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GORDON DUFF: GENERAL McCHRYSTAL “WOUNDED” IN AMBUSH….BY ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
IS GENERAL STANLEY McCHRYSTAL THE NEXT “HELEN THOMAS?”
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
General Stanley McChrystal, top US commander in Afghanistan has been summoned home for a “briefing,” read “waterboarding session” after news of an upcoming article in this week’s Rolling Stone magazine hit the White House. His crime? General McChrystal is guilty of honesty, discernment, good judgement and communicating his sanity in private with the kind of candor we lived without during the Bush years, much to our sorrow. It is obvious that General McChrystal was targeted, not unlike White House correspondent Helen Thomas. Why? Who or what did General McChrystal threaten?
I haven’t always been a big fan of General McChrystal. His willingness to “toe the line” in the face of something well beyond disaster, too often seeming to be more part of the problem than the solution has cost him credibility. Whether his actions and seeming lack of leadership was careerism or simply as it may be coming out now, the fact that he has been drowning in a sea of manure has become clear and the general, in my opinion, is the better for letting us know. It’s not like this isn’t a total disaster, this thing in Afghanistan, corruption, drugs, failure coming out our ears.
So, General McChrystal has noticed that Vice President Joe Biden isn’t quite up to the task. I would call that a good catch. I would feel better if, somewhere at least, there was an email from McChrystal referring to Dick Cheney as a dangerous sociopath and paranoid but if our general has to wake up, even at this late date, we are certainly the better for it. Another good catch is his assessment of General James Jones. The quote comes from an aide, not McChrystal but calling Jones “a clown stuck in 1985″ borders on pure brilliance.
Another stroke of McChrystal brilliance is the quote:
“Oh, not another e-mail from Holbrooke… I don’t even want to open it.”
I wonder what it is about Holbrooke that the general is disturbed by? Could it be drug policy? The Holbrooke policy of paying the Taliban to grow more drugs is, I think, an original approach to eradication. Colonel Eugene Khruschev, former First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Kabul, now commentator for RTV and editor of Veterans Today refers to Holbrooke as Afghanistan’s “drug kingpin” in partnership with “Karzai brothers incorporated.” Do you think this might be what might be disturbing the general?
What else could be disturbing the general? Notwithstanding the fact that we entered the war in Afghanistan under false pretenses, chasing a handful of terrorist suspects, an effort that has turned into a decade long war, really a civil war in, not only Afghanistan but now Pakistan as well, Afghanistan itself would never be a problem that could be solved by a military solution. Dragging in the Karzai gang, surrounded by Bush era fraudsters, political hangers on and a totally disreputable Kabul regime, could only be a recipe for disaster.
With, literally hundreds of our highest ranking retired officers working as paid lobbyists for Israel or deeply involved in massive defense appropriations fraud, with dozens taking Pentagon paychecks to work for the Republican party, having a commander speak privately about his command environment is the least of our problems. McChrystal has his job because there isn’t anyone left. The Bush administration and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, through application of a religious and political purity test, eliminated every American military leader with backbone. Now, when someone seems to be making noises resembling reality based thinking, our new President feels a need to assume the sins of his predecessor, a man of monumental failures.
To be honest, military leaders in America have, typically, not been the “brightest bulbs in the pack.” With the service academies and promotion process skewed to favor reactionary elements within the military, “deep thinkers” are typically shunned. Nobody is accusing General McChrystal of being a deep thinker. However, when anyone in the military begins to show signs of outgrowing the sequestered permanent childhood, the culture of spineless mediocrity that has made our military what it is today, a bloated parasite pushing a poverty stricken nation into collapse, the vultures begin to gather.
My only hope is that General McChrystal and, perhaps General Petraeus might demonstrate more “reality based” beliefs, such as a broad understanding of geopolitics, history and even economics. Thus far such things have not reared their ugly heads but who knows? We await the signs that some of our leaders truly “get it.” When will we hear the magic “v” word, “Vietnam” in reference to Afghanistan?
When will the magic “I” word come up, involving “that special country” that pushes us into its wars, wars that were never ours?
When will the magic “A” word come up, “America?” A “reality based” understanding of geopolitics, history and economics behind a true patriotism, a belief in American values, putting America first, her people, her freedoms, her real traditions, would be a nice change from years of “whittling away.” Is speaking out a first sign that Duty Honor and Country is more than empty talk?
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=37099
Posted by Gordon Duff on Jun 22 2010, With 0 Reads, Filed under AfPak, WarZone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Well, it seems sometimes McChrystal makes blunt statements that might surprise people. You won’t hear his comment from the major media.
From the article:
“We have shot an amazing number of people, but to my knowledge, none has ever proven to be a threat,” says Afghan commander McChrystal.
As noted by blogger Allison Kilkenny – one media observer who wrote about McChystal’s statement – what the general admitted to may be a war crime:
“Military brass and the warmongering elite usually skirt war crimes accusations by saying the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations aren’t conventional warfare. That is to say, the US is not at war with an official army, so anyone picked up on the battlefield (which is the entire world in the War on Terror) isn’t a POW. They’re an enemy combatant who does not have access to the protections afforded to enemy soldiers under the Geneva Convention.
This is a tricky way to circumvent accountability, but even this clever interpretation of international law can’t cover the stink of McChrystal’s admission. The US is occupying Afghanistan, and while there, they are killing innocent civilians, says the highest ranking military official in the country.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/205940-Shocking-Admission-on-Killing-Civilians-by-Top-US-General-Almost-Completely-Ignored-by-Corporate-Media
Brian you are on target when you said, I am paraphrasing, “Calling this war anything but conventional leaves room to do things you would not do in a conventional war.
Like killing innocent people while saying in a dismissive way oops”.
Listen, (1) I believe that Gen. McChrystal is the fall guy. I think he was tagged to “make these statements” – though actually his staff did not himself just so the public attention will be diverted to him and his dismissal or resignation and that the crude oil gushing a mile below on the floor of the Gulf of Mex will be downplayed and begin to minimized more and more each day and sure enough, it works cause today, all I saw on CNN and Fox News Channel is about Stanley, hurrah! (2) The war in Afghanistan will never end. Remember the Russians were there that is why it became necessary for us to help bin laden fight them Russians and we did. Today, these same Russians who wanted to control the worlds richest and vastest supply of poppy/heroine and are helping the talibans fight us so they can once again control the region and the limitless amounts of the purest kind of drug supply there. And that is why the talibans will not give up the fight. It’s their land, their crops, their way of life and guess what, they ain’t going nowhere? They live there…. duh? Again especially now that the Russians are funding the Taliban’s fight against us, so they’re back in the game all over again. (3) Al queda are the bad guys not the talibans. Al quedas the terrorists are HQ’ed in Pakistan, not Afghanistan. Al queda are responsible for the Twin Towers and the other terrorists attacks on our soil. Talibans only wants their porrpy to grow and sold. Al queda are the ones on a mission they call jihad. So our troops need to “kick some ass” (quote from the commander-in-chief himself, so sorry) the al quedas in Pakiss-mi-ass-tan not in Afghanistan. So let us bring our troops home now! Since the US cannot “kick-ass” in Pakistan cause they too have nuclear bombs like Iran and India. They’re all in the Big Boyz League. Hurrah!
