Schieffer: McChrystal Insulted the Office of the Presidency

There's been a lot of disrespect of the office of the president lately. The right wing of the republican party and the tea party have been trying to undermine the office of the presidency since Obama took office.

McCain Behind McChrystal's Ego?

John McCain turns a lot of people rogue.
Seems to me that if Stanley McChrystal was crying out for more troops and now McCain is calling for more troops, then maybe McCain and McChrystal were in cahoots. It makes sense that McCain and other republicans have spent a lot of time dissing the Obama administration in front of military leaders in a way that gave McChrystal not only a larger ego, but the impression that he could make private comments public in a Rolling Stone article.
It's as if McChrystal felt he had more power than Obama.
Where did he get that sense of himself? Probably from the group of republicans, including McCain, who still haven't realized that, yes, Obama is the real president. But things didn't turn out quite as the republicans expected because Stan went rogue. That's my theory. Stan isn't talking anymore. But McCain is. He's still trying to be the president.

More troops may be needed in Afghanistan, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested Thursday.

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that it may be necessary to increase troop levels as other countries default on their commitments to send forces into Afghanistan.
....
President Barack Obama had already orchestrated a "surge" of troops in Afghanistan that infused some 30,000 troops into Afghanistan this year to help quash a mounting insurgency. Republicans like McCain had clamored for this surge, but have been sharply critical of a timeline within that strategy that looks to begin withdrawing troops in July of 2011.

McCain was critical of the idea of a timeline, as many Republicans have been, warning instead that "it's all about conditions on the ground."

McCain and other Republicans fear that communicating a firm withdrawal strategy could encourage enemy forces to simply wait out the U.S. in Afghanistan. The Hill

Readout of Obama's Call with Karzai

Hopefully, Karzai has it clear in his mind now that the Commander in Chief runs the show, not the general. Apparently, Karzai has already switched loyalties. Now Gen. David Petraeus is his man. If you couldn't tell, I loathe Karzai. There's something about him that screams skeezy, icky and yuck.

In a call earlier today, President Obama informed President Karzai of his decision to accept General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation and his intent to nominate General David Petraeus to assume command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Both leaders expressed admiration and praise for General McChrystal’s leadership and service over the past year. President Obama underscored that this personnel change in no way impacts United States policy in Afghanistan or the level of our commitment to Afghanistan’s future. The President also emphasized that the United States and Afghanistan must continue to work together to sustain the momentum against the Taliban building on the constructive VTC that the two leaders held yesterday. President Karzai welcomed the nomination of General Petraeus and assured President Obama that he would take all steps necessary to support a successful transition.

Obama also called David Cameron:

Following up on earlier conversations between their national security teams, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron spoke today on Afghanistan. The Prime Minister confirmed that U.K. Lieutenant General Nick Parker would serve as the acting Commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force mission until a new U.S. Commander is confirmed by Congress. The President reiterated his desire for the Senate to confirm General David Petraeus for this role as swiftly as possible. Prime Minister Cameron said that General Parker, who has served as the Deputy Commander to ISAF since September, 2009, asked him to convey to the President that the mission “would not miss a beat” and that he was fully confident in our shared strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

McCain Says Petraeus Will be Confirmed Quickly

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Amazingly, I agree with Joe Lieberman:

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Obama to Replace McChrystal with Petraeus

The more I think about McChrystal, the more I want to know: How could a General could screw up so badly. What was he thinking?

Update: Obama announces David Petraeus as Stanley McChrystal's replacement. Obama said that the strategy in Afghanistan, which is McChrystal's strategy, will NOT change. Some hoped it would. Obama showed McChrystal a lot of respect, saying he was saddened and that he respected and admired McChrystal. He allowed McChrystal some dignity for his past service, despite his recent poor judgement.
I guess this also means that Hamid Karzai knows who's boss now.

McChrystal Leaves White House After 30 Minutes With Obama

Update: AP says Obama will replace McChrystal with David Petraeus.
Update: Bye bye McChrystal! Firing him was the only choice.
Update: Obama to make a statement at 1:30 pm eastern. Live stream at msnbc.com.

