General McChrystal Generally Can’t Keep His Mouth Shut

By James Sheldon on June 22nd, 2010

Did you check out the most recent interview with General Stanley A. McChrystal in the latest issue of Rolling Stone?

If you’re a fan of political-correctness, there may be a few things that rub you the wrong way, but then again, if you’re a fan of political correctness, you probably aren’t in the military, and never were.

General McChrystal, the man leading the forces in Afghanistan, has been critical of President Obama and the entire administration from their first meeting. It’s widely known that McChrystal voted for President Obama, yet has repeatedly taken verbal swings at his Commander in Chief, as well as the entire White House staff. On more than one occasion, he has sounded off on Vice President Joe Biden, retracted statements, apologized and then repeated the verbal barrage.

It seems to me, more than General McChrystal, it’s his staff members who are suffering from a severe case of diarrhea of the mouth–stating the “he said” or offering a reflective opinion that you can only assume was generated by the general.

Something has seemed just off-center from the get-go with McChrystal leading the forces in Afghanistan. I don’t know if it’s a lack of respect for the current administration, or the possibility that he really doesn’t have any desire to continue serving in his current capacity–he’s doing everything in his power to press for his release.

It’s not unheard of for high-ranking military officials to be relieved of duty. Think Harry S. Truman and General Douglas MacArthur during the Korean War. President Truman eventually going on to state in TIME magazine:

I fired him because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the President. I didn’t fire him because he was a dumb son of a b****, although he was, but that’s not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail.

Oh, how I miss when people would just tell it like it was.

General McChrystal received a summons to the White House to discuss his latest slips of tongue in Rolling Stone. No political figures have called for his firing, yet none have dared support any of his quips, statements or complaints.

(Image via: Atlantic Council)