Interesting, as has been pointed out by others already in other blogs, that Obama

– who denigrated the surge strategy that was proposed by Petraeus for Iraq as unworkable,
– and declared the Iraq war to be lost,
– and specifically handpicked McChrystal for the role he has now been removed from,

NOW

– handpicks Petraeus, who came up with the very surge strategy that worked in Iraq, DESPITE Obama’s backbench quarterbacking, to take command in place of his handpicked man.

So true! In 1942 when things were not going so well for the U.S., I asked my Grandfather if we might lose the war. His answer: “No, we’ll win. We’re having a bad time now because our boys haven’t got all the tools they need to fight. Once we get them the ships, tanks, artillery, airplanes and weapons they need they will start winning. They’ll win because they are not like the men from the dictatorships. They know how to think for themselves and how to take the initiative. If the sergeant goes down, the corporal will take his place, if the Lieutenant goes down, the sergeant will take his place, and so on. Not only that, our boys know they are fighting to stay free. Our opponents don’t even know what that means. Yes, we will win.”

It’s nice to know that same wisdom is alive and well. Particularly when it comes from a straight-leg, dog-face, ground pounder who has been there and knows what its all about.

Man, my world is easy. I don’t want to lose it, thank you very much. And the Afghan war is part and parcel of that weird coalition between muslims and statists to bring down the USA, hence, my easy world.

There’s probably an inside story but Nolanimrod’s thoughts are what I’m going with for now. It will seem more likely if McChrystal tries to save his job. I heard on the radio that he only sleeps four hours a day, eats one meal a day, and runs seven miles a day.

I have never understood military/former military who were left wingish in their politics – but I do know they exist. Perhaps our hostess will be able to explain it one day…..

At any rate, my gut feeling is the general finally wised up to the fact Obama was ignoring Afghanistan except for the occasional political advantage he could wring out of it – while the general had to deal with the reality on the ground on a day to day basis.

Toss in Obama’s political choices regarding ambassadors and his approach to international politics, and I can see a career general getting very frustrated.

He’s given responsibility/accountability for a specific task – yet is undermined by his superior in carrying out that task.

That’s a perfect recipe for stress and frustration.

Whether he’s good at his job or not, I am voting that this may have been a deliberate attempt by the general to force a change in the White House’s approach to the war – even if it did mean personally the end of his career.

From what I understand, this was a fighting general, seemed to have the loyalty of his subordinates, was well regarded by the troops, and spent his career in an organization who’s main job could have ended up with him being ordered at any time to do something that could get him killed.

Seems to me the simple end of a career is mild in comparison…..not painless, but definitely not on the level of tragic death or dismemberment in the line of duty.

I wonder how many other military/former military are reconsidering their choice back in November of 2008?

Does being so annoyed, so disgusted, so frustrated that you no longer care count as that?

http://nolanimrod.com/2010/06/22/hard-row-hoe/

1) McChrystal just did the career equivalent of suicide by cop.

2) The thin-skinned and vindictive Obama can’t stand being dissed (remember, his beef with Jeremiah Wright was not the content of Wright’s rantings but the fact that he dissed Obama in an interview). Obama will necessarily try to humiliate McChrystal. In a perverse way, the ability to call a general on the carpet and make him grovel will bolster Obama’s psyche. Hope McChrystal stands tall.

Give me a break.