Since Stan has left the White House when his name was on the list of people meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan strategy, my bet is Stan is fired. He probably turned in his resignation. 30 minutes is a pretty short meeting for someone who's going to be sticking around. Obama probably didn't say much, since their conversation might end up on the cover of the National Enquirer.

Folks are saying McChrystal's deputy, Dave Rodriguez, is a likely choice to take over.

McChrystal Arrives at the White House

Stan snuck into the White House and the meeting began at about 9:51 am eastern, according to Politico. Gen. Barry McCaffrey said on the Today Show that there are 10 people who could easily step into Stan's shoes, without missing a beat, which is good to hear. If there are 10 people, then someone more deserving should take over.

Hamid Karzai is hoping his pal doesn't get fired. You can imagine the boyish jokes that those two have made about the administration. Stan and Karzai's chummy relationship explains why Karzai has been difficult to deal with.

Obama should find out from Stan why it is folks like Stan don't think Obama is the real president. How did McChrystal feel so free to say what he did? Was it the alcohol?
Right after meeting with Stan, Obama will meet with his Af-Pak advisers (see Obama's schedule today here). Notice that McChrystal is on the list. Perhaps he's there to apologize to all:

Vice President Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State
Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury
Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff
General James Jones, National Security Advisor
Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor
John Brennan, Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor
Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
David Gompert, Acting Director of National Intelligence
Leon Panetta, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID
James Steinberg, Deputy Secretary of State
Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Doug Lute, Coordinator for Afghanistan and Pakistan
John Tien, Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan
General David Petraeus, U.S. Central Command
General Stanley McChrystal, Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan
Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (via videoconference)
Ambassador Anne Patterson, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan (via videoconference)

Stan's arrival

Obama Meets with Afghanistan and Pakistan Security Team June 23

This is tomorrow's schedule.

At 11:35 am eastern, Obama meets with his national security people. Obama canceled his meeting on energy reform tomorrow, thanks to McChrystal, though McChrystal's meeting with Obama is not yet on the public schedule.

2:50 pm, Obama and Michelle attend the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition Event.

4:30 pm, Obama and Biden meet with Hillary.
5 pm, Obama meets with his senior advisers.

Politically Obama Loses if he Fires or Keeps McChrystal

Politically, if Obama fires McChrystal he loses and if he keeps McChrystal he loses.

Politics aside, what is the best for the military and the nation?

I think that's how Obama will make his decision. Can the mission go on without Stan?

Perhaps Stan is having mental health issues. Perhaps he's suffering PTSD.

Without a doubt, Stan picked the wrong time to get liquored up for a Rolling Stone interview. Obama is contending with the huge oil disaster, a recovering economy and a number of other pressing matters.

I find it hard to believe that McChrystal is hard to replace. Our military leadership bench can't be that shallow, at least I would hope not. I know that Hamid Karzai will miss his buddy and has already vouched for him, which raises my suspicions about McChrysta'sl coziness with the corrupt Karzai.

Speaking like little boys for public consumption undermined the entire military and put lives at risk. If that's the way they talk in private, that's fine. But it shouldn't be for attribution in a major magazine article.

I'd fire him, but I don't know the ramifications of firing him.

White House Press Briefing June 22

McChrystal's Shenanigans Push Energy Reform Aside

Obama was set to meet with a bipartisan group of senators on energy reform tomorrow. But it looks like that meeting is canceled now, thanks to Stan, who's either an idiot, an ego maniac or just really bold. Perhaps all three.

Apparently, Joe Barton doesn't need to apologize for Stan. The author of the Rolling Stone article, Michael Hastings, already has:

According to Hastings, comments by McChrystal and his staff express feelings that, in his estimation, "are very real and very valid."

"I think it's fairly clear Gen. McChrystal, who spent his life in the military, doesn't have a feel for, or understanding of, the use of civilians," he said. "McChrystal puts his life on the line. He is willing to put his life on the line in a way that civilians don't really understand, or can't appreciate." NPR

I'm sorry, but there's no excuse for insubordination, especially when soldiers' lives are on the line. McChrystal endangered the mission in Afghanistan and gave terrorists something to crow about today. McChrystal is like the little kid who acted out because he didn't get enough attention:

Hastings said McChrystal was disappointed by his relationship with President Obama, even as he has enjoyed the support of many people in the Pentagon and the Special Forces community.

