Gen. McChrystal Relieved of Command

Posted on | June 23, 2010 | 56 Comments

President Obama has relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal of his command in Afghanistan, administration officials said.

Obama will make the official announcement in a few minutes.

UPDATE: Gen. Petraeus has been asked to take over in Afghanistan.

The slur “General Betray Us” was coined by Keith Olbermann. And the New York Times gave MoveOn.org a discount on that infamous ad.

UPDATE III: Quick summary of Obama announcement:

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

UPDATE IV: Welcome Instapundit readers! My goodness, at this very moment, McChrystal is being defended on Fox News by . . . Geraldo Rivera?

UPDATE V: Lachlan Markay: “During Bush’s tenure, active duty generals that spoke out against administration policy were portrayed as courageous whistleblowers.”

UPDATE VI: Ed Driscoll has a round-up of reactions, and here’s a brilliant suggestion from Jules Crittenden: “A Rolling Stone gotcha on Osama bin Laden and the one-eyed Mullah Omar, and everyone gets to go home.”

Ed Morrisey has already gone through 10 updates at Hot Air.

UPDATE VII: Thanks to the commenter who reminded us of how the junior senator from Illinois shamelessly grandstanded during the 2007 Petraeus hearings:

UPDATE VIII: Philip Klein notes that Petraeus has again drawn the short straw, being ordered to “return to combat duty and take over yet another war that has been written off as unwinnable. ”

In the comments, my libertarian friend Tom Knapp calls Afghanistan “a complete clusterf**k from which prompt withdrawal is the only viable military option.”

That may even be a tad optimistic, considering recent history: The educated upper-crust of Afghan society fled when the Soviets invaded and has never returned. After the Soviets withdrew in 1989, they left in place a puppet government that was overthrown in 1992 by something called “The Islamic Jihad Council,” while the countryside was ruled by tribal warlords. By 1996, the Taliban had captured Kabul. For more than 30 years, then, any reasonably ambitious person in Afghanistan has followed one of two career paths:

Join a tribal militia and start killing people; or
Get the hell out of Afghanistan.

As a result, Afghanistan lacks sufficient human resources to support civil society and generate economic prosperity.

In other words: It’s Detroit.

If Petraeus can win this one, he’ll go from hero to legend.

UPDATE IX: Weasel Zippers discovers that MoveOn.org scrubbed the “General Betray Us” ad off its site today.

The American Left: Shamelessly Following Orders Ever Since Stalin Told Us to Endorse Hitler’s Invasion of Poland.

UPDATE X: Attila-lanche!

Category: Aghanistan, Barack Obama, Military

Comments

56 Responses to “Gen. McChrystal Relieved of Command”

Adobe Walls
June 23rd, 2010 @ 5:56 pm

To be accurate (one need not be fair to a Bolshevik) this is probably the best Obama could do under the circumstances.
Adobe Walls
June 23rd, 2010 @ 1:56 pm

To be accurate (one need not be fair to a Bolshevik) this is probably the best Obama could do under the circumstances.
Stinky
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:07 pm

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.
Stinky
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:07 pm

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.
Joe
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:21 pm

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.
Joe
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:21 pm

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.
Mahtomedi
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:24 pm

Love to see Petraeus ‘resign – in solidarity with Gen McChrystal’. Won’t happen of course, but one can always ‘hope’.
Mahtomedi
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:24 pm

Love to see Petraeus ‘resign – in solidarity with Gen McChrystal’. Won’t happen of course, but one can always ‘hope’.
Instapundit » Blog Archive » MCCHRYSTAL FIRED, Petraeus asked to take over. Will MoveOn and Keith Olbermann reprise their “Gener…
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:30 pm

[…] FIRED, Petraeus asked to take over. Will MoveOn and Keith Olbermann reprise their “General BetrayUs” […]
Roxeanne de Luca
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:35 pm

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”.
Adobe Walls
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:35 pm

McChrystal allowed a reporter from Rolling Stone to embed not in the field but with him and his staff, were no reporters from High Times available?
Roxeanne de Luca
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:35 pm

