McChrystal's ouster was overdue
President Barack Obama made the right call in accepting the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as head of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
In fact, McChrystal’s unacceptable show of disrespect, which came to light this week in a report by Rolling Stone magazine, shows that his removal from that post was overdue.
McChrystal and his aides created an unworkable situation as they belittled Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, among others involved in Afghanistan planning.
The importance in a democracy of civilian control of the military cannot be overstated, yet McChrystal seemed to place little value on that cherished principle.
The piece by Rolling Stone writer Michael Hastings — an example of the importance of detailed, on-the-ground reporting — revealed a general who was unsuited for the task from the day he arrived as head of coalition forces.
One disturbing theme was the implication that Obama didn’t know McChrystal as well as he should for such a critical position. Even when leaders are pulling together, Afghanistan remains a difficult puzzle to solve. When those in charge of the effort constantly squabble, and mock each other behind closed doors (and in front of open reporter’s notebooks), it further muddies the effort and needlessly puts American lives at risk.
It’s difficult to understand how McChrystal ever was thought to be the right leader for the job, given his role in the cover-up story surrounding the friendly fire death in Afghanistan of football star Pat Tillman as well as his alleged role in torture at a base in Iraq.
So now, a year after taking charge, McChrystal is out. His supporters had claimed the four-star general was needed, that his expertise in counterinsurgency (COIN) was essential to success.
Obama’s appointment of Gen. David Petraeus kills that argument, however. If McChrystal was a student of COIN, Petraeus is the teacher.
Petraeus, the architect of U.S. progress in Iraq, has his work cut out for him again. In Iraq, he faced re-building a working society. In Afghanistan, he is building one from scratch, and it won’t be easy.
The president has issued a clear message that Petraeus will head to Afghanistan as part of a team, expected to work with his civilian counterparts and not as a lone ranger. That’s always been Petraeus’ style. The Senate should quickly approve his appointment.
Google+
Share
Tweet
Comments