"I think he wants to have a one-on-one, eye-to-eyeball relationship with the president that he doesn't feel he has," he said, adding that McChrystal seemed envious of how well President Bush and David Petraeus got along with each other.

Obama: No Decision Until Face to Face Meeting With McChrystal

I truly admire and appreciate Obama's calm demeanor. He's always the grownup in the room, always thinking of what's best for the nation. Here is the full video in which Obama speaks on the entire cabinet meeting, not just the Stan portion.

Apparently, Stanley McChrystal's resignation is all written.

After Obama's cabinet meeting today, he told the press that he wanted to see McChrystal face to face before making any decision, which is a matter of Obama being Obama.

President Barack Obama says Gen. Stanley McChrystal showed "poor judgment" in a magazine story in which the Afghanistan war commander and his aides disparaged the president and other members of the administration.

Asked whether he would fire McChrystal, Obama said he planned to talk McChrystal face-to-face before making any decision. More at WaPo

Gates on McChrystal:

One Republican Calls for McChrystal's Firing

While most republicans have been making excuses for McChrystal's insubordination, Mike Rogers is different:

A key Republican called on Tuesday for the firing of Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), the ranking member of the Intelligence subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis and Counterintelligence, said President Barack Obama should consider firing McChrystal over remarks the general made to Rolling Stone magazine critical of the administration's decision-making in Afghanistan.

"If I were the president, I would consider getting rid of Gen. McChrystal," Rogers said on MSNBC.
More at The Hill

Obama read about McChrystal at 8pm on Monday:

Obama to Speak Post His Previously Scheduled Cabinet Meeting

Obama had a cabinet meeting on his schedule today at 4 pm eastern. But he didn't have a briefing with the press following the meeting. I'm certain he'll be addressing Stanley McChrystal's foolishness. I guess Obama and his cabinet will have a lot to talk about. Look for a live stream at msnbc.com some time after 4:30 pm eastern.

Gibbs on McChrystal's Idiocy - Video

McChrystal has fought on behalf of the country for years, Gibbs said. But he made an enormous error.

McChrystal Derides Holbrooke Who is Targeted by Terrorists

Richard Holbrooke, envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, was targeted by suicide bombers, but is safe. Watch. Holbrooke is touring Afghanistan with McChrystal. Meanwhile, the petty Stanley McChrystal had this to say about Holbrooke:

McChrystal reserves special skepticism for Holbrooke, the official in charge of reintegrating the Taliban. "The Boss says he's like a wounded animal," says a member of the general's team. "Holbrooke keeps hearing rumors that he's going to get fired, so that makes him dangerous. He's a brilliant guy, but he just comes in, pulls on a lever, whatever he can grasp onto. But this is COIN, and you can't just have someone yanking on shit."

At one point on his trip to Paris, McChrystal checks his BlackBerry. "Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke," he groans. "I don't even want to open it." He clicks on the message and reads the salutation out loud, then stuffs the BlackBerry back in his pocket, not bothering to conceal his annoyance.

"Make sure you don't get any of that on your leg," an aide jokes, referring to the e-mail. Rolling Stone

McChrystal Gives Terrorists a Free Throw

Imagine you're Al Qaeda or Taliban and the top general in Afghanistan publicly criticizes the Obama administration. Imagine your glee.

McChrystal just made it more difficult to "win" the war in Afghanistan, if a war can be won at all. I'd argue not.

The Rolling Stone story is now posted here.

Instead of supporting Obama, republicans are excusing McChrystal.
I'd like to say we no longer belong in Afghanistan after this public display of immaturity, but I know that we're not going to withdraw. Worse, Obama will probably have to keep McChrystal. But I'd argue that McChrystal's idiocy has endangered the lives of our soldiers and American civilians. As if Obama doesn't have enough disasters to contend with. McChrystal, in his small mind, obviously didn't think about that.

There are also questions as to whether McChrystal is serving well in Afghanistan. He appears to be too chummy with Hamid Karzai.

