McChrystal Offers Resignation
General Stanley McChrystal has "offered to resign" in the wake of the controversy of the day. We'll see whether this is accepted or the president decides that McChyrystal must be fired instead.
Time’s Joe Klein is reporting that General Stanley McChrystal has “offered to resign” in the wake of the controversy of the day. We’ll see whether this is accepted or the president decides that McChyrystal must be fired instead. Either way, as I noted this morning, I don’t see how he remains an active duty officer much longer.
What Would Lincoln Do?
He would take the resignation and put it in a drawer, but never give any assurance that it won’t be exercised. And then request Eikenberry tender his resignation as well, but place it in the same drawer. Their continuance at their jobs will be dependent upon performance. This will also seal a personal loyalty to Obama that the POTUS will need as he sails the choppy seas of a planned withdrawal.
PD, I doubt someone like McCrystal would go for something like this – someone who says things like what he says will not bow down to Obama – also our country is not at stake in this war like it was in the civil war and McCrystal’s continuing in his position is not that critical
I would highly recommend reading Col Lang’s thoughts on this. As much as it hurts, the resignation should be accepted. As General de Gaulle said…….
“The graveyards are full of indispensable men.”
The principle at stake here is more important than any one man.
Steve
What is most disturbing and unforgivable in this is that McChrystal has betrayed his own men. Obviously he’s aware that our soldiers have a very, very tough — if not impossible — mission. And he mouths off, and allows his staff to mouth off, in a way that almost guarantees a change in command in the middle of all this.
He’s an a–hole who just made life tougher and more dangerous for the men under him.
oops, forgot to link. I would hope readers of this blog would look at Col. Lang’s writings every now and then. He is a bit wishy-washy at time, but a good read. 🙂
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2010/06/see-the-mcchrystal-post-on-30-may-2010.html#comments
Steve
I like long-shot bets, so I think it’s about 60% against Obama firing the general. Obama doesn’t seem to feel insecurity. He has a very definite focus on his goals. Given those two attributes I think there’s a better than even chance Obama finds another way and keeps McChrystal on.
Since it is almost midnight and he hasn’t been fired, I imagine that McChrystal lives for another day.
I honestly don’t know if he is indeispensible, but the fact that he survives says something positive about Obama. Either he recognizes how important he is, or he can put up with criticisms even from people who should be making those criticisms public (or even private in a way that could beome public).
And just for the record . . . his butt would have been gone after the first incident. This is simply too much.
If the US military can’t put up a leader who can do the job in Afghanistan and keep his mouth shut about perosnal stuff, we need new leaders . . . or the job can’t be done. I am open to both suggestions.
BTW – Sorry for the spelling errors. I got used to the spell check on the old site. (Plus it is midnight.)
If he does stay, how many hysterics from the right will be calling the president “weak”…