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Another screaming Stars and Stripes, a U.S. military newspaper, headline will greet troops in Iraq and Afghanistan tomorrow morning:
"BOOTED: Obama relieves McChrystal of command; Petraeus to take over."
Stars and Stripes is the primary source of news for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the paper's Senior Managing Editor Howard Witt.
The circulation is about 90,000, about 80 percent of which goes to troops on the frontlines in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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I bet it was a sad, most uncomfortable meeting between the two of them in the Oval Office. He was a career officer. Yet 24 hours (?) is all it took to put this behind us.
What becomes of his staff? They were equally disrespectfull to the civillian commanders in a time of war!?!
I had the same thought. McChrystal fired one himself. Short of firing them all, about all I'd think they would have to break up the group by sending them to different places.
Maybe I am being naive - and those who have served please educate me if needed - but isn't this just as disrespectful to Gen McCrystal? Isn't that what the General JUST got relieved for?
Secondly - the primary source for news to our troops is this paper? I've seen the troops watching different sporting events on TV's - are they not allowed to watch CNN/FOX/MSNBC or other broadcasts?
Probably one of the most difficult and uncomfortable meetings the president has had. I imagine that this action was difficult because Pres Obama does respect the military and those who serve. It means the end of a highly skilled general's career but McChrystal should have thought more carefully. Pres Obama praised and thanked him but in the end, he really had no choice.
K in Oregon,
No, they can't watch Fox/CNN/MSNBC. If they get TV where they are, the get AFN (American Forces Network) which consists of military produced news, tv programs, command information is the main goal. Same goes for AFN radio. The programming provided to AFN is donated or given at a reduced cost because they don't air commercials. Sporting events are also given to the military for the purposes of troop morale.
As for the Stars and Stripes, it is the paper most of them will see most regularly. And it has been known to put out some very inflammatory articles. When I was in Germany, they put an article on the front page about how a lot of female soldiers were getting pregnant and that STD's were on the rise in Bosnia... sent the dependents in Germany while their spouses were deployed into a tizzy for sure!
I hope that answers your question.
Actually, my boyfriend, who returned from Iraq last spring, did have access to Fox news, CNN Europe, and the full range of Internet news (among others). So, yes....they do have access to these programs, at least in Iraq.
Thank you OAS! I had no idea they didn't have access to standard news sources. Somehow that seems so......Unamerican.
Thank you for responding and I hope you have a great day.
I was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and yes they have access to most cable news channels. MSNBC is not a favorite. You get CNN and Fox everywhere even in Korea. Most military bases now that have a T.V. in the common area is all set to Fox News by order of the Post Commanders. Hence being most people in the military is Center right this is a logical choice.
OMG-
Did I just hear Newsweek's Jonathan Alter tell Chris Matthews that General Petraeus was right about the Iraqi surge, and that then-Senator Obama was wrong?
Wow...I guess Senator McCain was correct.
If you live long enough, you'll see or hear things you never imagined would ever be possible.
McCrystal has been a behavior problem for a long time ..they should have fired his ass long ago...Being a General he should have know better ..and still is in my eyes ... hes just the help!!! Just like in my eyes the senate /congress are the scum of the earth !! Bribe taking crooks ...
The only TV we get in Korea is AFN - and AFN airs Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNN World, BBC, etc... no shortage of information here.