Comments on: Is McChrystal out of line? http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 30 May 2012 20:57:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: superdestroyer http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-221148 superdestroyer Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:19:36 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-221148 GD, <br><br>The White House skipped over the chain of command and want to McChrystal directly so that Patreus would be left out of the loop. The White House is also confusing policy with implementation. The White House should decide what they want the mission to be and leave it to the military and diplomats to implement the policy. <br><br>It appears that the White House staff wants to set the policy but then hamstring the operators on the ground. This could easily be an Axelrod plan so that the White House can blame the military for any failures but so that the White House can take credit for any successes. <br><br>If two people in a row have to be fired, my guess is that it is management that is having the problem and not the subordinate. GD,

The White House skipped over the chain of command and want to McChrystal directly so that Patreus would be left out of the loop. The White House is also confusing policy with implementation. The White House should decide what they want the mission to be and leave it to the military and diplomats to implement the policy.

It appears that the White House staff wants to set the policy but then hamstring the operators on the ground. This could easily be an Axelrod plan so that the White House can blame the military for any failures but so that the White House can take credit for any successes.

If two people in a row have to be fired, my guess is that it is management that is having the problem and not the subordinate.

]]> By: JeffersonDavis http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220764 JeffersonDavis Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:36:59 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220764 Well said, Green. Great analogy! Well said, Green. Great analogy!

]]> By: GreenDreams http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220649 GreenDreams Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:11:52 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220649 SD, I'm pretty sure you're not as stupid as you act sometimes. Maybe you understand businesses better than the military, so I'll use an analogy. If some sharp and talented young marketer wants the CEO to try a particular campaign, she proposes it through channels. If she goes on TV and says "Ford really needs to try my 'Chevy Sucks' ad campaign, or Ford will likely fail," she's history. You get fired for taking an internal discussion public. SD, I'm pretty sure you're not as stupid as you act sometimes. Maybe you understand businesses better than the military, so I'll use an analogy. If some sharp and talented young marketer wants the CEO to try a particular campaign, she proposes it through channels. If she goes on TV and says “Ford really needs to try my 'Chevy Sucks' ad campaign, or Ford will likely fail,” she's history. You get fired for taking an internal discussion public.

]]> By: superdestroyer http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220620 superdestroyer Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:38:07 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220620 It was just a couple of months ago that the media was singing the praises of Gen. McChrystal as they were criticizing his fired predecessor. However, now that he delivered the wrong message to the Obama Administration, the same media is more than happy to shoot the messenger. <br><br>If President Obama and his staff do not want to listen to those on the ground, then why invite them to brief the White House staff. It was just a couple of months ago that the media was singing the praises of Gen. McChrystal as they were criticizing his fired predecessor. However, now that he delivered the wrong message to the Obama Administration, the same media is more than happy to shoot the messenger.

If President Obama and his staff do not want to listen to those on the ground, then why invite them to brief the White House staff.

]]> By: JeffersonDavis http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220604 JeffersonDavis Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:35:06 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220604 General McCrystal should retire immediately.<br><br>Any General that subverts the chain of command should be fired or retired immediately. That's goes for Generals serving democrat or republican presidents. To tell your Commander in Chief what he doesn't want to hear is admirable (a yes-man as general get's thousands killed); but to tell the same thing to the public is inexcusable. General McCrystal should retire immediately.

Any General that subverts the chain of command should be fired or retired immediately. That's goes for Generals serving democrat or republican presidents. To tell your Commander in Chief what he doesn't want to hear is admirable (a yes-man as general get's thousands killed); but to tell the same thing to the public is inexcusable.

]]> By: HemmD http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220549 HemmD Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:03:24 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220549 casual<br>"For these kind of stakes, one man's insubordination is another man's courageous act. "<br><br>Tell it to MacArthur. If you want to affect political policy, become politician; otherwise, fade away. casual
“For these kind of stakes, one man's insubordination is another man's courageous act. “

Tell it to MacArthur. If you want to affect political policy, become politician; otherwise, fade away.

]]> By: casualobserver http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220541 casualobserver Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:31:33 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220541 It's now a no win situation for Obama........at best an uncomfortable draw.<br><br>You don't rise to McChrystal's level by being oblivious. He either wins his wants from Obama or prepares to take a hike.<br><br>For these kind of stakes, one man's insubordination is another man's courageous act. And since Obama appointed the guy to take over AfPak, Obama can now only be one of three things in this matter.....lousy at making personnel choices, lousy at adhering to his own prior decisions or lousy at making tough decisions. It's now a no win situation for Obama……..at best an uncomfortable draw.

You don't rise to McChrystal's level by being oblivious. He either wins his wants from Obama or prepares to take a hike.

