White House Questions McChrystal's Judgment, Maturity
Gen. Stanley McChrystal may eat only one meal a day, but he better be ready for a big helping of crow tomorrow when he comes to the White House Situation Room.
"The purpose of calling him here is to see what in the world he was thinking," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at today's briefing, referring to the Rolling Stone story featuring the general and his aides bashing President Obama, Vice President Biden and others.
The president was "angry," after he read the Rolling Stone story, Gibbs said, calling the story "an enormous mistake in judgment."
"The magnitude and graveness of this mistake are profound," Gibbs said.
Asked about a passage in the story where a McChrystal aide describes the general as having been "pretty disappointed" after his first meeting with President Obama because the president "didn't seem very engaged," Gibbs said McChrystal will "have his attention tomorrow."
Gibbs just said parents of the more than 90,000 US troops in Afghaniatan need to be confident that the command structure -- meaning McChrystal -- is "capable and mature enough" for this mission.
Could McChrystal be fired?
"All options are on the table," Gibbs said, though the president believes the general should be given a chance to explain himself. Gibbs declined to say whether the general's job is safe, saying the public would know more after the meeting.
What is the president angriest about?
"We're distracting from an enormously important mission," Gibbs said.
- Jake Tapper
Now ask yourself. What commander in chief, allows his White House press secretary to engage in biting and back handed slaps at one of his command generals in view of the press? Particularly in view of the circumstances. Answer, this president does....it's the "Chicago way."
And if there is ever needed any more clarity of realization as to what is going on in this administration and why, a once daily perusing of the quips of Robert Gibbs should suffice to set the tone of anyone's understanding.
IMO, several things are obvious in this report. First, that General McChrystal is out. Regardless of his apologies or explanations, the man never has demonstrated any command leadership capability IMO. And the laxity of his command which provided an atmosphere and ability of his staff to make biting remarks that he would have to answer for, clearly demonstrates one aspect of that reality.
The second thing that had become glaringly apparent to me since the general took over in Afghanistan, is that he has been more concerned with placating the Obama administration, than in either pressing the war to the enemy or looking after the safety and lives of those under his command.
And issuing patrol orders to soldiers directing them to always try to patrol areas where they believe there might be the least possibility of them having to 'defend' themselves with lethal force? Well that speaks volumes to me as to where this man's head is at.
And lastly, that this administration has openly tolerated the arrogance and biting divisiveness of Robert Gibbs, particularly as it concerns the manner in which he addresses Fox news and anyone else that this administration has gone on record not liking is despicable.
McChrystal needs to be brought back and fired IMO. But he should be fired for what he is actually guilty of. He should be fired for command incompetence and for having willfully placed his command in jeopardy via his ludicrous rules of engagement.
But General McChrystal won't be fired for any of that. Wat he will be fired for, is incurring the wrath of his his sophomoric president and his frat brother administration. And he will be fired and publicly humiliated and drummed out of the army.
And that is simply wrong. But then so much is wrong with this presidency and administration
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