Rolling Stone, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, and President Obama – everyone loses
Like most problems in the Obama Administration, the President is central in the fiasco that is the Rolling Stone article featuring Gen. Stanley McChrystal. The article, written in unflattering terms and a sense of dislike towards the Afghanistan War, shows the depth of the problem long understood about President Obama and the military. Neither understands, nor apparently likes, the other.
It’s not the first time that military leaders have disagreed or disliked the Commander-n-Chief. It’s not the first time that a military leader has so little concern for politics. But it is one of the very few times that the public at large has been privy to the extent of that impasse. Which is where the problem lies.
President Obama spent a large amount of time talking tough on the campaign trail. His comments about Afghanistan were at odds with his voting record and prior comments about the Iraq War. It didn’t take a genius to understand that his Administration would have a problem in Afghanistan, from the Vice President on down. So what has happened since is not a surprise.
Yet given this, to have a General make disdainful and disrespectful comments about the Commander-n-Chief, to the press, is mind boggling. It is a definitive sign that there is a lack of confidence in leadership and that the American military is going off the rails at the top. For the enemies of America, this Rolling Stone article is a blessing. A sign that whatever the promises, whatever the polispeak spin, given some time they are going to win.
It shouldn’t be a shock though. While the President made a lot of noise promoting Gen. McChrystal, he immediately muddied the water with delays on decisions and international efforts to appease anyone that had an issue with America over the last 50 years or so. Obviously that would confuse anyone on where the President stood on the military.
The clarification was most clearly made when the President announced (after 3 months of deliberation and political shoring of the President) that he would approve an increase of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. A decision that showed a lack of trust in Gen. McChrystal – who had requested 40,000 troops. It was further compounded by the fact the troops would be delayed and staggered in arrival – also against the advice of the General. The real nail in the coffin was the timeline duration that troops would be in Afghanistan. It created an artificial end to the war, and thus a window of opportunity for the Taliban and Al Qeda.
None of this though excuses Gen. McChrystal. His comments and actions, plus those of his staff, are without question insubordinate. The disrespect is thick as butter. As is the lack of discipline that was recorded by Rolling Stone
“By midnight at Kitty O’Shea’s, much of Team America is completely shitfaced. Two officers do an Irish jig mixed with steps from a traditional Afghan wedding dance, while McChrystal’s top advisers lock arms and sing a slurred song of their own invention. “Afghanistan!” they bellow. “Afghanistan!” They call it their Afghanistan song.”
The good cheer during time away from the war is not the problem. The fact this is on display (among officers in excess) to the press IS the problem. No less so when comments from the rank and file are presented
“I get COIN. I get all that. McChrystal comes here, explains it, it makes sense. But then he goes away on his bird, and by the time his directives get passed down to us through Big Army, they’re all fucked up – either because somebody is trying to cover their ass, or because they just don’t understand it themselves. But we’re fucking losing this thing.”
When there are issues at the top of a command, there will be major problems down the chain of command.
All of this means2 things. The first is obvious. Gen. McChrystal will be removed from command of Afghanistan. Likely he will resign altogether as this also means his career in the Army will come to an end.
The 2nd item is more dubious. The plan for Afghanistan will change. The current plan of the counterinsurgency will be altered. Troops will be removed and/or the timetable for withdrawl advanced.
Will such changes improve the ultimate outcome in Afghanistan? Doubtful at best. Afghanistan requires decades of work before any true success can be seen. We knew that at the beginning, and nothing has changed that under any Administration.
The only thing that will be definitely achieved after this Rolling Stone article is that the Taliban and Al Qeda will feel stronger. The U.S. efforts will become more muddied and swamped down by the political backlash against President Obama and the war itself. President Obama will be viewed as even weaker and less in control than ever before.
Whatever the intent of Gen. McChrystal, the outcome will be detrimental. Which is troubling as this also means that its consequences will eventually be felt by U.S. civillians – if not now, then somewhere over the next decade.
