Gen McChrystal's relief

[Christcorp]

I know this topic is starting to shift, but the whole "Falling on his sword" theory, definitely brings up some possibilities. But as we all know, it's how the future looks back on you that will determine if you were right or wrong. All of these theories will be answered in the next 12 months. How? It all depends on what type of job Petraeus does.

1. If everything Petraeus does is "Different" or "Opposite" direction than where McChrystal was heading; McChrystal will be seen simply as a dissident.

2. If Petraeus follows similar direction that McChrystal was going, and "MORE QUESTIONS" are brought up about the Obama administration and their involvement and capabilities; then people will look back, and McChrystal will be vindicated; and the "Problem" will be seen as one that rests with Obama and his administration.

Should be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[Zaphod]

I actually disagree, currently more people are Independents, and there is the anti-Washington philosophy. He would be seen by the middle of the road voters as the one that STOOD UP. He would be seen by the Repubs as the officer who played Don Quixote.

He voted for Obama. He'd have to have a flying carpet to convince anyone he was suddenly converted, especially with the climate these days.

Deep down, I agree that he didn't do this for political aspirations. There was something going on regarding Afghanistan, and this was the only way he could get it changed.

As for Petraeus, the question now becomes who is responsible for whatever happens?

If Petraeus changes things and suceeds, he will obviously get the credit, even if that was what McChrystal wanted to do but was not allowed to. After all, if Petraeus suddenly gets fired (for something short of insubbordination), then the one who looks bad is Obama. If he changes and fails, then he looks bad and so does Obama, and maybe McChystal looks good.

And so on, and so on, and so on.......

You've got three people here locked in a bizzare political and military salsa, and no one knows who is really following the music. I just hope the troops feel that Petraeus has the situation under control. The last thing we need now is a crisis of morale at the trigger-puller level....

 

[Pima]

I guess I missed the fact that he voted for Obama. However, to me there are many who vote for a candidate because it is the selection of the better of the two options. I am not someone that agrees 100% with any of the candidates, I just have to vote with the one that is more aligned with my principles, which is very difficult since I am pro-military, fiscally conservative, and at the same time socially liberal by being pro gay marriage and pro choice. I have yet to find the candidate that is courageous enough to be a true independent and not bow to the traditional repub/dem platforms. I would love to know if he voted for Obama because he believed in Obama, or because he voted as an anti-McCain vote. I question it because McCain is infamous in the DC area for his fiery temper, and McCrystal served 2 yrs at the Pentagon on JS.

I do agree this will be very interesting. McCrystal was Obama's hand picked leader and Petreaus was a McCrystal supporter. I think the troops have faith in Petraeus, my question is if Petraeus comes out and says "No draw down at all next July", what will Obama do? Will he support him, or will this become another Gen BeTrayUs and comments from the MOC's of "willing suspension of disbelief"?

CC is correct, if Petraeus follows McCrystal's plan, there will be questions. I find it so interesting that he voted for Obama, but he was very vocal going back a yr ago regarding the administration. This was a guy who finally spoke with our President on a runway in England (?) for 45 minutes after having no interaction for months.

These are tenuous times. I am sure Petraus understands the weight far more than any of us can imagine...I also think that McCrystal is sitting back having a Jack and Coke on his patio while flipping burgers, and saying to himself he doesn't envy Petraeus right now. especially as he hangs up with one of the many publishers willing to pay him for his memoirs. I am thinking he is saying to himself WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO RETIRE?

 

[scoutpilot]

I am thinking he is saying to himself WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO RETIRE?

Probably not. That's a careerist attitude, and he is not that type of man.

 

[Mongo]

Pima,

My statement:

I am saying that more is expected of an officer.

Your response:

Sorry, but as I have stated that too is offensive and crass.

From Adm Mullen in yesterday's news release:

Military officers ought not criticize the presidents they serve even when they don’t believe their comments will go public.

Why did Adm Mullen not include enlisted personnel in this overall policy statement? Why did he not issue a similiar statement a month or so ago when the USMC NCO got in hot water for maintaining an anti-Obama blog? Do you feel Adm Mullen is crass and offensive?

 

[Christcorp]

Why did Adm Mullen not include enlisted personnel in this overall policy statement? Why did he not issue a similiar statement a month or so ago when the USMC NCO got in hot water for maintaining an anti-Obama blog? Do you feel Adm Mullen is crass and offensive?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but do you not have any understanding of politics?

An NCO, or even some 0-3 someplace with a Blog or Facebook calling Obama a ****** bag is not news. A 4 star general in charge of an AOR mentioning anything derogatory about the president or his administration IS NEWS.

Matter of fact, the fact that Mullen did not say something similar when the NCO had his blog exposed proves that this is mainly political. It's not because McChrystal is a commissioned officer and the sergeant is a Non-Commissioned officer. It's that in this case, McChrystal was more of a public figure. Had that NCO with the blog been an 0-3, I don't believe any more would have been said than what was said about the NCO. The military keeps such things in house whenever possible, but a 4 star general in charge of an entire war is something that is difficult to keep out of the media.

I'm not saying that officers and NCO's are equal. They aren't. But they don't follow a separate set of rules either. They may have certain expectations, but that is generally rank related. That's the same in all the military. There are great expectations of an 0-5/0-6 than there is for an 01-03. Just like there is a different expectation for E7-E9 than there is for E1-E4. Officers tend to be in positions of higher authority. Flying a $35 million F-15, in charge of AOR, etc... As such, it is more likely that their negative behavior will be picked up and become more newsworthy. If McChrystal's negative remarks were heard at the O-Club by Mullens directly himself, it is unlikely that Mullen or the SecDef would have reacted the way they did. They did so because the comments were published in a magazine and exposed to the world. I really would have thought that this is common sense.

 

[Zaphod]

I'M OUT!

 

[Christcorp]

I'M OUT!

I can definitely understand where you're coming from.
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[Mongo]

I'm not saying that officers and NCO's are equal. They aren't. But they don't follow a separate set of rules either. They may have certain expectations, but that is generally rank related. That's the same in all the military. There are great expectations of an 0-5/0-6 than there is for an 01-03. Just like there is a different expectation for E7-E9 than there is for E1-E4. Officers tend to be in positions of higher authority.

Christcorp, thanks for clarifying to Pima my point about personnel in the military being held to different standards. Candidates on this forum should realize this. It is not something to hide. Graduates of service academies are actually held to a higher standard than their ROTC/OCS brothers and sisters. They need to know this going in.

 

[bruno]

Folks- This thread has run its course as it is apparent that some posters are intent on posting at each other and about each other's motives rather than focusing on the topic. It's closed