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June 24, 2010
Not on McChrystal's Reading List
neo-neocon quotes General William Tecumsah Sherman:
"If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell before breakfast."Is it too late to retask a Predator mission onto Jan Wenner's ass? Or would he enjoy it too much? Just askin'.
Posted by Vanderleun at June 24, 2010 10:39 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Yes.
And most likely.
Posted by: Mikey NTH at June 24, 2010 12:26 PM
Actually, if you start to think about it, McChrystal may have pulled off the ultimate "in your face, Barack!" coup. He, and his staff, let it be known what they really think about Obama and Biden, in a liberal rag no less, and made sure it went unfiltered by the reporter. Then, everybody heard about it via the most sensational news stories. It made Obama look, rightly, ineffectual. It dumped on Eikenberry and Holbrooke (who have no comeback and might not be long for thier jobs) and let the troops know that McChrystal was no pushover. Moreover, now McChrystal can retire and say I told you so as Obama blows it. It was the ultimate kiss-off in so many ways.
I think this was a brilliant move, and McChrystal is playing chess on a different plane that what is initially perceived.
Posted by: Blastineau at June 24, 2010 1:57 PM
I have to question the man's judgment if he voted for Professor Hussein. Let's face it, the guy will probably get a $1,000,000.00 book deal. Then there's the movie...
Posted by: JD at June 24, 2010 6:41 PM
The article may have been deliberate. Hard to believe McCrystal or his people forgot the basic military - press relationship. Example:
I was in the Army during the 90s and went through wargames at Ft. Irwin National Training Center. The wargame umpire groups all had sport team like nick-names: "Tarantulas" = artillery, "Muleskinners" = logistics, and so forth. There was even a team that evaluated how the wargame participants dealt with the press and sometimes dressed in civilian clothes and played report. Nickname - "Vultures".
Posted by: WLR at June 25, 2010 5:14 AM
Blastineau
I just spoke with a friend who served under him and he thinks the same.
Posted by: monkeyfan at June 25, 2010 5:43 PM
Dear Blastineau: Rubbish! McC was supposed to be fighting a war, not "playing chess." The one is blood and death in the defense of this nation; the other a trivial amusement, fit for the faculty lounge and the editorial room. Such game playing is sufficient cause to can McC. Such game playing did not advance the cause of freedom at all.
Given that McC owed his elevation to The One, he had only himself to blame if his relations weren't perfect. Even worse if McC was naive. No one in the services can trust anyone in the press for long. That's a losing game fit for mugs.
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster
Posted by: Gregory Koster at June 25, 2010 10:50 PM