chief needs the loyalty of his subordinates. Whether it's Lincoln with McClellan, Truman with MacArthur, or Obama with McChrystal. The American balance of power must tilt toward the President. General McChrystal did not make any disloyal comments publicly or officially but by allowing the Rolling Stone reporter behind closed doors he didn't have to. Remember when we were LCpls and they told us when we deal with reporters to remember there is no such thing as "off the record"? Same thing is true in this case and the General had to know that, which means what he said was intended for publication. Finally, the most important reason, the Afghan people whose hearts and minds we're trying to win. In their tribal culture, power is all that matters. From their perspective, the Chief of the American tribe was insulted by a lesser chief. If the President had not taken action, it would have lessened his esteem in the eyes of the Afghans and, by extension, weakened our efforts there. The war is bigger than any one man and the President's decision (perhaps not intentionally) reflects that fact.

I wish General Mattis had replaced him, but General Petraeus is a good man too.

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

The new general is suppose to change the rules of engagement to make it easier for the troops.

Commander, your response?

That's the talk, however petraeus has been in these very meetings the whole time, so it's not fresh on him, but I do think that there will have to be some changes especially since the light and the weight is all on him now. I think he will grant the change. The troops are counting on him.


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