Hot Air "A senior Pakistani government official said Monday that many in Pakistan already believe the Americans lack a long-term strategy in Afghanistan. The possibility of McChrystal’s being removed only deepens Pakistan’s skepticism about chances for a U.S. victory in Afghanistan, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive policy assessment.
“Now, the person who helped craft that strategy, if he’s not on the scene, how will you take this process forward?” the official added."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
General McChrystal Has Offered to Resign: Reports (Updated)
NY Mag "General Stanley McChrystal has offered to resign in the wake of the Rolling Stone debacle, according to Time's Joe Klein, and subsequently confirmed by CBS News' Mark Knoller.
"Crucially, both CBS and Klein are reporting that McChrystal has merely offered his resignation, which would hardly be a surprise: Given the quotes attributed to McChrystal and his staff, going to the White House with a resignation letter seems like the minimally polite thing to do. But President Obama doesn't have to accept the resignation if he wants the general to stay on. "
"Crucially, both CBS and Klein are reporting that McChrystal has merely offered his resignation, which would hardly be a surprise: Given the quotes attributed to McChrystal and his staff, going to the White House with a resignation letter seems like the minimally polite thing to do. But President Obama doesn't have to accept the resignation if he wants the general to stay on. "
Helen Thomas — Thanks
By Ala al-Din Abu Zeineh "Because she said what few of us dare to say, even though it’s not her responsibility, from my heart I give a thousand thanks to Helen Thomas, and to all that speak the truth in the face of power." Al-Ghad, Jordan. H/T to WatchingAmerica.com
Obama White House Claims Kyl’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform vs Secure the Border Not True
ScaredMonkeys.com "So we are supposed to believe Barack Hussein Obama that he is not holding US border security hostage to Comprehensive Immigration Reform? Obama WH says Kyl lied. Who to believe, Barack Obama who sues the state of Arizona over their recent Immigration law only to have the federal government do nothing to protect its borders and citizens?"
Latest on General McChrystal
Col. Jack Jacobs: Most In Military Will Say McChrystal 'Was Right' "But while the Medal of Honor recipient readily agreed that McChrystal was out of line, and would probably pay with his job, Jacobs also went out of his way—twice—to add an inconvenient truth: that when it comes to the substance of the criticism, most in the military think McChrystal "was right.""
General McChrystal and Rolling Stone: Suicide by Interview? "Notice that even in his apology above,the General does not take back the comments, he simply apologizes for making the comments. The Military commander was sending his troops and the administration a message. To the troops he was saying ” I have your backs even to the point of hurting my own career.” The message for the administration was, “Your way isn’t working, let us do what is necessary to win this war. Even though this was a violation of the Code of Honor, the General’s statements were a service to America and to his men by confirming what we all suspected, the President and his administration does not have a clue."
Media Promoted Military Criticism of President Bush "McChrystal was of course out of line. But media liberals who are only distraught at potential insubordination when the subordinate does not aid their political goals in speaking out are commentators whose opinions must be taken with a few grains of salt."
General McChrystal and Rolling Stone: Suicide by Interview? "Notice that even in his apology above,the General does not take back the comments, he simply apologizes for making the comments. The Military commander was sending his troops and the administration a message. To the troops he was saying ” I have your backs even to the point of hurting my own career.” The message for the administration was, “Your way isn’t working, let us do what is necessary to win this war. Even though this was a violation of the Code of Honor, the General’s statements were a service to America and to his men by confirming what we all suspected, the President and his administration does not have a clue."
Media Promoted Military Criticism of President Bush "McChrystal was of course out of line. But media liberals who are only distraught at potential insubordination when the subordinate does not aid their political goals in speaking out are commentators whose opinions must be taken with a few grains of salt."
Time to Dump the Afghanistan Timeline
Heritage "President Obama’s strategy has provoked serious questions among military leaders and our allies, it has posed serious problems for our troops on the ground, and it has undermined America’s ability to win the war. In short, we do not need an artificial timeline for withdrawal. We need a strategy for victory."
