The gaffe from America's top military commander in Afghanistan and his staffer’s “Biden?-Did-you-say-Bite-Me?” comment is biting back. Hours after news broke that Gen. Stanley McChrystal was recalled to Washington amid his controversial remarks about colleagues in an explosive Rolling Stone magazine article, calls for the firing of the general have surfaced.
The Atlantic magazine’s national correspondent wrote that McChrystal has violated the chain of command and should be sacked for disrespect and insubordination.
"… first is for the civilian Commander in Chief to act in accordance with Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution and demonstrate that there are consequences for showing open disrespect for the chain of command."
A Talking Points Memo columnist points out that this isn’t the first time McChrystal has gone on a scathing tirade about those who are “not in their groove on strategy.” Not firing McChrystal will only hurt President Obama’s standing as commander in chief, he argues.
"Obama needs to fire him. If he doesn't, McChrystal's brand will be validated and the environment of insubordination and unprofessional conduct will be reinforced. If McChrystal survives his White House encounter, then Obama will be diminished. That is what this has come to."
Calling the general’s comments in Rolling Stone “near-suicidal," The Daily Telegraph’s U.S. editor thinks keeping McChrystal, on the contrary, might bode well for Obama’s administration.
"If Obama still believes that success in Afghanistan is possible then the ultimate display of genuine toughness, self-confidence and courage on the President’s part could be to stick with the man he chose to get the job done, despite the general’s reckless and insulting words."
TIME magazine’s Joe Klein writes about the McChrystal he’s known, calling him an “extraordinary man” with a thorough set of skills necessary for the mission in Afghanistan.
"But there is another side to McChrystal: he is so focused on his real job that he hasn't spent sufficient time learning how to play the public relations game. He speaks his mind; in private conversations, I've found, he is incapable of fudging the truth. This leads to a certain myopia, an innocence regarding the not-so-brave new world of the media."
Klein goes on to say that while McChrystal may have to go, firing the “irreplaceable” man will be a great “setback” and “tragedy.”
Afghan President Harmid Karzai doesn’t seem too concerned by McChrystal’s remarks and clearly wants him on the ground. The president’s spokesman, Waheed Omer, told Reuters:
“The President strongly supports General McChrystal and his strategy in Afghanistan and believes he is the best commander the United States has sent to Afghanistan over the last nine years."
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The is in reference to one of the post i read and it got under my skin, BY (rondia) Now we are getting to the core of all the problems, we just don't want to step up and admit it, some can not except a black man is in charge of our ( their ) country, If it was any other person as president that was of their color, there would not be so much to do about nothing ) Lets remember the days of President George Bush and Stormin Norman Schwarzkopf during the gulf war, (oh wait Bush wasn't a black man) and yet their was plenty done, if i remember right Schwarzkopf did resign, but how soon we forget that. but then we want to bring in the comment about a black man being in charge hmmmm. So why would we bring color into the forum unless we are trying to make it a race issue... Is that the real case? I don't see what General Mc Crystal has done or said that would warrant him to resign, i think he is doing an outstanding job. Lets ask ourselves this question? What is the Presidents Military Background? and has he ever Experienced Combat?
TO CENSURE GEN. MC CHRYSTAL FOR VOICING HIS OPINION PUTS THE CONCEPT OF 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' IN JEOPARDY.
SURELY, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CITIZENS WHO AGREE, IF NOT PARTIALLY, WITH HIS COMMENTS.
I FOR ONE, WOULD PREFER TO SEE OUR 'GOVERNMENT' PULL ALL FORIEGN AID AND CONCENTRATE ON REBUILDING OUR OWN NATION FROM WITHIN; POLITICALLY, FINANCIALLY, MORALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY, THE ULTIMATE BEING TO 'LEAD BY EXAMPLE, NOT BY FORCE'.
TO CENSURE GEN. MC CHRYSTAL FOR VOICING HIS OPINION, PUTS THE CONCEPT OF 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' IN JEOPARDY. SURELY, THERE ARE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO AGREE, IF NOT TOTALLY AT LEAST PARTIALLY, WITH HIS COMMENTS.
I FOR ONE, WOULD PREFER TO SEE OUR "GOVERNMENT" PULL ALL FORIEGN AID AND SUPPORT TO CONCENTRATE ON REBUILDING OUR OWN NATION, POLITICALLY, FINANCILLY, MORALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL BEING, 'LEAD BY EXAMPLE' NOT BY FORCE.
O NO some spoke up and the president didn't like it. If the general is let go so should the president. Has failed in many areas look at the oil mess what is he doing?? I glad the general spoke up for the american people and well to bad Mr. President suck up and take what your people have to say and listen.