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”.
Adobe Walls
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:35 pm

McChrystal allowed a reporter from Rolling Stone to embed not in the field but with him and his staff, were no reporters from High Times available?
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz…. « The Camp Of The Saints
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

[…] The Unready, I think it better for the sake of my reader’s health [blood pressure] that I instead provide you all with Stacy McCain’s accurate summary: Blahblahblah “Pock-ee-stahn” blahblahblah […]
Thomas L. Knapp
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

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.
Thomas L. Knapp
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:43 pm

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.
Barack Obama
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:56 pm

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.”
Barack Obama
June 23rd, 2010 @ 2:56 pm

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.”
Flight-ER-Doc
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:04 pm

McChrystal should have Yon embed with him, instead of the Rolling Stoners
Flight-ER-Doc
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:04 pm

McChrystal should have Yon embed with him, instead of the Rolling Stoners
Sissy Willis
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:05 pm

I notice he managed to control his esses back then.
Sissy Willis
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:05 pm

I notice he managed to control his esses back then.
Ed Driscoll » McChrystal Out, Petraeus In
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:07 pm

[…] found amongst the numerous links on the topic proffered by Stacy McCain, Jules Crittenden dubs Afghanistan’s as “Rolling Stone’s war now:” Safe […]
keyboard jockey
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:09 pm

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/
keyboard jockey
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:09 pm

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/
Thomas L. Knapp
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:12 pm

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.
Thomas L. Knapp
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

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.
richard40
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:31 pm

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.
richard40
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:31 pm

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.
And, It’s . . . “General Betray-Us,” FTW. | Little Miss Attila
June 23rd, 2010 @ 3:49 pm

[…] as the case may be, the negotiated withdrawal/fast […]
richard40
June 23rd, 2010 @ 8:20 pm

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.
richard40
June 23rd, 2010 @ 4:20 pm

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.
MoveOn Scrubs the “Betray Us” ad Today … « DaTechguy's Blog
June 23rd, 2010 @ 4:23 pm

[…] By datechguy …from their site. Down the memory hole it goes, via Weasel Zippers. Stacy puts it best: The American Left: Shamelessly Following Orders Ever Since Stalin Told Us to Endorse Hitler’s […]
Your DaleyGator Blog of the Day « The Daley Gator
June 23rd, 2010 @ 4:29 pm

[…] none other than the nortoriously infamous The Other McCain. Both for their fine work on covering McChrystalgate AND, mostly for recognizing the greatness of thois blog by awarding Ed and I the FMJRA Award! The […]
A McChrystal Fiasco Round-Up « The Rhetorican
June 23rd, 2010 @ 4:43 pm

[…] June 23, 2010 Posted by Jehuda in Uncategorized. Tags: News, Politics, Security trackback At TOM. It’s Aggregation Station over there! Lots of […]
Joe
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:48 pm

@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.
Joe
June 23rd, 2010 @ 5:48 pm

@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.
inspectorudy
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:52 pm

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.
inspectorudy
June 23rd, 2010 @ 5:52 pm

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.
Thrasymachus
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

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.
Thrasymachus
June 23rd, 2010 @ 5:55 pm

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.
Charles
June 23rd, 2010 @ 10:54 pm

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.
Charles
June 23rd, 2010 @ 6:54 pm

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.
Patrick
June 23rd, 2010 @ 11:26 pm

In other words: It’s Detroit.

Hey. Leave us outta this.

You beltway bastard.

😡
Patrick
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:26 pm

In other words: It’s Detroit.

Hey. Leave us outta this.

You beltway bastard.

😡
Ndawg
June 23rd, 2010 @ 11:34 pm

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.
Ndawg
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:34 pm

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.
Alright, who pissed in Robert Stacy McCain’s Cornflakes?!?!?! | Political Byline
June 23rd, 2010 @ 7:36 pm

[…] via Gen. McChrystal Relieved of Command : The Other McCain. […]
spike
June 24th, 2010 @ 1:39 am

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”.
spike
June 23rd, 2010 @ 9:39 pm

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”.