It’s the other way around. The oil is the diversion from the illegal wars, the collapsing economy/currrency/real estate, 911 truth and it will be the false reason for $7.00 gallon gasoline once the attack on Iran begins. Mcchrystal is just a sideshow as comic relief from the main sideshow, the leaking oil.
I read over a year ago that the Gulf has always been notorious for naturally leaking/seeping oil and that hasn’t been mentioned once by the mainstream media.
People love the oil leak outrage because it is a safe target of their fear and anger. No jews need to be named/blamed and you don’t get labeled anti-semite for bitching about the oil leak.
Mike
If you truly believe that “Al queda are the bad guys not the talibans”, may your next life be that of a woman under Taliban rule.
When we go to war, we should be provided with reasonable yet aggressive rules of engagement. Yes, aggressive. We don’t go off to fight wars to a standoff; we go to kill the enemy and anyone who harbors the enemy. This war is now being run by politicians, much as politicians ruined the possibility for a decisive victory in Vietnam. Our troops in the field are asking, begging for an opportunity to engage the enemy. But because we have a weak-kneed, overly analytical, professorial, and highly inexperienced President, we will lose in Afghanistan. And that ladies and gentlemen is Mr. Obama’s precise objective. Our nation is self-destructing and very few people seem to care. I feel for General McChrystal. He is not a General in the eyes of the President, he is a grocery clerk. The only honorable option that remains for the General is to resign in protest, and make his reasons very public.
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Mt 24:28
As I recall, McChrystal, was in charge of the Pat Tillman coverup. Am I mistaken about this?
Salaam,
Infidel
I want to know more about Pat Tillman. I can pretty much figure out who killed him and I know why. But what I want to know is about the cover up. Who are the criminals involved in the cover up? Why did McCrystol want 40,000 more troops [mostly our young ones] to police the opium fields which is only helping to fund the criminal bankers, Israel and CIA/Mossad operations–while corrupting people all over the world–and destroying our troops? Is his child a soldier in combat? He or she better be. I don’t like what this man is up to. He and Betreus are both sociopaths like many other generals who are lobbying for Israel and political parties–and BOTH parties are full of warmongers with the rare exception of very few people.
There is a good chance that this mere political/military industrial complex theatre–to keep us distracted –while more laws are being passed–to kill American citizens–while also ignoring more pressing issues our nation is currently facing [unemplyment, Gulf oil spill and the killer fumes that are emanating from the toxic site, what is going on in AZ where illegal immigrants are killing Americans etc].
I want to know about “this war we need to win”–that somebody posted here? Where is this war taking place? Certainly not in Iraq or Afghanistan. And who is this “enemy”? Is this person serious? May be that is what is required by the hijacked Pentagon today–for people in the lower ranks to get promoted–get stars and stripes to decorate their uniforms–through few supportive statements that help to make the war real which someone will take note of–when it is not a real war–but pure murder of innocent civilians–under the guise of fighting a war where there is no real enemy–in Iraq, Afghanistan and even Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan. And the only eneme we have we are not fighting. And we are fighting the perceived enemies of our enemy: Israel. Jeff Gates book “Guilt by Association” is an excellent read.
Who are these people who try to still deceive us? We have seen the tapes where our troops have been seen killing innocent people [instructed by their bosses to do so]. We also know that they have been instructed to drive their vehicles into crowds of people to kill them. Truth can be painful for those who try to cover it up and for those who profit from keeping the lie alive.
I just read Brian’s post and I am pleased with McCrystol’s statements of truth. As long as he speaks the truth and refuses to be a part of deception and fraud and crime I will be supportive of his words although I am upset with him for having asked for 40,000 more of our young people knowing well that this “war on terror is a racket”. McCrystol now muster enough courage to tell the world about Israel once and for all and how Israel has got us into unnecessary wars one after another to kill innocent Arabs and Christians–and how this useless war they want America to fight against yet another innocent country [Iran} can lead to WWIII. I hope he will have courage as a current US general to call out our real enemy in the open.
If he tells the truth about Israel getting the USA into unnecessary wars; he looses his job, no big time paid lobbyist position, no big time paid expert position and a giant boulder may fall on his head. Those can hurt. It would be great if he had the courage to shout about our country being the United States of Israel.
Perhaps Alan Sabrosky can have a chat with him. If he learns that the Israeli government did 911 perhaps he will be outraged enough to mention the evil false flag during a television interview. Perhaps he will take the risk of a giant boulder hitting him on the head.
The Israeli government is an expert at using sexpionage to blackmail our politicians. Sex acts on video tape just waiting to go viral on the Internet are impressive blackmail weapons. Perhaps Israel’s seductive Swallows and Ravens also play around with our high ranking generals. Maybe the military leaders need to be on the lookout for the home grown Israeli sexpionage members as well as those that immigrated from Russia to Israel.
Brian , you are exactly right about the sexpionage. After getting done servicing Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky stopped by the Pentagon and serviced the brass nobs over there, reportedly getting pregnant by one.
How did she get top secret security clearance in the first place? This no doubt one of the principal method of control of the entire US Congress. If it wasn’t for the sexual dirt the mossad has on everyone, Barnet Frank wouldn’t be able to operate his male only day and night care center on Capital Hill.
Mike
Volz
I apologize about an earlier remark, I assumed you were a troll. Looking at your comments I can see that is not the case and your heart is in the right place.
I am a little frayed at times from constant snipping by trolls.
Troll ? with what I have said on this site and elsewhere
I am a target. No one is too small for them to list as they have unlimited funds from the USA Treasury and control the USA Homeland Insecurity Department and the US President directly.
Mike
Yes, Monica is Jewish and some believe a Mossad mole and some say unknowingly used by the Mossad. Great blackmail situation. The Mossad probably threatened to release more information about Clinton unless he gave Monica high level security clearance at the Pentagon, which seemed stunning at the time.
From an intriguing article:
The Real Lewinsky Tapes British investigative journalist Kevin Dowling has released an article for publication to a variety of British and American news organizations, charging that the Israeli Mossad was bugging the Watergate apartment telephone of Monica Lewinsky, and was able to obtain material used to blackmail the Clinton administration into shutting down a probe of widespread Israeli espionage in Washington.
Dowling reports that well-placed sources in Tel Aviv say that full transcripts of more than 30 sexually explicit conversations between Clinton and Lewinsky are held by the Israeli foreign intelligence service, the Mossad.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/mossadbug.html
Take the time to read the entire article.
There are more Israeli sexpionage cases out there that have done damage to America. One in particular, if the unnamed sources are correct, is a real stunner and very troubling.
