I just finished a piece for the Aberdeen American News on the McChrystal story. Here is a preview. I think I have been a bit unfair to the general in my previous posts. General McChrystal got in trouble for two breaches of protocol, one on October 1st of last year, in a London speech, and most recently in the Rolling Stone interview. Either, let alone both, would have been sufficient grounds for his dismissal.
It is only fair to say, however, that in both cases McChrystal was trying to force the President of the United States to do his damn job. It is the President's job to listen to the different points of view, decide what to do with them, and then tell dissenters to shut up and get with the program. McChrystal was commanding men in harm's way, and he desperately needed to know what the United States thinks it's doing. That's the President's call, and McChrystal tried to force the President to make it.
Unfortunately, that is beyond the powers of a mere general, and maybe beyond the powers of any other force on earth.
Comments