Speaking today at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, General Stanley McChrystal rejected the growing call among members of Congress and the Obama Administration to scale back his broad ambitions for a complete military victory and nation building success in Afghanistan and instead focus on tracking down al-Qaeda leaders.
“There short answer is: no,” Gen. McChrystal insisted, adding that any “strategy that does not leave Afghanistan in a stable position is probably a short-sighted strategy.”
Stability has been in short supply in modern Afghanistan, and after 30 years of internal strife bookended by failed international occupations it seems hard to imagine that it can be imposed on them.
But Gen. McChrystal still persists in seeking his 45,000 additional troops and all indications are he will eventually get them. He appears irked by the delays in approving the massive commitment, again noting that the war “will not remain winnable indefinitely.”
Too much crystal, not enough reason……. Of course D'boyz wanna win…..Especially when no one in 300 years has done it…. Only problim, he don wanna pay for it…. He wants you to pay so he and hiz crew can be the heros……. What do you win in Afghanistan….. Why cant bad guys go back to Germany..?? Maybe Pakistan will be the new Afghanistan… I'd feel alot better about the maniak Mc Chrystal's intentions if it weren't for that Unocal pipeline that is twinkling in oilmen's eyes….
At least there might be some discussion now about the mission, the goal, which should precede any discussion of strategy. What is the objective? Is it really to build a democratic government in a tribal country that has never had a strong central government? After eight years of combat it's about time that someone raised the question about where we expect to go.
Obama's goal as announced in March was to go after al-Qaeda. Then six weeks later Petraeus said AQ was not in Afghanistan. All summer McChrystal talked about fighting Taliban. Last month Obama said we have to narrow the goal in Afghanistan to fighting AQ. Total confusion. Total BS. The President needs to say what the goal is. NOW. Otherwise Gen. McChrystal (as he has) will determine the goal, even though it's 'way above his pay grade.
Perhaps MCChrystal should refresh his memory (if my days as a Woman Marine in the 1950's is remembered correctly), the President is Commander-in-Chief and the "Decider."
Yes…This is worth reviewing. If quoted accurately ( " McChrystal rejected the growing call among members of Congress and the Obama Administration to scale back his broad ambitions for a complete military victory ") it appears to be a direct challenge to the power of president to decide foreign policy . If so, McChrystal has forgotten he acts solely at the discretion of civilian control.
One reader wrote that I was mistaken, that CONGRESS decides. I replied to him, DOES HE REMEMBER WHO FIRED MACARTHUR–CONGRESS OR TRUMAN.
s HALL
You didn't remember correctly.
In a democracy the people, acting through the Congress, are the deciders. Okay, I know it isn't being done, but now with Antiwar.com and blog-power just think of the possibilities!
Who fired MacArthur, Congress or Truman?
Geez, look at the guy in the photo alongside the article – he’s Bush’s spitting image.
The Butter-Cutter describes the fundamental flaw in our Afghan commitment at: http://www.thebutter-cutter.com/Protecting_Afghan…
McChrystal believes that nation-building in Afghanistan will prevent future acts of terror in the USA and elsewhere. Why? That does not make sense. Al-Qaeda is a global organization with pockets of support in Pakistan and Somalia as well as other locations around the globe. If McChrystal secures Afghanistan, they will simply move elsewhere and begin anew. McChrystal has no strategy — and he should make a quick exit and go back to some base somewhere or other or — better yet — retire to write his memoirs.
methcrstal looks scary, when i see ribbons on his chest, i see millions of accumulated slaughtered innocents, reconfirmed when i look back at his scary face.
General McChrystal, you don't get it do you? You are an arrogant, ribbon-bedecked, bivouacked, pompous jackass. The American people are sick and tired of your immoral, unjustified and aggressive war in Afghanistan which has been going on now for nearly a decade. It is not your sons and daughters who are dieing over there. It is not your hard-earned tax dollars that are being flushed down a toilet over there. You may fancy yourself a “hero”, but I can assure you that you are not. You are nothing but a hired murderer of innocent men, women and children, for an imperialistic and satanic American Ruling Establishment. And, one day, you will have to face the eternal God of justice, who is Christ Jesus, for all of your gross sins. You think about that General. You ought to think long and hard about that.
I.
"But Gen. McChrystal still persists in seeking his 45,000 additional troops and all indications are he will eventually get them. He appears irked by the delays in approving the massive commitment, again noting that the war 'will not remain winnable indefinitely.'"
Quite. And, as DC's Ivy League inebriates–i.e., drunk on Power–prescind from both the reasonable and the sane in setting "policy," 45,000 it shall be–as if by fiat.
Further, as at the time of the Tet Offensive, when Milhous established 500,000 troops on the ground in Viet Nam, Obama has a substantial margin of political and "moral" safety without suffering compunction for his own "rambunctious" behaviour regarding life and limb–the life and limb of others, of course.
And, barring the utility of Milhous' buffer of half a million personnel in South Viet Nam, there is lying to fall back upon. To wit:
II.
The French colonial incursion into [Viet Nam]…met with defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, and US engagement resumed imperial aggression—but not before the Geneva Accords mandating a free election had been quashed by US/Diem militaristic aggression. The “they” who asked us to be there amounted to elitist (read: financially viable) land-owning beneficiaries of French patronage, politically connected to the corrupt puppet state.
(continued…)
We'll always find a "they" who, we will claim, want us to be there–the "there" now occurring somewhere along the Durand Line…
Empire: through a glass, darkly
What is needed is a repeat of Phil O'donahue shows–on stage with two opposing views.This should be made mandatory to all stations and shown during peak hours.Poor Phil got the silent boot–ratings too low–canned!
Watch this interview and see Phil interviewing Milton Friedman
http://boortz.com/nealz_nuze/2009/08/milton-fried…
Sad.most comments support Milton,just shows how obtuse Americans are.Now compare Vidal to days reporters–Done 1996 and applies today-Don't miss it!
What is needed is a repeat of Phil O'donahue shows–on stage with two opposing views.This should be made mandatory to all stations and shown during peak hours.Poor Phil got the silent boot–ratings too low–canned!
Watch this interview and see Phil interviewing Milton Friedman
http://boortz.com/nealz_nuze/2009/08/milton-fried…
Sad.most comments support Milton,just shows how obtuse Americans are.Now compare Vidal to days reporters–Done 1996 and applies today-Don't miss it!
General McChrystal, you don't get it do you? You are an arrogant, ribbon-bedecked, bivouacked, pompous jackass. The American people are sick and tired of your immoral, unjustified and aggressive war in Afghanistan which has been going on now for nearly a decade. It is not your sons and daughters who are dying over there. It is not your hard-earned tax dollars that are being flushed down a toilet over there. You may fancy yourself a “hero”, but I can assure you that you are not. You are nothing but a hired murderer of innocent men, women and children, for an imperialistic and satanic American Ruling Establishment. And, one day, you will have to face the eternal God of justice, who is Christ Jesus, for all of your gross sins. You think about that General. You ought to think long and hard about that coming day.