... and Obama sucks! He is the worst President in the history of our country. And please prepare yourselves, for the "Change" he promised most certainly is coming! Sure Clinton made our country look cozy and comfortable while he cut the legs out from the military, and defense of our nation. Which, by the way, is why French Intel had to inform our GREAT country that Al Queda members were taking flight school in Florida for two years before we even got wind of it. Why do you think the French wouldn't help us in the war on terrorism? Clinton brushed them aside while he was worried about fighting his impeachment. Clinton had at least 7 solid opportunties to KILL Bin Laden, and NEVER pulled the trigger. I love when people blame Bush for the war, Bush was in office for 6 months when 9/11 happened. Do you think it took Al Queda 6 months to plan this attack. They even boast about how they did it right under Clinton's nose. Give me a break people WAKE UP!!!!! Obama is ruining the very fiber this country was founded on. If you don't like what this country was founded on, leave. No one tells France, England, Spain, they don't like how they were founded. So, if you don't like it, move to a country that most suits your needs and wants. Obama rammed a healthcare bill down our throats, over 3/4 of congress said they did not even have a chance to read the entire bill, and Obama's response, was too bad, if you don't vote, I will manditory pass the bill anyway... what was the real choice? Obama is a political puppet, he is wearing a big set of pants, with diapers. He is an amature, with little to NO experience, and his party ties love it that way. They got him elected for it! He will take the heat in the history books our kids read, while the Dems ram their agenda down our throats, and Obama doesn't know any better, he just got elected because he was techinically and visually the furthest thing from Bush... and Bush doesn't look so bad now does he? Obama (in one year) has spent 6x more than Bush in 8 years (and that includes picking up the tab for the war efforts). Worse, Obama has spent more, and held NO ONE accountable for their actions! Where is the action team that was supposed to be implemented by Greenspan to watch over the funds that were deligated to these companies? This country is going to hell in a hand bag. Sure let's sanction AZ for handling their immigration issues, BUT drug cartels are sitting in state parks (all illegal, and from Mexico) telling the local police, "Leave us alone if you know what is good for you, how dare you steal 400 lbs. of our illeagal pot". Are you serious? 2 million people live in NYC's Manhattan Borough – of the 2 Million, only 35,000 pay taxes, to support the entire city, and Obama wants to BLANKET citizenship?
When is it ok for America to defend ourselves, our rights, our way of thinking and living. We have become so Politically Correct that you can't even question an action Obama has made without the damn NAACP coming after you. I just hope we are all buckled down for the "Change" we so longed for... because I wonder where Keith Oberman and Rachel Maddow will be when our country is nuked because the rest of the world laughs at our "fearless" leader. We are being mocked by third world countries, people would rather crap in a dirt hole than live here... great job Obama, you suck, and I am Black!
CNN, YOU ARE SO FULL OF IT. YOU ENCOURAGE DISRESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND YOU LAP IT UP WHEN THESE UNSAVED CRAZIES SAY ALL KINDS OF MORONIC THINGS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT. THESE PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH HATE IN THEM TOWARD BARACK OBAMA. HE IS SMARTER THAN ANY OF THEM AND THE MEDIA AND ALL THE NETWORKS ENCOURAGE THESE PSYCHOS BY ASKING FOR THEIR OPINIONS. THEY DON'T HAVE A MIND IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WHO IS GOING TO USE THEIR OPINIONS. CERTAINLY NOT THE PRESIDENT. GROW UP, PEOPLE!
Let's face it, if Obama didn't let McChrystal go, Republicans would be complaining THAT was wrong. Republicans don't know what to think until Obama takes a position so they can be opposed to it.
Getting away with a lot of "stuff". What an intelligent comment. Exactly what "stuff" are you talking about? Be specific? I for one am glad to have an intelligent , thoughtful President to handle all these crisis since he entered office.
Like what Gretchen, oh wise one? All the undermining was perpetrated under your buddy Bush over the previous eight years. Do you think the worldwide meltdown is the result of Obama's policies? The financial crash occurred at the end of Bush's term. Get your facts right.
so tell me Gretchen – exactly what kind of atrocities are you talking about that you'd like to give Obama credit for? And while you're at it – how did you feel when Bush was at the wheel driving this country right over the edge?
And where we you, Miss Teabag, when George W. Bush was president? Obama is still trying to clean up the messes left behind by "W." And would you care to be specific as to how Obama has undermined the economy or our security? Be specific now. Cite policies and actions and what experts (Fox News doesn't count) see as long term consequences.
Not as atrocious as the last one who left us and Obama with the mess he's got. Have you considered that?
You know, "stuff" all those things he does. I actually heard the other day he was drafting laws supporting human rights equality in America. Can you believe the audacity of that guy? ABSURD!
Dont worry Gretchen. We will reign in his stupidity in Novemeber. Remeber how long it took to have a Dem as pres after Carter?
Adam
Is not equality when you give somone prefernetial treatment because of their race, such as miniorty bids on Govt jobs. Take the blinders off. Equality takes away your right to complain. The dems will never let it happen. They need you on their payroll.