Monica was a ‘swallow” as Amy has pointed out. I have read the reported stories. I have no doubt there are many more as you suggest.
I would not be surprised if the mossad has sexual dirt on 75% of the Congress.
I doubt Monica was an innocent dupe. I believe Chandra Levy is still alive but that Elvis is dead.
The Governor Mcgreevy story is one of the most amazing. He found his true love male lover, Golan Cipel on a junket to Israel. Can you imagine that?
And then Mcgreevy appointed the Israeli Cipel (with no special knowledge)homeland security director for the state of New Jersey. Cipel shouted loudly when he got back to Israel that he was not gay. So why was he having sex with Mcgreevy? He was a Mossad spy.
How many whores does US and local law enforcement get when they take those free trips to israel?
The espionage aspect to these stories is never mentioned in the mainstream media. The mossad press always likes to play up the “it was just sex” aspect as they did with clinton. I agree with Alan Sabrosky that the US press is not incompetent but an accomplice to treason (and should be investigated and prosecuted).
Mike
I have been informing my senators and congressmen:
NO MORE “FREE” INTERNS FROM AIPAC; THEY ARE SPYS, FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
IF EVERY US CITIZEN WITH A BRAIN DID WHAT I HAVE ON A REGULAR BASIS THIS BULLSHIT WITH ISRAEL WOULD BE OVER BY NOW.
I COMPLAIN TO CNN REGULARLY ABOUT THE MOSSAD SPY WOLF BLITZER BEING ON THREE HOURS A DAY.
MIKE
The Mossad also has blackmail material on our other leaders, not just those in congress. One current blackmail case, if true, is extremely bad for the United States but fantastic for the Israeli government.
Brian, I believe; at least one governor has been blackmailed for years for porn tapes made a long time ago…Of course, then there’s Senator Scott Brown (R- Mass) who posed for a centerfold; then went to law school with the proceeds!
The “Kay Griggs” tapes I believe are very useful and her assertions are probably true and useful in understanding how long term programs exist for grooming leaders with serious personality problems because they are much easier to control.
Obama has no doubt been groomed in this way for twenty years by his mossad puppeteers.
Mike
He’ll get a real nice pension and then become a contracr commentor as well.
I find the quote that a PFC had a face to fcae with the General unlikely.
I don’t give a damn what happens to McCrystol, he should have kept his mouth and ego shut. He has dishonered himself, our country and to all of our friends and allies around the world. More importantly, his “cowboy mentality” has endangered the line of command that our bravest men and women in the service need to feel secure about their leaders.
Really? What if their leaders really ARE idiots?
Talk about vain morons…your current leader takes the cake on vanity and moronic. Amazing since I thought no one could surpass bushie II in moronicness…LOL. I can’t wait for the great one’s speech on how he had to let McChrystal (half the drama queens here can’t even spell his name right) go.
Just askin’…
Glad you asked because I had the same reaction. It’s worse than that. A foreign government is in complete and total control of the USA Congress, Military, Intelligence and mass media and they are destroying this country through illegal wars, commercial espionage and common fraud and thievery.
Mike
You need to wake up missy. The wars are illegal. Mcchrystal should be given a silver star for stating that of all the people they have shot he hasn’t found any who have been a real threat.
Speaking the truth to superiors is the obligation of the soldier when what he is being ordered to do is illegal.
That is the reason he was fired. He essentially said the (Israeli inspired and fabricated) “WAR ON TERROR” and that is a true statement. No soldier should be fired for speaking the truth. And by the way, Rahm Emanuel not Oh!bama fired him, since Rahm is Oh!bama’s boss!
Mike
CORRECTION:
He essentially said the (Israeli inspired and fabricated) “WAR ON TERROR” is a farce.
Missy: look up the word “farce”.
Mike
Mick, I am happy you realized Michael Volz is “not a troll and that his heart is in the right place”. God bless both of you and Gordon Duff.
I don’t want McCrystol or any other general to lose their jobs or benefits for speaking out. I respect people who are honest and courageous so that our soldiers have proper leadership. Covering up crime and fraud is an awful thing that adds insult to the injury while also leading to repetition of the same mistakes that harm generation after generation of people in unfair ways.
I applaud General McCrystol for setting a good example to other generals and our young soldiers. Our soldiers should refuse to follow illegal orders. Having a good character is more important than building a career full of crime, lies, deception and fraud. Human life on the planet is a short experience and it is up to each one of us to do what is right and pass this attitude along to our children and grandchildren. Live and let live should be our motto instead of invading other nations, destroying their homes, infrastructure, leaders, people for power and greed and to help Israel.
“War is a racket” said Honorable General Smedly Butler and God bless his soul.
What the hell do you know about honor or the factors that affect troop morale? Have you ever laced up a pair of combat boots and marched into battle? McChrystal has more credibility in his little finger than Obama and his entire circle of enablers. One thing every military leader worth his salt realizes is this: respect is earned. By all appearances Obama has not earned it, which isnt’ surprising considering his actions in office that reflece a lack of principle. Obama is a corrupt political hack of the first degree. A leader earns the trust of his subordinate by displaying a combination of competence, integrity, moral clarity, and personal courage. Generals such as Patton and MacArthur had it. The Wesley Clarks and Westmorelands did not, irregardless of their career paths.
And one more thing. Isn’t it ironic that the same Administration along with their media mouthpieces that hold in high sanctity the premise of total obedience from the military are willing to shred the Constitution and defy the people of the right to seek a remedy against tyranny? Who else is in a better position to correct a government that has turned against its people and the institutions of checks and balances as laid out by our founding fathers but the military? Oh, but how appropriate it must be for Generals and Admirals to take their turns bending over with pledges of unconditional solidarity with Israel. Nope, it’s OK for military officers to tread into the realm of politics when the topic and perspective is politically palatable to ZOG governing apparatus. An ambiguous state of affairs to say the least.
You’re talking about George, the wartime-deserting, cocaine-snorting, tantrum-throwing, “I’m gonna be a wartime president no matter how many lies I have to tell!”, right?
Amy, my apologies! That last reply was missplaced and intended for Kathie’s
For one the General made a “political wrong statement” by criticizing Obama (which never hurt AIPAC) – he also criticized “Mr. Israel” Joe Biden and Obama’s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, David Halbrooke, a Zionist Crypto-Jew.
YES, war is racket – but the Afghan racket has to be won for the survival (or the life) of Ben Obama.
