06/22/10

A Rolling Stone profile of NATO-ISAF Commander General Stanley McChrystal, which contained derisive critiques of senior Obama administration officials by both the general and his aides, has touched off a furious controversy. McChrystal, after delivering a written apology, has been summoned to appear in person before the President to explain his comments.  Regardless of the outcome of that meeting, it is clear from McChrystal's own written statement that the comments in the piece reflected "poor judgment and should never have happened."  Additionally, up to this point, McChrystal has offered unequivocal support for the Administration's Afghanistan strategy and the process that informed its development. Specifically, in December, he stated that, "The Afghanistan-Pakistan review led by the President has provided me with a clear military mission and the resources to accomplish our task."  While some may be tempted to seize on this incident as evidence that the Obama Administration is not in sync with the military, statements from McChrystal, General Petraeus, Admiral Mullen, and Secretary Gates all confirm the Pentagon's full support for the administration's strategy in Afghanistan and the White House's leadership in its creation.

As developments related to General McChrystal's profile in Rolling Stone take shape, it is important to remind ourselves of one of our country's most important constitutional values: civilian control over the military and by extension, respect for the chain of command.  As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen affirmed last July, "The military must remain apolitical and must always observe, indeed hold sacred, the principle of civilian control of the military." Respecting the chain of command is essential to ensuring that policy is effectively defined, set, and executed.   Fortunately, experts, as well as commentators from across the aisle have come forward expressing strong support for this most cherished value. As more news emerges related to this incident and as opinions form, Americans on all sides of the political spectrum must continue to keep this tenet of our democracy at the forefront of their minds.

McChrystal profile in Rolling Stone criticizing the Commander-in-Chief's team - but not its Afghanistan policy - draws furor of the White House. "An angry President Obama summoned his top commander in Afghanistan to Washington on Tuesday after a magazine article portrayed the general and his staff as openly contemptuous of some senior members of the Obama administration." The article, a profile of General McChrystal, appearing in Rolling Stone Magazine "shows General McChrystal or his aides talking in sharply derisive terms" about Obama administration figures involved in implementing the President's Afghanistan strategy, reported the Times. McChrystal appeared to joke about Vice-President Joe Biden, a known skeptic of counterinsurgency, saying "Are you asking about Vice President Biden...Who's that?" A McChrystal advisor responded, "Biden? Did you say: Bite me?" Another aide called White House National Security Adviser Jim Jones, a retired four star general, a "clown" who was "stuck in 1985."  McCrystal and his aides also criticized U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Retired General Karl Eikenberry, as well as Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.  In a statement highlighted by the New York Times, McChrystal apologized for his remarks, "I extend my sincerest apology for this profile...It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened. Throughout my career, I have lived by the principles of personal honor and professional integrity. What is reflected in this article falls far short of that standard." His statement continued: "I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team, and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome."

Several reporters have noted that despite the controversy surrounding the piece, the statements from McChrystal and his aides feature almost no substantive critiques of the Obama administration's Afghanistan policy.  Writing for the New York Times, Dexter Filkins notes that "the article does not mention any serious policy differences with Mr. Obama, who chose General McChrystal to take charge of a major escalation of American troops and materiel, in hopes of reversing the deteriorating situation here." And Washington Independent reporter Spencer Ackerman observed:  "The amazing thing about it is there's no complaints from McChrystal or his staff about the administration on any substantive ground. After all, McChrystal and his allies won the argument within the White House." Indeed, after the President completed his review of U.S. policy toward Afghanistan last December, McChrystal released a statement saying "The Afghanistan-Pakistan review led by the President has provided me with a clear military mission and the resources to accomplish our task." [NY Times, 6/22/10. Rolling Stone, 7/8-22/10. Attackerman, 6/22/10. NATO-ISAF Commander's Statement, 12/2/09]

Comments from McChrystal, aides come months after both he and other senior military leaders affirmed their support for administration's strategy. At nearly every turn, McChrystal and his superiors at the Pentagon have expressed their full support for the strategy chosen by the White House for Afghanistan. For example, General McChrystal testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee following the President's roll-out of his strategy for Afghanistan, saying, "The President's decision rapidly resources our strategy, recognizes that the next 18 months will likely be decisive, and ultimately, enables success. I fully support the President's decision.  The President has also reiterated how this decision supports our national interests. Rolling back the Taliban is a pre‐requisite to the ultimate defeat of al‐Qaeda.  The mission is not only important; it is also achievable.  We can and will accomplish this mission."

