General McChrystal’s PR Offensive Failure — Update
UPDATE: The Rolling Stone article that started this firestorm has been released by Rolling Stone. Tell us what you think of this after you read it.
This morning’s news has been full of reactions and some deconstructions of the upcoming Rolling Stone article that profiles the top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan, but apparently ends up dissing President Obama, VP Biden, the WH National Security Team and the State Department along the way. I haven’t been able to find the article to read (there was a pdf at Politico that I can’t find), but what I do read makes me wonder what the General was thinking wen he agreed to this. Apparently much of the worst of the commentary is attributed to the General’s aides with various adolescent jibes at Obama Admin officials. Add into this the fact that these geniuses having on about people in the Administration actually won the argument over how to prosecute the war — in spite of the herculean effort by Ambassador Eikenberry to demonstrate that this approach would not work.
The General has been summoned to the White House for tomorrow’s monthly Afghanistan meeting and the General’s PR guy (a civilian!) has already resigned. The General has apologized for the lapse in judgment.
So until there is a real article to read and judge on my own, a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. When the military is given a job — especially one in their core competency — they always push for more. More force, more troops, more resources, more mission. This is axiomatic and this is the long-term problem with deploying the military for anything. They are experts at the bureaucratic game of justifying their existence. Helped, of course, by a public that doesn’t get especially critical of military missions until they are tired of seeing it on TV. So complaints that the military wanted more of this or that aren’t especially new. Well placed in the media and Congress, though, such complaints can get you what you want.
2. The wingnuterati (and their lazy acolytes) will be working hard at spinning this as some kind of commentary on how the military views President Obama. Don’t buy it. In the main, you will be listening to alot of people who have no military service themselves (and certainly not at the senior levels where these views may have some weight). The only servicepeople who could comment on it are no longer employed by the DOD and are largely mouthpieces for political types. The media,of course, will latch on to such narratives because that is what they do — narratives.
3. More of the wingnuterati will have their panties in a twist because Obama is not listening to his commanders on the ground. Do remember that General McChrystal works for his Commander-In-Chief, not the other way around. Good bosses of all kinds work to consult with their subordinates about paths forward, but at the end of the day one person decides. And there is nothing about the structure of the Constitution that allows for McChrystal to dictate anything to a civilian.
4. This looks like a remarkable failure in self promotion from an organization that has that skill set down pat. And McChrystal often looks like he is trying for the kind of press that Petraeus and his boys get.
5. McChrystal’s strategy is looking like it is failing, yes?
Use this thread to talk about what you hear about these events. When the article is widely available, we’ll link to it.
General McChrystal is completely out of line, as would be anyone in his position, to malign the president and members of his administration. A soldier’s responsibility is either to salute and move forward, or resign. It must be very frustrating for the president, and the Democrat Party, to have this turmoil in the war that they hand picked to support in order to be seen as tough on national security. General McChrystal was also hand picked by the president and has now bitten the hand that fed him. Fortunately, the main street media won’t publicize that the Democrat’s, and president’s, war is being lost. When we withdraw our troops they will declare victory and move on. Maybe someone will produce a sequel to “Charlie Wilson’s War”.
“5. McChrystal’s strategy is looking like it is failing, yes?”
Looks like you have already come to your conclusion. However, I would agree that, if this was indeed a strategy for “self promotion”, it was a dismal failure.
McChrystal’s judgment should be in question for a number of reasons. Not among the least is allowing the *Rolling Stone* be his venue for criticizing his civilian superiors. Granted, he had a difficult time getting real ‘face time’ with his Commander in Chief and staff, but if he had issues with them it should have been in person. If not successful, or if he was frustrated at having to prosecute a war under the draconian Rules of Engagement policy imposed by the Administration, he could have chose a better way than using one of the most liberal, biased media outlets in the country.
The are some who say the ROE are McChrystal’s own. If that’s the case, let him live with that bad decision, as well as the one he made when he helped elect our President.
Looks like you have already come to your conclusion.
Well you would be wrong, but you are accustomed to that condition, I’m thinking.
I haven’t read the article so I don’t know if his issues were about “face time” or Rules of Engagement or whatever else you are spinning out here. And Rules of Engagement issues fall under Item 1 of my post. They always want more.
But I should have remembered to post up Item 6 — wingnuts will resort to hiding behind liberal media bias when trying to get their victim on for a thing rather utterly of McChrystal’s making.
And Item 7 — McChrystal was involved in the coverup of Pat Tillman’s death.
“Well you would be wrong, but you are accustomed to that condition,…”
I’m getting used to being told I’m wrong, but only by moonbats, so it has no significance.
” …I’m thinking.”
Perhaps, but barely.
Example:
“— wingnuts will resort to hiding behind liberal media bias when trying to get their victim on for a thing rather utterly of McChrystal’s making.”
So far, the only bias I’ve seen is on some blogs (not unlike this one) and in responses to news articles (opinions, of course), and not so much on valid news sources. I agree, McChrystal is no victim. He is a seasoned, professional warrior, but has established a history of questionable judgment. Having been been in a somewhat similar situation (career professional under elected/appointed authority) I can empathize with his position. He had choices… unquestionably follow orders, refuse to follow orders and face the consequences, confront his administrators directly, resign with honor, or be an unwitting stooge for Rolling Stone, which defies logic.
One concern if he is dismissed, is that his replacement will be considered pre-neutered before they start.
chose a better way than using one of the most liberal, biased media outlets in the country.
These are your words about bias, certainly prejudging the work the RS has done on this thing. And here you are dancing away from your own words. Again. But Fox Noise disinformation about the President not taking foreign aid is apparently more your speed.
SecDef Gates issues a statement:
I’m thinking McChrystal isn’t going anywhere. But I bet he has a spanking new staff soon.