Obama: “A war that we must win”
http://rehmat1.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/obama-a-war-that-we-must-win/
Hey Stan….Basic soldiering 101…Your chain of command goes like this: Civilians are in charge of you and your operations and foreign policy and how many soldiers you get and how much money you receive…you get the idea. You might not like what you’re ordered to do, but like a gazillion soldiers do every day, you have to do it. (They apparently understand the chain of command better than you do). Complain all you want, but keep it private…remember you are a 4 star and in charge of operations of a little itsy-bitsy thing called the Af-Pak theater….oh, and if you want to dictate foreign policy, run for office. And Gordon, you’re experienced enough to recognize this and to not let your dovey-lovey opinions of Stan “Pat Tillman Cover-up/Camp Nama prisoner abuse overseer” McChrystal dismiss the fact that he’s going to get his ass fired for openly disrespecting his superiors….unless he quits…ooh, that’s going to make him eat twice a day…
Hey Honcho, advanced leadership goes like this. You call in the General and start off with a dressing down along the lines of “I don’t want to hear another word out of your mouth in the media that is not directly related to operations within your command. GOT IT?” Followed by a confidential conversation that allows McCrystal to unload his personal views concerning everything from the civilian appointees that directly affect his command, to the indigenous political situation, to troop morale, and ultimately a frank self-critique of the entire Afghan operation. In other words be man enough to take the hint that perhaps your White House isn’t exactly doing IT’S JOB to support the mission given to this snake eating 4-star and his troops. But I doubt Obama, his cabinet of weasels, and his ring-knocking Petagon elitist inner-circle has the guts to contemplate the possibilities or the self-restraint to avoid marching McCrystal to the career firing squad straightaway.
Hi Snoopy,
The President had already talked to Stan. You might remember when the proposed war strategy was leaked, basically in an attempt to force the administration to go along with the troop request. The administration folded to the pressure, as to not look weak on military issues. The administration gave Stan 30,000 troops. At the same time Stan was giving speeches in Europe trying to gather ally support for the war, in which he disparaged his superiors. That’s when Obama summoned him to Air Force One and gave Stan his first slap on the wrist. Yes, Stan can air his views on operational issues, as you mentioned, but he cannot disparage elected officials, who are his superiors. One thing is to have a one-on-one conversation with your boss, other thing is to publicly air those opinions, especially as contemptuous as these were . You mention a self-critique, yes, but that includes that he has to admit the reality that he overplayed his hand planning the current strategy in Afghanistan, which is widely viewed as a failure. As to the fact, that according to you, the administration is not supporting the mission in Afghanistan, well every funding request for Afghanistan that had passed through Congress has been approved, every single time since the war started (Bush and Obama). That’s with support from the administrations as well as both aisles of Congress, Democrats and Republicans. The problem here is not support for Stan or his troops, is how he decided to use those resources to conduct operations. Remember Douglas MacArthur, he was fired for basically doing the same, he was not asked to resigned, he was fired. MacArthur having the rank of general of the army, one of only 5, and being a Medal of Honor recipient. Here’s why he was fired:
Representative Joseph William Martin, Jr. revealed a letter from MacArthur critical of President Truman’s limited-war strategy, providing copies of it to the press and reading it aloud on the floor of the house. The letter concluded with:
It seems strangely difficult for some to realize that here in Asia is where the Communist conspirators have elected to make their play for global conquest, and that we have joined the issue thus raised on the battlefield; that here we fight Europe’s war with arms while the diplomats there still fight it with words; that if we lose the war to communism in Asia the fall of Europe is inevitable, win it and Europe most probably would avoid war and yet preserve freedom. As you pointed out, we must win. There is no substitute for victory.
See any similarities?
There is a reason why the military is under control of civilians, and here’s a good article:
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45870
Why Civilian Control of the Military?
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 2, 2001 – Visit the DoD “Public Service Recognition Week” web site at http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/publicservice/.
Civilian control of the military is so ingrained in America that we hardly give it a second thought. Most Americans don’t realize how special this relationship is and how it has contributed to the country.
The framers of the U.S. Constitution worked to ensure the military would be under civilian control. They did not want to emulate the European experience. The colonies had just fought a war for freedom from Britain. The king controlled the British military, and the framers had no interest in duplicating that system.
When they wrote the Constitution they separated the responsibilities for the military, placing the responsibilities firmly in civilian hands.
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power “to raise and support Armies …” and “to provide and maintain a Navy.” In addition, Congress must provide for the state militias when they are called to federal service.
Article II, Section 2 states, “The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States.”
Congress has the power to declare war and to make the rules for governing the military.
So the framers spread responsibilities for the military around. The president and Congress had to work together to use the military.
In the early days of the Republic, before the concept of civilian control of the military sank in, some military officers actively plotted against the government.
Gen. James Wilkinson was the senior military officer from June 15, 1800, to Jan. 27, 1812. He fought in the Revolutionary War and outfitted the Continental Army. He was forced to resign rather than answer charges he embezzled funds. After the Revolution he allied himself with Aaron Burr and went back on active duty.
Wilkinson became a key figure in the plan to induce what was then the “southwest United States” to form a separate nation allied to Spain. He took an oath of allegiance to Spain, spied for his new, secret patron and received an annual Spanish pension of $4,000. He was the governor of the Louisiana Territory from 1805 to 1806.
When his involvement with Burr became common knowledge, Wilkinson turned informant, telling President Jefferson that Burr was plotting to disrupt the Union. He was the chief prosecution witness against Burr and narrowly escaped indictment himself.
He continued as the ranking officer in the Army through 1812, when his incompetence and scheming were finally recognized and he was relieved. Once again an official inquiry left him untouched. He spent his remaining years in Mexico receiving the Spanish stipend.
With the growth of political parties, an officer’s political allegiance became important. President John Adams appointed Federalist officers to the military. As Jefferson’s private secretary, Army Capt. Meriwether Lewis vetted the “Republican” (later Democratic) credentials of his fellow Army officers.
This reinforced the belief in the U.S. military that officers should not participate in politics. They should follow the orders of the president and the wishes of the Congress no matter who was in power.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., did much to promulgate this idea. Still, even as more West Pointers joined the Army, some officers played politics.
During the war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848, newspapers made charges that Democratic President James K. Polk did not want to entrust the military to Gen. Winfield Scott or Gen. Zachary Taylor, two Whig generals. The papers were right.
Taylor, the hero of the Battle of Buena Vista, never voted in an election. He never sought or campaigned for any office. Because he hadn’t been expecting any good mail from Washington, he refused delivery of the Senate’s letter telling him he’d been elected president — in 1848, recipients paid the postage, not senders.
The American Civil War of 1861-1865 was the period of greatest danger to civilian control of the military. As the war progressed, more and more people called for a military dictatorship. One prime proponent of this was Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker.
After the Union defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., President Abraham Lincoln decided to appoint Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac — the leading army of the Union. He wrote Hooker one of the most amazing letters in American civilian-military relations.
Lincoln said in part: “I have heard, in such way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the Army and the Government needed a Dictator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain successes, can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship.”
Hooker led the Army of the Potomac to defeat in the Battle of Chancellorsville, and he resigned the position just before the Battle of Gettysburg.