And so it begins
American Thinker This document is an actual letter that was received by a good friend of mine just yesterday. Needless to say, this 60-year old didn't sleep much last night. Her policy with this insurance company dates back 12 years. Because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed by this Congress, she will no longer have insurance effective December 15, 2010. Where does she go now, Mr. President? Her policy was affordable. Can you assure her that the next one will be? D.L. Hammack
Doctors limit new Medicare patients USA Today
Doctors limit new Medicare patients USA Today
Obama’s Straws And Our Tired Back
Victor Davis Hanson "Every president attracts the unhinged. So why, the voters thought, not give a pass to all that — or even to Obama’s own embarrassing “beer summit” (presidents, you see, have free afternoons and so can involve themselves in campus politics when favorite academics rail about racial unfairness). This presidency, you also see, was going to be one long beer summit, where Obama listened and then gave a 50/50 hope and change speech while he rammed through an Ayers agenda.
Things happen, so such a little straw like that added little weight to our collective backs — no more than the strange stuff like the “wise Latina” remark of Obama’s new Supreme Court judge, or the “nation of cowards” blast from the attorney general."
Things happen, so such a little straw like that added little weight to our collective backs — no more than the strange stuff like the “wise Latina” remark of Obama’s new Supreme Court judge, or the “nation of cowards” blast from the attorney general."
Mother Jones’ David Corn Says BP Oil Spill Great for Democrats
Newsbusters "So, right now, I mean - I mean, the Democrats don't want this to go away. Rahm Emanuel made that point very clearly yesterday as you just showed. And the more that Barton stays in the focus, the better off the Democrats are because they need something to run on in November, and it's very hard for them with unemployment being 10 -- nearly 10 percent."
McChrystal’s Media Woes (UPDATED)
Max Boot "What on earth was McChrystal thinking, one wonders, when he decided to grant so much access to an anti-war reporter from an anti-war magazine? Michael Hastings’s animus against the war effort shines through every inch of his article. His conclusion is that “winning” in Afghanistan “is not really possible. Not even with Stanley McChrystal in charge.” Along the way he brands the counterinsurgency strategy that McChrystal is implementing “a controversial strategy” that is advocated only by “COINdiniastas” notorious for their “their cultish zeal.” When he quotes outside experts in the article, all of them express disparaging views about the prospects of success."
Commentary Magazine "If more Afghans do decide they don’t want us there, it will be because we’ve made it clear we’re not there to finish the job. Broadcasting that dangerous message is made far easier by pieces such as this one in Rolling Stone."
McChrystal's Offence "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." Political Wire
Obama Can’t Fire McCrystal "I predict McCrystal won’t be fired for that reason alone. It’s vastly more important to Obama to maintain the July 2011 withdrawal date than it is to succeed. McCrystal will be scolded, maybe even publicly, by Obama and sent back to do what the general and his military superiors must know is an impossible mission." Jed Babbin is the best-selling author of, “In the Words of Our Enemies,”...
The Rolling Stone article: As bad as advertised "That is the kind of revelation that either a commander of a theater of war saves for his memoirs, or resigns to make to Congress. During the war, however, the expectation is that all sides refrain from airing this kind of dirty laundry. McChrystal appears not to know that. Worse yet, these and other anecdotes from his inner circle appear to show that McChrystal either tolerates or actively encourages disrespect for the civilian leadership that runs the US military. "
Commentary Magazine "If more Afghans do decide they don’t want us there, it will be because we’ve made it clear we’re not there to finish the job. Broadcasting that dangerous message is made far easier by pieces such as this one in Rolling Stone."
McChrystal's Offence "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." Political Wire
Obama Can’t Fire McCrystal "I predict McCrystal won’t be fired for that reason alone. It’s vastly more important to Obama to maintain the July 2011 withdrawal date than it is to succeed. McCrystal will be scolded, maybe even publicly, by Obama and sent back to do what the general and his military superiors must know is an impossible mission." Jed Babbin is the best-selling author of, “In the Words of Our Enemies,”...
The Rolling Stone article: As bad as advertised "That is the kind of revelation that either a commander of a theater of war saves for his memoirs, or resigns to make to Congress. During the war, however, the expectation is that all sides refrain from airing this kind of dirty laundry. McChrystal appears not to know that. Worse yet, these and other anecdotes from his inner circle appear to show that McChrystal either tolerates or actively encourages disrespect for the civilian leadership that runs the US military. "
Pelosi’s lame blame game: No ‘burrowed-in’ Bush appointees oversaw Deepwater Horizon
Washington Examiner "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., recently blamed Bush appointees who “burrowed in” at the Minerals Management Service for the regulatory failures that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. But as it turns out, not one of the officials responsible for overseeing the exploded rig was a Bush political appointee." Via Beltway Confidential
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