“These are your words about bias, certainly prejudging the work the RS has done on this thing.”
Consider the possibility that I don’t consider Rolling Stone a “valid news source”.
“…disinformation about the President not taking foreign aid is apparently more your speed.”
If only you could keep up with the “speed”. You seem preoccupied with portraying yourself as a faux warrior in your pretend culture war. Attacking and destroying (in your mind) those who don’t get in line with you. That’s why you’re such a hoot to play with. Put down the toy RPG, and have some fun.
I am.
“I’m thinking McChrystal isn’t going anywhere. But I bet he has a spanking new staff soon.”
Should that be the case, he should be (further) ashamed.
Of course you don’t think the Rolling Stone is a valid news source — despite a pretty long reputation for some fearless and award-winning reporting over its years. But on the other hand, you think Fox Noise is news. ’nuff said about your judgment here.
And we note that here you are, no longer able to actually defend what you say (the problem of substituting a smug attitude for actual thinking) and returning to an argument you’ve already failed at. Pay attention Citizen — I’m not the culture warrior. The people you apologize so profusely for are and have created a massive industry around it.
But keep working out your issues. There’s probably a technical manual in it somewhere.
UPDATE: The Rolling Stone article is officially posted.
I won’t have time to read this until much later today, but add your thoughts as you get a chance to read it.
Tom Ricks thinks McChrystal will be gone and has a decent argument for that.
I was reminded on the phone just now that Gates has a history of firing Generals who aren’t rowing in the same direction, so add that to your thinking….
This is the 3rd time McChystal went over Obamas head or said something stupid. l. Pushed for troop increase and leaked it before Obama had made a decision. 2. Made a point of saying he voted for McInsane (not a need to know attempting to politize the military, 3. the Rolling Stone article. Rolling Stone has direct quotes from him, its not like he used some aides words or overhead a conversation. The General is on the record for the interview. What is wrong with Rolling Stone? Havent you noticed any of Matt Taibi’s work? Do you really believe any of the corporate owned media would have reported on this without their editors censoring it.
Obama to the General. “Step in my office, general you are fired we have lined up a wonderful job for you. You are now the Public Relations point person for BP. Thats what Obama should say, but of course you have General John Kerry as Chair of Senate Foreign Relations giving Obama the out…it really is a comedy. Who loses? We do. WE are once again in a war that cannot be won. These wars are costing our citizens trillions and there is no game plan, no exit strategy. What the hell are we doing there? Why have democrats and peace people let Obama off the War Monger hook? His foreign policies are far more draconian than Bush.
888. ART. 88. CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS: Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
From the Uniform Code of Military Justice
He should already bein jail for the Tillman cover up. This guy is a first clas jack-ass who has no business giving orders to our troops.
of course the wingnuts will flock to defend his freedom of speech.
Is anyone surprised that this PREZ would take the time to read an as yet unreleased Rolling Stone article, but not the Arizona immigration bill?
It took 56 days to meet with BP execs and 1 day to meet with the General
Priorities.
Though shalt not fail to praise the Dear Leader.
Yes ish. Im sure no one TOLD Obama about the article. He doesnt have a huge staff or anything. moron.
Article 88 does not apply to the clown Holbroke nor the Ambassador nor General Jones who were the objects of his displeasure. Except for Holbroke being a clown the other references that I saw (the article not being published I have not read it so I reserve judgment) were examples of disagreement not contempt. He is allowed to have that opinion and even share it. He appeared to avoid the President and company for whatever reason maybe he liked them or maybe Article 88.
Unfortunately this regime is more interested in its feeling than winning. It doesn’t matter what the law says. They have to interupt the war effort and bring him back for some sort of show. He will stay in place because he is the only one doing the job even though he is undermanned and under a deadline.
I guess he could go work for the Afghans when he retires. They love him. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/22/afghan-president-strongly-endorses-mcchrystal/
read the first half, no criticism of the President by McChrystal.
The author provides lots of editorial coment, and rehashes things that happened a year ago (like when McC dismissed Slow Joe’s “plan for Afghanistan”)
This is the closest he comes:
Even though he had voted for Obama, McChrystal and his new commander in chief failed from the outset to connect. The general first encountered Obama a week after he took office, when the president met with a dozen senior military officials in a room at the Pentagon known as the Tank. According to sources familiar with the meeting, McChrystal thought Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass. Their first one-on-one meeting took place in the Oval Office four months later, after McChrystal got the Afghanistan job, and it didn’t go much better. “It was a 10-minute photo op,” says an adviser to McChrystal. “Obama clearly didn’t know anything about him, who he was. Here’s the guy who’s going to run his fucking war, but he didn’t seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed.”
He looked “uncomfortable and intimidated”
well dang, get a rope and find a tall tree.
Rolling Stone Calls their author Matt Tiabani a Political Muckraker.
looks like he is generating great publicity for them.
If Obomba had listened to Biden (or “Bite me” as McChrystal contemptuously called the Vice President) instead of McChrystal, the number of troops in Afghanistan would be shrinking, not expanding.
What’s our mission there, again?
“Bite me” is not a qoute of McChrystal.
here is the passage:
Now, flipping through printout cards of his speech in Paris, McChrystal wonders aloud what Biden question he might get today, and how he should respond. “I never know what’s going to pop out until I’m up there, that’s the problem,” he says. Then, unable to help themselves, he and his staff imagine the general dismissing the vice president with a good one-liner.
“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?”
You are correct, Ishmael. I attributed the quote incorrectly. Nevertheless, apparently McChrystal’s favorite beverage is Bud Light Lime, which of itself is worthy of a court-martial.
Looks like I confused two of Rolling Stones authors.
Mike Hastings wrote “The Runaway General” not Tiabani.
apologies to all.
Rolling Stone article link