Funny thing about using a scope....It narrows your view to the point where you cannot see the big picture.

Actually referring to being careful, accurate and disciplined.

General McChrystal has been in situations far worse than a dressing down from his boss. Commanding troops and sending them on missions where you know they might not all come back in one piece is a lot harder. General McChrystal has been devoted to the defense of our nation (that would include you, by the way) for thirty years, risking life and limb on too many occasions to count.

Diogenes, I agree with you. It's really too bad his career comes down to this article. I've never been in the military, nor a war zone; he's pretty much been there since the beginning. I didn't agree with going into Iraq, I felt Afghanistan had to have some sort of "closure", but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

But I do feel badly about this entire episode. But the General did bring it on himself.

As a soldier, you will get so called "dressed down" a lot. You just look foward and let whomever foam at the mouth and it goes in one ear and out of the other. Most of the time it is forgotten the moment you walk out of the door.

MC has a record that NO ONE IN HERE can match. He was wrong for speaking in the wrong forum. I know it was on purpose because I think there is more to it. If Obama truly thought he had Mc by the balls, he would have relieved him of his duties ASAP. There is more to it than just bringing in a General and saying there is the door.

McChrystal is no different than any man that is on the verge of facing his boss and losing his job. Fine, I'll give it up that he has defended this country more times than I care to count, but the bottom line is, respect the president. This guy can't possibly believe that he was going to get a pass on insulting and disrespecting the highest office in the land... no way.

I'll give McChrystal this much, he is brave, but that doesn't amount to squat with a tarnished legacy.

I know it was on purpose

I've been hearing that a lot these past two days from friends. Doesn't mean any of us know for sure, but this statement has been hanging out there. I just wonder though. From the photo of the General going into the White House, he looked really shaken up.

If it wasn't on purpose Pat... then given McChrystal's military experience & intellegence... I have to ask WTF was he thinking!

But you're right - we don't know...

I have to ask WTF was he thinking!

Feisty, we have to wait for the book to come out. lol

LouisJ - I'm enjoying your take on this. Hope to see you back here often. I have given you a thumbs up on your comments. The intimidation comment WAS interesting, since it's been reported that the military went against the President in the media not too long ago, and the President was pretty livid about it and I guess told them so. They apologized to him for it. Jonathan Alter talked about this last night on Keith's program.

So this is a sad sad situation. But perhaps a good opportunity to decide right now - what are we going to do in Afghanistan so we can bring our troops home, soon.

There was a follow-up meeting on Afghanistan and McChrystal was not in attendance. That just about says it all.

ITM, based on your comments yesterday and not knowing what articles the Gen violated under the UCMJ, a conclusion is that you have never served in the military as all soldiers know about what conduct can get them in trouble and you did not and you do not train soldiers. You have the right to express your opinions, that is the right that I and many before and after me have fought to protect for you to enjoy. What you do not have the right to do is disrespect any veteran and current member of the military by pretending to be one!

Terry... oh... he's a soldier all right... a real keyboard warrior isn't he?

When he disappeared yesterday after he was challenged spoke volumes! lol

TY Pat. I don't see a feasible way out of Afghanistan. "Mission unaccomplished". Bin Laden is still plotting to destroy the infrastructure of the United States. He has already crippled it to the point of a pointless invasion into Iraq which has caused more damage.

The only way that there is any positive (and I say that lightly) outcome is by giving up certain areas to other governments such as those allies that have a track record of at least supporting us.

But I can't see the government giving it up that easily. The man behind the curtain has something in store, too much going on in Afghanistan such as vast mineral deposits, oil and other resources to turn their back. That's just the nature of conflict. Just ask Sierra Leone.

Let me tell you something Mr. Disabled:

Don't you go disrespecting my service to this nation. You probably spent 3 yrs in and that is okay. I RETIRED. Meaning I gave half of my life to defending this land and making it possible for even idiots such as yourself to make the asinina ass statement. Some of the sh!t I see you spew makes me very suspect of your dillusional butt.

I have the wounds and the payment on the first Tuesday of the month to show for it. I showed your post to a couple of soldiers and they laughed and the first thing they said was YOU'RE a fake azz wanna-be soldier.

Every frikken soldier in the land know of Article 134. Maybe you are the one that need to read up on it.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/punitivearticles/a/134.htm

ITM, still not right on payment schedule, once again you are called out to be a fake, phony. PERIOD!!!!

Fiesty:

WTF challenged me? None of these so-called trainees on here couldn't pack my boot laces.

You need to stay in your lane. This is not a conversation that calls for your input.

Some of us work to provide a nice life for our families. We all do not sit on our fat, lazy azzez all day and type on the puter.

ITM, I was not talking about article 134, try again imposter!

Evidently Terry you don't receive a Disability check nor do you receive a retirement check. I think I know the dates I've been getting them now for 2 yrs.

You are the phony.....Why don't you research and call DFAS and the VA and see when checks go out.....

First of the month every month, and then hit me on the first Tuesday of every month. Don't hate you clown. I EARNED MINE.

ITM why don't you go back and watch more Tom Cruise movies to get your lines. Any answer to the article yet imposter.