Gen. U.S. Grant, on the other hand, had a completely different take on the situation. In 1863, following victories at Vicksburg, Miss. and Chattanooga, Tenn., Democrats tried to recruit Grant as their nominee for president against Lincoln in 1864. Some Republican leaders also tried to get Grant to replace the president. He categorically refused. Grant was elected president in 1868, after he had resigned from the Army.
The country survived the Civil War with the idea of civilian control of the military still intact. The military shrank in size and was mostly in the West. Military officers shied away from politics and many even refused to vote, feeling that this would somehow influence their service.
This held true through World War II. There was such separation that after World War II, Democratic President Harry S. Truman offered to give the Democratic nomination for president in 1948 to General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ike, a graduate of West Point, had never voted. People did not know his party affiliation. He turned down Truman’s offer, but in 1952 did run for president — as a Republican.
Today, service members of all ranks are encouraged to vote. The military vote in Florida in this past election was crucial. Once they vote, however, soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are expected to forget their party affiliations and follow the orders of the civilian leaders regardless of the party.
Military members swear “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” One of the more successful aspects of that document is civilian control of the military.
By the way, Snoopy. You should review how “advanced leadership” works, and what it means. Since what you describe as “advanced leadership” consists of the Commander in Chief giving a crying shoulder to a professional soldier that has hurt feelings because civilians are telling him what to do. Well, guess what, that by no means is “advanced leadership”. If you truly understand what “advanced leadership” is, by all means share it with this discussion panel. But don’t put pontificate without understanding what you’re pontificating about.
Here’s a beauty in the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (Article 88):
“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”.
And another beauty, since apparently publicizing such statements to someone like Rolling Stones is also a………*drum roll*…..punishable offense. And it reads:
“Expressions of opinion made in a purely private conversation should not ordinarily be charged. Giving broad circulation to a written publication containing contemptuous words of the kind made punishable by this article, or the utterance of contemptuous words of this kind in the presence of military subordinates, aggravates the offense. The truth or falsity of the statements is immaterial.”
I can see an Lt, a captain, a major and maybe a Lt. Col being charged with something like this, but a 4 star…..don’t hold your breath.
And this differs in philosophy from Soviet Commissars enforcing blind obedience from the officer corps at the barrel of a pistol in what way?
Snoopy,
This is written in the Constitution. Civilian control of the military was a very important aspect when the Founding Fathers were drafting the Constitution.
And is not blind obedience. Here’s the oath for military officers:
I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
Be it Bush, Obama, Clinton, Bush Sr. or the Congress, they’re all elected officials with their authorities specified within the Constitution. One of those authorities is control of the military. In civilian life or in the military, disrespecting your superiors and this is regardless of politics, will get you fired.
Is not like Stan will end up in disgrace, on the contrary, he has many followers and as a 4 star his opinion is respected by many. For that reason I mention that if he doesn’t agree with civilians dictating military policy, he should retire and run for office. This way he can be involved in the direction on which the military will move in the future.
Straight from the Constitution:
Article II, Section 2 states, “The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States.”
Meaning, the president, in this case Obama is Stan’s boss. It is plainly written, no room for interpretation. The president is the “boss” of all the branches of the military. If you tell a national magazine that your boss sucks, guess what?…Your services are no longer required. It is true now and it was true 100 years ago.
So, no. There are no similarities with “Soviet Commissars”.
Honcho – Article II, Section 2 states, “The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States.”
That about covers disobeying orders, which McChrystal hasn’t been accused of far as I’ve heard. No where in the Constitution is it written “all officers under the President shall never utter a critical word or point of disagreement with the President, military, political or otherwise”. At the time of the Revolutionary War men spoke much more freely that they do now. I’ll go so far as to say in today’s group-think America a Revolutionary War would never have happened.
Apologize for misspelling Uniform with Uniformed. Should read: Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
Honcho, out!
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were started by the Bush administration and they have never been popular with anyone and should end. Hopefully now that Commander McChrystal has made some truthful comments about the wars, Obama can organise for our troops to pack up and come home.
I would like to give Commander McChrystal a big kiss for telling the truth, and I recon Obama would like to as well
)
Dear Ms. LouiseOB,
“the wars have not been popular with anyone” is an untrue statement.
The big bad Bush started the wars and he is to blame as you imply is completely incorrect too.
As former Senator Fritz Hollings , of the great state of South Carolina said (in more words or less) in 2003: The war in Iraq is a war for israel and everyone in Washington DC knows it and is afraid to say it.
They are “afraid to say it” as Senator Hollings said because they are afraid of being labeled an ‘anti-semite” and they are afraid of the wrath of the jews for criticizing jews or israel.
Dr Norman G Finkelstein has written that the jews have created the Holocaust Industry” and the “anti-semite” charge as a deliberate ruse (trick) to deflect legitimate criticism of Israel. In other words, it is a form of terroristic menacing that criminals use to silence witnesses from testifying against criminals.
Some have said and I agree that an “anti-semite” is someone the jews hate, not someone who hates jews.
Israelis and jewish interests created the wars and like them very much contrary to what you say. George Bush and Oh!bama are merely pawns who will be scapegoats for the Jewish inspired wars.
If you do enough research on the history of Israel you will find direct quotes from their leaders that show their intentions are for Israel to conquer the entire Middle East, hook or crook, not merely defend themselves as they always claim on American TV.
If you do enough research I’m sure you will see the real picture if you remain open minded and objective. George Bush and Obama never demonstrated in their lives before becoming President enough creatively, talent and ability to make these trillion dollar wars a reality.
Bush and Obama are what we call stooges or puppets in this whole affair manipulated by Israeli and jewish interests to execute these “proxy” wars for Israel’s Conquest of the Middle East.
Mike
Yes totally agree Michael. Hopefully McChrystal made enough truthful comments about the war to make it end soon.
What else could be disturbing the general? His coverup of the murder of Pat Tillman?
Or his direct hand in murdering hundreds of Pak civilians with those Predator drone attacks?
I imagine the General had plenty of time to think about those during his flight back to see President Barry, flying in his own, custom equipped Lear Jet/Gulfstream favored by those Pentagon generals who live like rock stars.
“I imagine the General had plenty of time to think about those during his flight back to see President Barry, flying in his own, custom equipped Lear Jet/Gulfstream favored by those Pentagon generals who live like rock stars.”
McCrystal sleeps in a plywood shelter on a pine wood cot in quarters not unlike his troops.
Anyone recall the storm of criticism thrown Rumsfeld’s way by retired and active Generals? I didn’t much care for Donald Rumsfeld’s handling of post-war Iraq but this quote illuminates what’s really important in times of war. When stacked next to fighting and prevailing a politician’s ego comes in a distant third.
“Rumsfeld said earlier this week that he wasn’t stunned by the criticism from former military leaders. He said there have been “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of generals during his latest tenure as defense secretary, and it wasn’t unusual for “several” to have unflattering opinions.
“And there’s nothing wrong with people having opinions,” he said Tuesday at a Pentagon briefing. “And I think one ought to expect that. When you’re involved in something that’s controversial, as certainly this war is, one ought to expect that. It’s historic, it’s always been the case, and I see nothing really very new or surprising about it.”
