McChrystal vs. Obama: Battle of the 'Hard Hearts'? | Sojourners

McChrystal vs. Obama: Battle of the 'Hard Hearts'?

Yesterday U.S. top Afghanistan warrior General Stan McChrystal was very publicly called to the carpet in the Oval Office. Sources say his job is on the line. President Obama wants McChrystal to answer for comments he made in a Rolling Stone interview (July 8-22, 2010 issue).

The short form is that McChrystal disses the counterterrorism strategy advocated by Vice President Joe Biden, calling it "shortsighted," saying it would lead to a state of "Chaos-istan." He outright insults Special Representative to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke and says he feels betrayed by the U.S. ambassador in Kabul, Karl Eikenberry. Overall, McChrystal conveys a deep-seated contempt for civilian leadership.

And, despite the "it's a tough slog, but we are winning the Afghan hearts and minds" rhetoric from the White House, the civil societies in the countries of our NATO allies have forced their governments to change direction on the failed war policy in Afghanistan. (Having watched The Princess Bride numerous times, they apparently learned the lesson: "Never get involved in a land war in Asia.")

In the Rolling Stone article, author Michael Hastings writes:

Opposition to the war [in Afghanistan] has already toppled the Dutch government, forced the resignation of Germany's president and sparked both Canada and the Netherlands to announce the withdrawal of their 4,500 troops

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