I have to question McChrystal's mental state, especially after reading this. Perhaps he has spent too much time warring around.

Representative David Obey, a democrat, is calling on McChrystal to resign. I don't want to see him resign. I want to see him fired.

Read what Robert Gibbs had to say about the article and Obama's response here.

Some excerpts from the article:

"Are you asking about Vice President Biden?" McChrystal says with a laugh. "Who's that?"

"Biden?" suggests a top adviser. "Did you say: Bite Me?"

Really?

"I'd rather have my ass kicked by a roomful of people than go out to this dinner," McChrystal says.

He pauses a beat.

"Unfortunately," he adds, "no one in this room could do it."

With that, he's out the door.

"Who's he going to dinner with?" I ask one of his aides.

"Some French minister," the aide tells me. "It's fucking gay."

Read how the author got access to McChrystal here. It involves a change in travel plans due to the volcanic ash in Iceland and a lot of liquor. Here's more from the article:

McChrystal reserves special skepticism for Holbrooke, the official in charge of reintegrating the Taliban. "The Boss says he's like a wounded animal," says a member of the general's team. "Holbrooke keeps hearing rumors that he's going to get fired, so that makes him dangerous. He's a brilliant guy, but he just comes in, pulls on a lever, whatever he can grasp onto. But this is COIN, and you can't just have someone yanking on shit."
At one point on his trip to Paris, McChrystal checks his BlackBerry. "Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke," he groans. "I don't even want to open it." He clicks on the message and reads the salutation out loud, then stuffs the BlackBerry back in his pocket, not bothering to conceal his annoyance.

"Make sure you don't get any of that on your leg," an aide jokes, referring to the e-mail.

Obama Furious With McChrystal and Orders Him to DC

Stanley McChrystal has long been a schmuck. He openly mocked Obama in this video I've posted from November. He should've been fired then. Now, the guy criticizes the commander in chief in an interview with the Rolling Stone? He (his aides) also mocks Biden. Read excerpts. It is very school boyish.

He's risking the lives of our soldiers by behaving in such a manner and he's risking our lives as American civilians. For what? So that Rolling Stone can make a lot of money? McChrystal needs to be promptly fired for insubordination. But first, he should be publicly shamed.

The top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has been summoned to the White House to explain biting and unflattering remarks he made to a freelance writer about President Barack Obama and others in the Obama administration.

The face-to-face comes as pundits are already calling for McChrystal to resign for insubordination.

McChrystal has been instructed to fly from Kabul to Washington today to attend Obama’s regular monthly security team meeting tomorrow at the White House.

An administration official says McChrystal was asked to attend in person rather than by secure video teleconference, “where he will have to explain to the Pentagon and the commander in chief his quotes about his colleagues in the piece.” Read more at Politico

The article isn't out yet but here is a sampling of McChrystal's immaturity:

McChrystal described his first meeting with Obama as disappointing and said that Obama was unprepared for the meeting.

National Security Advisor Jim Jones is described by a McChrystal aide as a “clown” stuck in 1985.

Others aides joked about Biden’s last name as sounding like “Bite me” since Biden opposed the surge. Read more

John Kerry weighs in:

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McChrystal is an embarrassment to Admiral Mike Mullen:

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Alter on Obama's Cold and Bracing Meeting

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter speaks about his observations of Obama. Alter has a new book, "The Promise: President Obama, Year One."

Alter recounts when Obama called Gen. Stanley McChrystal's boss on the carpet, Admiral Mullen, with Robert Gates, and "dressed them down."

McChrystal was behaving as though he set the policy on Afghanistan. Alter described Obama's meeting with Mullen and Gates as "cold and bracing."

When I saw the video below from Nov. 2009, it appeared to me that McChrystal had little respect for Obama's process of determining troop numbers.

Obama does get angry, Alter said. "What he doesn't do is he doesn't flip out," he said. "It's more of a kind of a cool anger, which can be scarier if you're on the receiving end of it. There's nothing nasty about it." Most people like working for Obama, Alter said.

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Karzai Visits Arlington Cemetery

Karzai also gets a tour of the Senate.