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/13/iraq.rumsfeld/index.html
How pitiful that the entire media narrative is revolving about hype and not focusing upon THE WAR.
So ‘Stan’ flew back to DC in a plywood shelter?
Interesting.
Bet you have all the back issues of the 1960′s comic book, “Sgt. Fury of Combat Company.”
Any General cashiered during Rumsfeld’s tenure should be given the Medal of Honor for he certainly must have been a very good man which Rummy wasn’t. I hope someone will come forward with documentation of the mossad payoffs to Rumsfeld and Chaney and Bush.
Mike
Stanley McCrystol is not the only recent political victim that really matters. With the resignations of the Afghan Minister of Interior (NDS) Atmar and the National Directorate for Security (NDS) Saleh, Karzai has no one left with any credibility to run his police forces or security apparatus. Afghanistan will be left only with Karzai’s cronies who will continue to run Afghanistan like a criminal enterprise… Lets move out of Afghanistan and into Africa where the AQ leadership resides and has total freedom of movement.
Thank You Mr Mossad; Is Africa next on Israel’s plan for “Securing the Realm”? ( The Israeli Plan for Conquest of the Middle East). Did you know most of the people reading the site don’t believe in the existence of AQ except as “the list” of current or former terrorists who have worked for the CIA or Mossad. Your insight may be be better received at Teen Magazine or People Today websites.
I think you are spinning your wheels!
Mike
In other words, Israel has fucked up Iraq and Afghanistan now so it’s time now to fuck up Muslim Africa? Your bosses are fairly high level. I’m impressed by your presence here as compared to the moronic low level trolls who have been trying to get traction unsuccessfully on this site with their big brown B.S. Are they too frustrated to comment here now?
Mike
I aint got a dog in this fight. McChrystal is a stone cold murderer. The Afghans had nothing to do with 911. There is no declaration of war. Every soldier,sailor,airman and marine who fought in Korea,Vietnam,Desert Storm and in the 2 latest illegal,unconstitutional wars is in violation of the oath they took to preserve,protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and to obey the “lawful” orders of their “superiors”. The founding fathers warned us that the greatest threat to liberty and freedom was a large standing military. Ike warned us about the “military industrial complex”. This deal with McCrystal is nothing more than a diversion. If you vets want to redeem yourselves for your oath breaking and help save the country you all helped trash you have got a ways to go. Quit wasting time and ink on murdering scum like this man. Let’s dump Israel,get rid of the federal reserve,let’s get our Constitution and Bill of Rights back. Let’s restore America to true greatness!
Big Red, nice to see a [?new comer] to the site. I am upset with McCrystal for his initial efforts to continue this racket called “war on terror” and for having asked for 40,000 more troops instead of having those who were already there come home. I am glad he spoke out recently which exposes the fraud of what they have been doing and wish he did this much earlier.
It is time to leave Israel alone to fend for itself, terminate all aid and military support to Israel. Get all our troops home and no more American invasions and occupations and no more illegal wars for Israel. Fire all congressional prostitutes for Israel thereby do a through clean up.
Rite-O Amy! I agree 100%; If Rahm Emanuel (Oh!bama’s boss)fired Mcchrystal, he must be a good guy. My guess is there may be an earth shaking story behind this that has not even been hinted at.
Did Mcchrystal discover some Israel special ops setting up ambushes of American troops and have the nerve to complain about it?
Mike
Gordon
“To be honest, military leaders in America have, typically, not been the “brightest bulbs in the pack.””
This must truly be one of your kindest understatements!
vet613
If we are so lucky or unlucky maybe the president might replaced Shensike with McCrystal. At least McCrystal has the balls to call a spade a spade, unlike those who really want to believe that this country is doing so well on its recovery. Sounds like a page from the 12 step program for recovery addicts, in this case power addiction. The kind that will leave a smile on your face everytime you are on the news.
What do you a man who has everything? A book deal, a king’s treasure, or a court martial for breaking the golden rule of chain of command. Do we mark him as someone who told the truth, or someone that got tired of dealing with the BS? But then again this is not the first or the last time a general will speak against any administration. Rolling Stone publishes controversaries. When you tell them something they are going to use it, regardless whether it is true or not. For them it is a story and if you fall in their snare, rule number one keep your mouth shut or just give them your rank and serial number.
The general is quilty of one thing being honest with himself that transformed into a media nightmare. Oh, yes let us not forgot he broke the golden rule of military oath, keep your personal comments to himself, unless you want to ruin your career.
Our adversaries already know that we value military service with a distaste of poor services to our wounded and injured. If we stop denyiong that things are so great while they are not, we are just as guilty as the general for not speaking up. One day the boat will turn and you my friend will be at the bottom. The last man standing does not necessarliy make you the victor if you are the only soul left. Let the chips fall where they may.
Bummer! I heard some of the self-righteous “talking female heads” being appalled by members of McChrystal’s staff actually using the “F” word on more than one occasion. Gollleeeeeee. I never heard or used the “F” word when I was in the service. Did any of you? Be honest now! What an AWFUL thing to do.
BTW, the “F” word is an old British police blotter acronym for Filed Under Carnal Knowledge. How AWFUL to use such a thing in a field of war.
T.G.
Trust me , your right. They know all about the “F” word as I’m sure that is one of the requirements of their job at any given moment. The attractiveness and intelligence of the female talking heads seems to be going lower and lower over the past fifteen years.
High class women are probably not as co-operative and receptive as these hos!
Mike
McChrystal is a blowhard and deserves no sympathy. If you have concerns with policy and strategy, you go to the Commander in Chief. You don’t go to a stupid magazine to pump up your own ego.
Granted that going to Idiot Chicken George wouldn’t have worked, but President Obama is trying to do the right things, no matter how hard, and it’s the obstructionist repukelicans who keep making it harder.
“If you pull out of Afghanistan, you’re soft on terror! If you don’t do exactly what AIPAC says, you’re a Muslim!”
If we can get rid of the rest of the war profiteers in November, we’ll be able to start establishing a sane policy. But you don’t go whining about your job and griping about your boss in a sensationalist magazine. Unless you’re a soap-opera actress.
“Snoopy” is a paid operative of Herr Karl ‘Goebbels’ Rove, and should be banned.
AMEN.
BTW, why does a general need press aides and a staff of dozens? To pump up his ego or to prepare him for a run at the presidency?
‘Stan’ is a blood soaked murderer that will gladly keep killing Muslims, Arabs, Persians and anyone else who gets in the NWO boys way.
Your right about any soldier who doesn’t resist illegal orders. That is a part of their training that is not much emphasized though.
And it is fashionable in America today to do whatever the boss says or you will be an unemployed bum and never have a spouse, much less 69 virgins supposedly promised by the Kuran. This theme is always present in mossad run TV and Foolywood movies. The mossad emphasizes this because they want all Americans to be obedient, soulless, automatons to their sociopath masters.