I am not a soldier. I can only imagine a soldiers side of the story. I do respect that every man has a valid opinion on their current situation as they are human also. I support our military 100%. Misconduct, or whatever violation it may be, the Gen expressed himself just as we need to express ourselves. I hope and pray for the best interests of our Country in the Gen remaining in command. He has lead us there to Afghanistan and I believe needs to finish the job!

To the rest of the posters on this board, I apologize for the rant with ITM, I felt the need to expose the idiot for what it is an imposter!

Well, this is the same guy who claims to be a black guy, yet horned in on a conversation between Farley and me supporting Farley's bigoted contention that the problem with Mississippi is that there are too many black people there.

-shrugs-

At that point, I sort of doubted that he was black.

Terry No apology needed I put up my opinion of ITM's alligator mouth overloading his hummingbird ass yesterday. No need to apologize because your right on the money with this sorry excuse for a human being and I would be using that term very loosely

Well frankly all of you RedneckS .....can kiss my B azz. Now take that to the bank and cash it.

Terry since you seem to be challenging my service, hit me with your best shot. That little trifflin' azz drivel you have been spewing is tired and lame. You got your little peanut gallery co-signing as if you are a truth-master.

As for you REDNECK.....Anyone with a moniker as such should never attempt to dip into a blackman's convo. You are about on the level with trash. You just be glad men like me was willing to die for this country as to where ignorant REDNECKS can continue to drive pick-ups and dip snuff and fly your rebel flag without someone cutting your damn head off.

Yes i can get ghetto too. You amatuers had better go F with someone that gives a .........because I am not the one.

Kick Rocks.........

FOX, MSNBC, two sides of the same meaningless coin. Who cares what infotainment channels spew? They are simply entertainment, slanted and pre-digested for those who view politics as a team game or are too "busy" to read and form their own opinions.

Yeah, no.

Fox is in a class of its own when it comes to shading reality to fit their point of view . . . like when they used old footage of an old protest to make a totally different protest look bigger than it was, like when they repeat already debunked lies as fact.

Show me an example of MSNBC knowingly broadcasting lies as fact please.

MSNBC has a point of view, but they don't use lies to promote that point of view.

Big difference.

Exactly Nash - and it's not like that was an isolated incident - there's a clear pattern to their deception! Unfortunately the Beckerheads & the rest of the clowns chose to keep their heads firmly planted up their a@@!

Everyone should remember that Murdock himself said that his FOX station is for entertainment, not for news. And his "entertainers" like Beck get paid millions to lie and spread fear...that's FOX's idea of entertainment. On the other hand, MSNBC, especially Olbermann and Maddow, go out of their way to research true facts - they are two of the best Americans in this country in my opinion.

Sorry but they are of the same ilk, and those defending their infotainment host's"facts" are simply fans. You even call them by their first names.

PBS, NPR, the Economist, are examples of media that attempts to be neutral in presenting the news. I see that the fox-msnbc battles here resemble red sox fans vs yankee fans more than interested parties debating the issues of the day, especially when you consider the lack of respect one side shows for the other. In a debate, both sides present "facts" but they use them to make different and often the exact opposite point from their opponents. That is not the case with the two networks that many here seem to believe are actual news outlets.

"FOX, MSNBC, two sides of the same meaningless coin. Who cares what infotainment channels spew? They are simply entertainment, slanted and pre-digested for those who view politics as a team game or are too "busy" to read and form their own opinions."

As I've pointed out before, though, Fox bill itself as 'news', while MSNBC takes a more honest approach, and bills itself as 'the place for politics'. Big difference.

I agree. Most fans seem to be here for socializing and that's OK. They can be ignored or they can be read for their humor.

no joe:

I'm sure no joe that it is proper protocol to inform your Sec. of Defense as well as a few others of your decision before you announce that decision. Stop looking for anything, everything, nothing to criticize Obama for. Plus the fact Obama may be consulting with these people to have a replacement name ready at the same time he announces McChrystal's firing. Those troops need to know there is a replacement in charge ASAP.

nojo:

So if things don't happen at a pace of your liking, its dithering?

Typical gripe first, think later response from someone who has no idea what is going into the President's decision and thinks that they can solve all the world's problems on the stenghth of their gut feelings and the insights they gleen off the news.

I think I like the President's approach better.

"no joe" is a true believer in the ways of the last administration..."Shoot first, ask questions later!"

Undoubtedly any suggestion that a decision has been made about General McChrystal will be met with some wild rant about "Why Hasn't President Obama Announced His Decision" and "Where's The Transparency".

The bottom line is this...you do not announce that General McChrystal has been relieved of his command until such time as you are ready to announce his replacement. Why? Because you better damn well make it clear who is in charge and you do not leave a void in leadership in the military chain of command.

The village idiot knows that. "no joe" doesn't.

Gee, no joe--you forgot to ask for President Obama to resign over this! I think an hour or so to consider a decision and inform key players about it counts as calm leadership, not dithering.

Usually I try to ignore this but I find it amazing that someone who is obviously smart cannot look beyond their personal contempt for Pres Obama to see any issue without that contempt getting in the road. Immobilized? No brainer? Dithering? The article came out late Monday, McChrystal was summoned from Afghan immediately--it takes awhile to get here; and he is being given the opportunity to explain himself.

Well, apparently, the crisis only immobilized the president for an hour or so. He's relieved McChrystal.