via FoxNews.
The article says that although McChrystal voted for Obama, the two failed to connect from the start. Obama called McChrystal on the carpet last fall for speaking too bluntly about his desire for more troops.This guy will be fired and I won't shed a tear. I'll probably pour a shot of Jack Daniels and enjoy the news of his demise.
"I found that time painful," McChrystal said in the article, on newsstands Friday. "I was selling an unsellable position."
It quoted an adviser to McChrystal dismissing the early meeting with Obama as a "10-minute photo op."
"Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. The boss was pretty disappointed," the adviser told the magazine.
Good riddance to you, General McChrystal and your rules of engagement.
Don't be too hard on McChrystal, Sol, the lad didn't had much choice. He had to prepare for a pull-out which means he had to depend on the Afghans to take over. That meant that he had to appease the Afghans, big time.
ReplyDeleteYes, those 'soft' ROE were endangering coalition forces, but he had no real other option.
Guess he was (is?) counting on the Kandahar offensive to be the last real 'full macho tactical' search & destroy, so the troops impaired by the softer ROE would have it easy.
I really think that his successor will support those same ROEs, so there won't be a real change in the end.
Sorry but I disagree. Read the other article on this subject on my blog and you'll get a perfect example of how these ROE's are killing people.
ReplyDeleteWe're fighting a muslim country using muslim tactics.
If we're going to fight this way then we shouldn't even be in the country....no western nation should.
This guy isn't worthy of sympathy, he's worthy of hate. He's caused the death of many US service men because he believes in a philosophy of war that he won't change even when he sees it not working.
THat's the definition of insanity.
Harsh words, that. Like you, I disagree with his people centric 'soft touch'.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that you can't fight an insurgency without FIGHTING THE INSURGENTS. Having tea with the local Sheik and kissing a$$ only leaves a bad taste in ones mouth.
But unless the Talibs/Al Qaeda in Pakistan have their free haven there, whatever the ROEs are won't matter much.
On a related note, McCrystal is Petraeus boy. Wonder how it will affect him.
i think Patraeus is in cover your ass mode. besides, he's only Commander of Centcom, McChrystal reported directly to the President....
ReplyDeletesame thing when another guy gets the job...Patraeus is only a figure head now...the real action ain't in Tampa