That Mcchrystal broke out of his mind control program to essentially say the jewish war on terror is a farce is an heroic act and shows he still some semblance of a soul.
Mike
You’re dreaming. Oh!bama is a Manchurian Candidate created and groomed for the position from word go. If you thoroughly investigate his background you will find little as millions have been spent on lawyers to seal it and cover it up.
According to the genealogy charts he is my seventh cousin so I have no reason to want to run him down. I view blacks as my brothers and have plenty of black friends so don’t call me a racist.
Obama apparently has done some work for CIA and comes from a CIA family so in view of the fact that mossad controls CIA it should not be surprising he is a mossad Manchurian Candidate.
He probably has to ask Emanuel or Axlerod for the bathroom keys when he needs to relieve himself.
Mike
In war you put ignorant young kids in foreign lands with guns, people get killed, that is not a crime, it is war. All fault lies with the leaders and their choice to go to war, rather than take police action.
For the money we have spent in Afghanistan alone, a quarter of a $TRILLION, we could have built schools, hospitals, and universities across the Middle-East and won both the wars, and the hearts and minds of all the people. Instead we created an illicit drug trade, and an ongoing ‘insurgency’ that will threaten the USA for decades if not centuries, and we lost. McChrystal was just looking for a way out, it was his tactics, his responsibility.
This is, after all, the one who covered up the ‘friendly fire’ death of Pat Tilman, and lied to his parents.
I will agree with some of what ‘Stan’ said, about that odious Biden.
Joe Biden is nothing more than a glorified water boy and gofer for those “Too Big to Fail” Wall Street banks and provided cover for those crooks when they were looting several trillion dollars from our pockets.
DO YOU LIKE THE PUBIC HAIR HE HAD PLANTED INTO HIS BALD SCALP? IT MUST HAVE COST HIM THOUSANDS
MIKE
The Israelis promised him an entire scalp transplant (from a bushy headed Palestinian) if he keeps doing everything they say.
Perhaps tha’s why Biden hates Muslim, he is jealous of the nice full head of hair many of them possess?
Mike
Cool article, didn’t know about General McChrystal’s comments. Hoping for the best, and that our military leaders continue to wake up to things like 9/11. Cheers!
’9/11 & Free Energy’: http://mindoutpsyde.com/forums/index.php?topic=757.0
MY OWN THINKING THAT “WE THE PEOPLE” OF AMERICA SHOULD AND MUST DEMANDS ALL OF OUR U.S. SOLDIERS NOW AT ALL OVER WORLD AND SEAS RETURN TO AMERICA SOIL RIGHT NOW !. AND SAME TIME OUR U.S. MILITARY AND PENTAGON BRASSES TAKE OVER OBAMA AS PRESIDENT TILL NOVEMBER 2010.
SAME TIME THE U.S. MILITARY AND PENTAGON WILL MAKE “WELL PLANS” TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY FIRST THING ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN BORDERS AND OTHER AROUND NORTH AMERICA FROM ALASKA TO GREENLAND -ICELAND- CANADA TO SOUTHERN BORDERS.
THEN WHAT “WE THE PEOPLE” AND MILITARY THINK ABOUT WORLD COUNTRIES NEEDS OR NOT. WE HAVE LONGEST LEARNED OUR MISTAKES FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND WE DON’T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE OF UNITED NATION ON OUR SOIL EVER AGAIN. LET NEW U.N. IN OTHER COUNTRIES
TURNS FOR MANY MANY YEARS . TOO MANY ENEMIES “HOME HAVEN” IN UN FOR LONG TIME NOT FOR THEM SEEKING PEACE SINCE I WAS YOUNG BOY TILL NOW. THAT IS ENOUGH AND SAVE OUR TAX PAYERS !ALOTS ON TAX PAYERS EXPENSES, ETC.
You are a mad man. Seriously!!! I have a “blue pill” from the V.A. that I think you should have. Here take it! Please I have alot more.
Perhaps you are taking too many, not reading enough from reliable sources and watching the Wolf Blitzer Kindergarten Show on CNN?
YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT! I HAVE BEEN CALLING MY SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN FOR YEARS TO TELL THEM THAT. DO THE SAME
MIKE
That is a very good idea. Let’s see if any of them have the balls of George Washington. The live a very good lifestyle compared to most Americans. Let’s see if any put their country’s interests in front of their own!
Mike
In my opinion he got off easy. He didn’t believe in the war effort anymore, so when the alcohol was flowing in Paris the courage to speak out to “Rolling Stone” made for the perfect way out with his good ole boy stuff riding his coat tails with their comments. He should have been sent back and been made the subordinate of the Lt. General, after he was promoted to GENERAL to run the OPS Afghanistan. But he’ll be ok with resigning, because some company will pick him up to be COO or something.
Abraham, Israel did 9/11 and thermite was used as explosive material. Judy Wood is wrong. It was not free energy.
General McChrystal shot off his egotistical mouth, and he got canned,. It is exactly what he would have done, had a member of his staff publicly dissed him. These West Pointers were the most dangerous thing in Vietnam, trying to be MacArhurs at the grunts’ expense. Good riddance.
Not often do I disagree with G. Duff. However, this is an instant case of insubordination. Mac Mac’s comments were totally out of line. He got what he deserved for making not just public comments but comments to a damn Rock Magazine. Mac Mac should have shut his pie hole said aye aye Sir and carried out the plan of day. However, such is the case when Generals begin to believe in and flex political ideology. Mac Mac’s situation has NOTHING in relation to Helen Thomas. Mrs. Thomas is a Civilian and she has absolute freedom of speech especially as it relates to the demise of the Palestinian State.
C.K., there is no such thing, anymore, as “a Civilian…has absolute freedom of speech; ESPECIALLY as it relates to the demise of the Palestinian State.” By the way, I TOTALLY SUPPORT HELEN THOMAS.
However, collectively, freedom of speech has real power. The seige on Gaza has been “eased”.
Equalizer I know that there does not exist absolute freedom of speech. I should have clarified my position as “In Theory.” However, having been in the Military there is a code of conduct that cannot and should not be tolerated. For me as an African American Veteran and the compounded situation of the obvious rhetoric with hidden racial agendas of many detractors of President Obama I tend to be a little sensitive. I am the first to ADMIT that President Obama has made some mistakes. However, the man hardly merits much of the criticism that he gets. Never in my life have I seen an entire network,FOX News, dedicated soley to destroying the credibility and office of the Presidency.
You see Barack Obama, after his election, went on a World Healing Tour in order to salvage the credibility of this Nation abroad. The HATERS, as I will call them, saw that this man commanded respect and admiration on a Global Stage and He was embraced with enormous acceptance.
So the HATERS understood that they could not destroy him abroad. However, on a DOMESTIC LEVEL they could and the constant flow of negativity has yet to cease!!