For these kind of stakes, one man's insubordination is another man's courageous act. And since Obama appointed the guy to take over AfPak, Obama can now only be one of three things in this matter…..lousy at making personnel choices, lousy at adhering to his own prior decisions or lousy at making tough decisions.

]]> By: NotFullyBaked http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220532 NotFullyBaked Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:45:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220532 Certainly Gen. McChrystal sought to affect the political process by taking decision making out into the public. But his transgression doesn't hardly compare with Gen. Petraeus' insertion of himself into the general election in 2004 through his Op-Ed supporting the then current administration. Petraeus should have been fired forthwith (there is certainly precedent for this), but then again, he was Bush's man. Certainly Gen. McChrystal sought to affect the political process by taking decision making out into the public. But his transgression doesn't hardly compare with Gen. Petraeus' insertion of himself into the general election in 2004 through his Op-Ed supporting the then current administration. Petraeus should have been fired forthwith (there is certainly precedent for this), but then again, he was Bush's man.

]]> By: NotFullyBaked http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220531 NotFullyBaked Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:45:09 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220531 Certainly Gen. McChrystal sought to affect the political process by taking decision making out into the public. But his transgression doesn't hardly compare with Gen. Petraeus' insertion of himself into the general election in 2004 through his Op-Ed supporting the then current administration. Petraeus should have been fired forthwith (there is certainly precedent for this), but then again, he was Bush's man. Certainly Gen. McChrystal sought to affect the political process by taking decision making out into the public. But his transgression doesn't hardly compare with Gen. Petraeus' insertion of himself into the general election in 2004 through his Op-Ed supporting the then current administration. Petraeus should have been fired forthwith (there is certainly precedent for this), but then again, he was Bush's man.

]]> By: GreenDreams http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220513 GreenDreams Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:07:52 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220513 I don't think the military is "disloyal," but yes, McChrystal was probably out of line, unless he had clearance through channels to speak out. I don't think the military is “disloyal,” but yes, McChrystal was probably out of line, unless he had clearance through channels to speak out.

]]> By: Father_Time http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220501 Father_Time Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:39:35 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220501 Shinseki made his comments as ordered by Congress and after he had retired. Right or wrong, the people through their elected representatives make law and policy, NEVER the military. Sad thing is, the military knows this and their disloyalty is becoming obvious to America. Shinseki made his comments as ordered by Congress and after he had retired. Right or wrong, the people through their elected representatives make law and policy, NEVER the military. Sad thing is, the military knows this and their disloyalty is becoming obvious to America.

]]> By: Father_Time http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220500 Father_Time Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:36:06 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220500 Making public comments to effect political pressure on the President of the United States for the purpose of making policy according to what the military wants is Treason according to the Constitution, not patriotism. It suggests military control exists over the United States government. Generals make their policy opinions known to the Public at the President’s pleasure, or as ordered to testify before Congress, NOT on their own.<br><br>I am very ashamed of the general for his unsolicited public comments. I am very ashamed of the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs for not immediately defending the President and thus the people of the United States by taking decisive and public action against the general for his disloyalty. <br><br>I cannot help but remember President Eisenhower’s dire warning about the military industrial complex and I wonder if his predictions of national military control is not beginning to happen. Making public comments to effect political pressure on the President of the United States for the purpose of making policy according to what the military wants is Treason according to the Constitution, not patriotism. It suggests military control exists over the United States government. Generals make their policy opinions known to the Public at the President’s pleasure, or as ordered to testify before Congress, NOT on their own.

I am very ashamed of the general for his unsolicited public comments. I am very ashamed of the secretary of defense and the joint chiefs for not immediately defending the President and thus the people of the United States by taking decisive and public action against the general for his disloyalty.

I cannot help but remember President Eisenhower’s dire warning about the military industrial complex and I wonder if his predictions of national military control is not beginning to happen.

]]> By: GeorgeSorwell http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220496 GeorgeSorwell Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:27:49 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220496 Shinseki turned out to be right, didn't he? Shinseki turned out to be right, didn't he?

]]> By: Tweets that mention Is McChrystal out of line? | The Moderate Voice -- Topsy.com http://themoderatevoice.com/48707/is-mcchrystal-out-of-line/comment-page-1/#comment-220503 Tweets that mention Is McChrystal out of line? | The Moderate Voice -- Topsy.com Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:43:21 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/?p=48707#comment-220503 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TMV. TMV said: Is McChrystal out of line?: Mike O’Hanlon says no. Eugene Robinson says, The men with the stars on their .. http://bit.ly/3Ab1Mz [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TMV. TMV said: Is McChrystal out of line?: Mike O’Hanlon says no. Eugene Robinson says, The men with the stars on their .. http://bit.ly/3Ab1Mz [...]

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