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates:  "The president believes, as do I, that, in the end, we cannot defeat Al Qaeda and its toxic ideology without improving and stabilizing the security situation in Afghanistan.   The president's decision offers the best possibility to decisively change the momentum in Afghanistan, and fundamentally alter the strategic equation in Pakistan and Central Asia - all necessary to protect the United States, our allies, and our vital interests."  [Secretary Gates via SASC hearing, 12/2/09]

Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:  "I support fully, and without hesitation, the President's decision."  [Admiral Mullen via SFRC hearing, 12/3/09]

General Petraeus, Commander of Central Command:  "Let me state upfront that I fully support the policy President Obama announced at West Point last week." [General Petraeus via SFRC hearing, 12/9/09]

James Fallows wrote on how the military's support for the strategy set by the administration is likely to confound the White House in the wake of the release of the Rolling Stone piece. "The notion that the White House isn't fully supportive of the strategy bewilders them [White House officials]," wrote Fallows. "Obama, in their estimation, went out of his way to give McChrystal everything he asked for and has backed him by adjusting his diplomatic efforts to accommodate the vacillations of the Karzai government. Indeed, McChrystal is viewed with affection by some of Obama's top aides..." [General McChrystal, 12/8/09. The Atlantic, 06/22/10]

Experts and commentators from across the political spectrum recognize that the president is Commander in Chief. As the controversy unfolds, claims of insubordination and calls for resignation have appeared.  While developments are still unfolding, people from across the political spectrum have recognized that the President is Commander-in-Chief.  As General Colin Powell, former National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State told the President regarding his wartime decision making: "You're the commander-in-chief and this is what you were elected for."

Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC and Joe Lieberman: "We have the highest respect for General McChrystal and honor his brave service and sacrifice to our nation.  General McChrystal's comments, as reported in Rolling Stone, are inappropriate and inconsistent with the traditional relationship between Commander-in-Chief and the military.  The decision concerning General McChrystal's future is a decision to be made by the President of the United States." [Statement by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC and Joe Lieberman, 6/22/10]

Jim Geraghty writes in the conservative magazine, the National Review: "Many people I know think highly of McChrystal, and he has earned his accolades. But a general in the American armed forces cannot, on the record, mock or deride the vice president and the U.S. ambassador, much less the president of the United States. You and I can; we're just some schmoes; we don't report to him in the chain of command. I'm sure many generals have thought many colorful expressions of criticism toward presidents over the years, but they cannot blab them to reporters." [The National Review, 6/22/10]

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "Sen. John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told MSNBC that McChrystal showed "bad judgment" in making the comments, but deflected questions on whether the general should step down, saying that was a decision for Obama and McChrystal." [The Hill, 6/22/10]

George Stephanopoulos reminds the public that the president is in charge: "A tough meeting is likely, reminiscent of the first time Obama ordered McChrystal to the woodshed - last October after the General appeared to diss Vice President Biden and limit the President's ability to make a decision in a London speech." [George Stephanopoulos, 6/22/10]

Gregg Carlstrom, a Middle East analyst and correspondent: "I don't want to sound naive, because clearly war has a political dimension. But this profile fits the pattern established with McChrystal's London speech in October and the leaking of his strategy review: he's determined to push the administration into a corner on Afghanistan strategy. Whether or not this fits the legal definition of insubordination -- McChrystal is overstepping his boundaries vis-a-vis civil-military relations." [Gregg Carlstrom, The Majils, 6/22/10]

[Colin Powell, via ABC News,11/11/09]

What We're Reading

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Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he sees the U.S.-Japan security alliance as a crucial means of maintaining the balance of power in Asia, where the economic and military rise of China looms large.

Britain's finance minister George Osborne said the country's economy will grow more slowly than previously envisaged this year and next as a result of fiscal tightening but will subsequently pick up speed.

China has taken its first step towards honoring a pledge to let the exchange rate of its currency float more freely.

A Senate report says Haiti has made little progress in rebuilding in the five months since its earthquake, because of an absence of leadership, disagreements among donors, and general disorganization.

New mining in Zimbabwe has quickly yielded millions of carats of diamonds and could help catapult the nation into the ranks of the world's top diamond producers, but could also tighten on power held by the country's authoritarian leader, Robert Mugabe.

Floods have engulfed two states in north-east Brazil, leaving about 1,000 people missing and forcing at least 100,000 to flee their homes.

Iraq's electricity minister has offered his resignation after violent protests in several cities over power shortages.

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