In case you have not heard, U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal did an interview. He and his staff granted a writer from Rolling Stone magazine access few give. “The Runaway General” (True on so many levels.) is a candid look at McChrystal and those close to him.
Did we say candid? Maybe more like the locker room view of the national security staff. Cavalier comments that stun and amuse the reader prompted President Barack Obama to accept McChrystal’s resignation, one he had no choice but to offer.
Did the true choice lie with the commander in chief or with those belittled by the Runaway General and his inopportune discussions of the suits back in Washington.
Regardless, oops, his bad.
We will have to wait to understand why McChrystal and his staff said what they did with a reporter present. What may have been meant as harmless trash talking by boys bored on the edge of battle bears tremendous consequences— and we’re not talking about ol’ Stan’s circumstance.
The relief of McChrystal seems to make the president’s national security team appear more foolish than McChrystal and his boys are said to have painted it. The move seems to validate criticisms of the president’s team.
There are the true casualties, like CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus. Not only does King David get demoted to backfill McChrystal, but this is the guy who just passed out while testifying before Congress. Hunger? Thirst? Right. We think Petraeus is simply exhausted. David Petraeus had his Christ moment with Iraq.
Afghanistan risks his hard-won reputation and his life.
Another loser is the nation of Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai, who is important to the U.S. delicate strategy, lost a crucial ally in Stan McChrystal. Writers are also casualties and may have some trouble getting solid interviews after the Rolling Stone coup. While this is not about blame, access and control of the visiting writer lay with McChrystal’s staff. (G-R-O-U-N-D R-U-L-E-S)
One excerpt from the “Runaway General” we enjoyed: “The general’s staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators and outright maniacs. There’s a former head of British Special Forces, two Navy Seals, an Afghan Special Forces commando, a lawyer, two fighter pilots and at least two dozen combat veterans and counterinsurgency experts.”
There are many enjoyable as well as wince-worthy moments in this piece.
McChrystal—Liability? Misunderstood patriot? Tell us what you think.