What solidifies my position and lends it merit? Well if you are White and poor as a church mouse how and the hell can you logically justify “bad mouthing” the President for wanting to institue, as an example, “Universal Healthcare” or “Taxing the Wealthy” in order that YOU can put food on YOUR table??
Racism is such a disease in this Nation that a man/woman is willing to starve him/her self.NO MATTER how diplomatic the President has been, in order to get them to see the light, RACISM clouds their thought process.
Notice that WE as African Americans have had very little to say in relation to the verbal political bashing Pres. Obama is taking. When a race of people are marching and protesting isn’t the time to be concerned. However, SILENCE is something of grave concern. If you don’t like him vote him out. However, leave him and his family alone.
If White Americans desire to elect and put in power an individual or persons that, like Bush, will run this Nation into the ground…..FINE. Hardship is nothing new to Black Americans and regardless WE as a RACE can and will survive.
Now we have MAC MAC as a Commanding General causing desention in the ranks. Where was his VOICE when Bush put this F’d up operation into motion? As I recall Gen. Shenseki, current V.A. Director, was the only one that spoke up and GWB and his Boys had his head on a platter!! I think in Africa they call Mac Mac’s behavior a Military Coup!!
As I see it the problem with many, NOT ALL, White Americans is that you have no humbleness nor humility. Outside of these borders you would never survive.
After I post this message there will be many that call me a racist….OK call me what you want. However, trust me I am a Realist. I have served my Nation with honor, achieved a high level education, obyed the law and I don’t owe you a damn thing and if you were to ever meet me you would understand that you are dealing with a man.
See my comments above. The “hater” charge as far as I’m concerned is a variation of the “anti-semite” charge.
Norman Finkelstein says it is used to deflect legitimate criticism. I agree with him.
Mike
If anybody is fired by Emanuel (Cousin Obama’s boss),
he has been fired by mossad. Case closed, it is 100% certain, period. It’s not any more complicated than that.
McChrystal must be a good guy.
Mike
PS
Israel controls the entire USA phone network and can liten in on ANY conversations ANY time.
They especially like using their voice synthesizers.
No doubt! But they sure have F_cked Up on the fake bin ladin movies and the adam perlman stories?
Mike
When a zone commander stares down the cold hard reality of what kind of mission he has been handed in places like Afghanistan, the final acts of his military career are vital to his sense of completion and a fitting legacy.
Knowing he was facing a “forced retirement” by his statements in the RS interview, at least he had the guts to speak his mind. Critics will point out how
this goes against the precepts of the civilian lead chain of command and the tenets
of military protocol. Shinseki was forced to resign when he was asked by Rumsfield and Cheney how many troops it would take to pacify Iraq in 2002 and he answered honestly.
McChrystal had the courage of his convictions versus prolonging a now frustrating assignment with limited resources in a no win area of operations.
Call him an opportunist, disloyal, ill advised and a defeatist et cetera, but looking at all the obstacles inherent in the political, military & economic
situation in AfPak, I for one laud his candor and sense of facing reality, which is rare for any general these days.
For those of you who served in the early 70s, you remember a military in disintegration from insubordination, drugs, racist conflict and all the way to fragging. This situation led to a hasty withdrawal from VIetnam, massive early discharging and an end to the draft. My Army was on its knees.
Today there is a worrisme trend. The top Brass are insubordinate. Look over the past tend years at the number of commanders who have voiced criticism. Most wait until they retire. But what happens when the leaders of the military believe the politicians are leading the country to ruin? It could be frightening.
I certainly hope the have the balls to act as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson would have wanted them to.
I hope they put the interest’s of the USA in front of their own comfort. They may be our only hope.
Mike
[...] By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor [...]
They have compared Gen.McChystal With Gen. Douglas McCarther. A great General.
Let us not forget Gen. George S. Patton another great General,who also spoke
to the press and got into trouble. My point is Military and Politics donot
mix, and politians and the Presidant should keep there noses out of military
buisnes. Gen. McCarther,Gen. Patton were simple old soldiers that got the job
done.
Have you heard of the man by the name of Steven Ratner?
“Sri Lanka has lashed out at the United Nations secretary general’s rare decision to appoint a three-member panel to look into alleged war crimes committed in Sri Lanka as the 26-year-old civil unrest came to an end in May last year. On Tuesday, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon appointed Indonesia’s Marzuki Darusman, South African Yasmin Sooka and Steven Ratner from the US to “advise him on the issue of accountability with regard to any alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka–24/06/10″ taken from Lankaweb Latest–Sri Lankan News.
What are UN and America and Africa and Indonesia doing about Israel’s war crimes?
US government has done nothing about Israel’s bombing of USS Liberty and other crimes of Israel.
This just goes to show just how far apart the Brain Dead in the White House and our Military are.. And the White House expects to be respected… Bush and Chaney Started the Two Ileagal Wars, and should be behind bars for WAR CRIMES.. How many people have died, or lifes are hanging by a thread or are crippled because of these TWO criminals??? And now that we have a Professor with NO Military backround, and who has no IDEA what to do over there for a President, sure there’s going to be remarks said about the way He and his Brain Dead Buddies are running those Wars…
It’s to bad that that Jerk Reporter had to be in ear shot of the remarks, but at the same time he should have been bright enough to realize the frustration behind them… But selling a shitty rag like the Rolling Stone is more important….
Our beloved President can’t take it when the truth about him or his buddies is said out loud, Sure the General should have knew better, but maybe he did… Maybe it was his way to get away from Obama and his butt head buddies….
I went through the same crap in Viet Nam on my first tour… As long and the Military was running the show, we had a fighting chance, but when the Politicans in Washington started running the war, our casulties went up and we started to get our asses kicked… Just what Tricky Dicky and Congress wanted…
I don’t think what the General was exactly right, but like I said earlier, maybe it was his way of getting all this out in the open and for him to get away from Obama…
I want Ron Paul and his supporters know that I got upset with him because of his son. I have financially supported both of them in the recent months and had plenty of faith in both of them before I heard about Rand Paul’s support for Israel which simply made me sick.
I got to know about Ron Paul only after the 2008 election and he should have been our president in 2008. I was being brainwashed by Fox news and the conservative radio hosts who–were unfair to him during this election. If he were the president we would have saved lives of so many of our troops and more Muslims. I really want to have someone like Ron Paul but I feel his son is now in the way for which I get upset with him as well as Ron Paul.
I want to give him all the credit for everything he has done for so many years and God bless Ron Paul!
I am concerned whether he has the same passion he had in 2008 and whether his own son feels embarrased at his father’s foreign policy ideology now that he has become one of neocons. I love Ron Paul’s foreign policy ideology, his wanting to end the fed, end income tax, abolish the CIA. I am even for abolishing FEMA, energy department and homeland [in]security.
If Ron Paul became the president in 2008 Israel would not have attacked the peace activists and there would be no war against iran.