To be accurate (one need not be fair to a Bolshevik) this is probably the best Obama could do under the circumstances.

SENATOR Obama was one of the senators who grandstanded during the Petraeus hearings, criticizing the man and and talking over Petraeus’s allotted response time, giving the general no time to respond to criticism.

Then again Obama could have had a frank private conversation with McChrystal, asked him what he could do better to support the efforts in Afghanistan (because didn’t Obama say the mission is central), and then sent him back with a stern warning about the right and wrong way to criticize up the chain of command.

And of course, thanked McChrystal for voting for him in 2008.

Petraeus is probably not thrilled about taking on this tar baby called Afghanistan. But he is a loyal solider so I assume he will do so.

Love to see Petraeus ‘resign – in solidarity with Gen McChrystal’. Won’t happen of course, but one can always ‘hope’.

Pathetic of Obama and it makes me despise his supporters even more.

Yes, people, the President is the Commander in Chief of the military and the CEO of the largest corporation on the planet. These positions require character and qualifications, not a nebulous belief in “hope”.

Pathetic of Obama and it makes me despise his supporters even more.

Yes, people, the President is the Commander in Chief of the military and the CEO of the largest corporation on the planet. These positions require character and qualifications, not a nebulous belief in “hope”.

Resolved, that any general officer who:

1) Is called upon to advise the commander in chief on the matter of the occupation of Afghanistan;

2) Does so in any manner not including the phrase “a complete clusterfuck from which prompt withdrawal is the only viable military option” or some close facsimile thereof;

should be charged and tried under Article 92, Section 3 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Blahblahblah “Pock-ee-stahn” blahblahblah “grateful for sacrifice” blahblahblah . . .

You left out the part when I say the call to Islamic prayer is “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”

McChrystal should have Yon embed with him, instead of the Rolling Stoners

I notice he managed to control his esses back then.

Oh this is predictable.

Move On Scrubs “General Betrayus” from their website.

http://weaselzippers.us/2010/06/23/moveon-scrubs-general-betray-us-page-from-website/

You left out the part when I say the call to Islamic prayer is “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”

Actually, it is.

It’s not very pretty at all at o-dark-thirty when you’re trying to get some sleep just down the street from a minaret and the muezzin starts flapping his gums, though.

Petreaus did a superb job in Iraq, snatching victory from defeat. And he knows how to guard his tongue as well. This might be a blessing in disguise. The real question is will the rest of the Obama team support Petreaus and try to get a victory, or are they planning on flocking to the exits when the withdrawal date hits, and in the meantine not properly supporting Petraeus on the State Department side.

Reply to Knapp comment # 9.
I would take an opposite tack. Any commander taking over in Afganistan, that does not get a committment to victory from Obama, is derilict in his duty.

For those who say Afganistan can’t be won, I would remind you that you probably said in 2006 that Iraq could not be won either, but Petreaus managed to do it, with good support from Bush with the surge, despite a complete lack of support from the dem congress and the MSM.

The real problem now is, unlike Bush, who was willing to commit to victory in Iraq when he approved the surge, Obama cant decide yet whether he wants to win in Afganistan, or run for the exits when his withdrawal date hits. And in war, there are only 2 reasonable decisions, victory, or immediate cut and run defeat. In war there is no middle way.

@Thomas L. Knapp: I also used to enjoy the call of the muzzein at sunset in various Muslims locals. Especially drinking a glass of scotch on some hotel veranda and having a cigar. But I agree, those five o’clock in the morning calls to prayer get pretty old pretty fast.

Not only obama and move on but hillary too. Remember when he testified before a senate committee and she said the one would have to suspend all credulity to believe what Patreus said before the committee.

I got no sympathy for McChrystal. It was his idea to set the ridiculous rules of engagement tht make Americans sitting ducks in Afghanistan. He probably thought that would bring him favor with Obama.

When you say “It’s Detroit” are you saying we should get the hell out? Or just move to the suburbs? Because that is in fact a third option in Afghanistan.

In other words: It’s Detroit.

Hey. Leave us outta this.

You beltway bastard.

Wealthy Middle-Eastern countries simply import their human resource needs. I don’t see why Afghanistan couldn’t do the same, as long as the money was right. We have a boatload of unemployed people here who would be more than happy to sign a 1 year work contract to go to Afghanistan in exchange for tax-free wages. Sure it would be expensive, but freedom isn’t cheap. However, over the long run it would be quite a bargain.

Bad political move by Obama. There is a long and rich tradition of military leaders mocking Presidents. Lincoln had his McClellan and Hooker. He even pulled Hooker aside and told him “point blank” to concentrate on winning battles and he (Lincoln) would suffer the insults. FDR took insults for years from Patton but gave him command of the 3rd Army for the final push into Germany. Truman endured 7 years in Japan and Korea from MacArthur until he did become insubordinate. Why, because he was successful. Point is, Obama could have put his arm around McCrystal and said what Lincoln did……win one for us and I will suffer the insult. And any any paper pusher who mentioned military code 88 for an off the cuff insult to the VP, would have been laughed out of the Oval Office. It’s not like McCrystal wasn’t an excellent General. This President is such a glamor queen.

But what do you expect from someone’s conception of leadership comes from “The Apprentice”.