McChrystal Has Already Lost His Reputation

By: David Martin
Topics: Afghanistan

(Credit: White House)

Aides to Gen. Stanley McChrystal say he wants to keep his job because he can't stomach the thought of abandoning the mission in mid race.

He met with Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mike Mullen this morning for 30 minutes and is waiting to be summoned to the White House. We won't know his fate for a few more hours, but whether or not he loses his command he has already lost something just as valuable to him - his reputation as a good soldier.

Inside the military, there is nothing unusual about exasperation with civilian leadership, which always has larger objectives than the battle in front of them, but displaying contempt runs counter to everything an officer is taught from the day he shows up at West Point.

No matter what happens, McChrystal will always be remembered for the Rolling Stone article the same way Monica Lewinsky will always be attached to Bill Clinton. Aides are still struggling to understand how he and his closest advisors could have been so indiscrete and disrespectful in the presence of a journalist.

Their only explanation is that they were grounded in Paris by ash from the volcano and let their game faces down. "We left the playing field and went into the locker room," one of them said.

More on McChrystal:

Pictures: General McChrystal and President Obama
Should McChrystal be Fired? Pundits Weigh In
Bluntness Got McChrystal Job; Will It Doom Him?
McChrystal, Staff Disparage Team Obama
Washington Unplugged: The Fallout
Gates: McChrystal Made a "Significant Mistake"
McChrystal Apologizes for Critical Remarks
CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

David Martin is CBS News' National Security Correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here.

David Martin
David Martin is CBS News' National Security Correspondent.

63 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 63 Comments

by dadirt June 23, 2010 2:06 PM EDT

McCrystal should run for Prsident! He is the hero, Obama is the goat! don't criticize the president when he is wrong? Bull. maybe sent Rohm to brake his leg next huh barry?

Reply to this comment


by adamsmo June 23, 2010 2:48 PM EDT: You don't know anything about proper military conduct, do you?

You probably don't even care about ethics, as an obvious Republican.


by superdem1 June 23, 2010 1:44 PM EDT: Britain kept changing it's Generals in the struggle to keep the American colonies. It didn't work, because the Americans dedicated to the revolution could fade into the woods and cities to strike another day. The British called the Sons of Liberty terrorists, but time was on our side, while the British had to support a large occupying army. The Afghans will never accept the American "mission" - we've been there ten years and we still cannot keep an Afghan force up and running. Why does anyone believe quelling the wild Afghan mountain people will protect America from terrorists ? The heart of that struggle beats in Palestine, and we do nothing to reverse our terrible policies there, or anywhere else. We act like nothing is connected, but it is.; Reply to this comment


by larrryshrine June 23, 2010 1:42 PM EDT: Patraus will replace McChrystal, according to NBC. Sorry about the spelling.; Reply to this comment

by uswarrior June 23, 2010 1:31 PM EDT

Mr Martin, GEN McChrystal has not lost any reputation with any of my peers, or any other Soldier I know. He is a respected leader and Warrior. He is a master of his trade, which is Soldiering. The Rolling Stone article and President Obama's reaction is an unnecessary distractor at the headshed and to our efforts against our enemies. What did GEN McChrystal do to deserve being relieved? He is not quoted in Rolling Stone disparaging the Commander in Chief. The GEN has never been insubordinate to his superiors. He is a supremely valuable General Officer, a master warfighter, tactician and strategist. If he is relieved only the Taliban will gain.

Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 June 23, 2010 1:42 PM EDT: By doing what he did, how he did it, McChristal has made himself a TRAITOR.


by nolongershocked June 23, 2010 4:15 PM EDT: Right "uswarrior" and if you truly were a warrior you would know that if you spoke out against McChrystal as he did his superiors, he would have your butt in a sling putting you on bread and water for a few days, taking away a strip or two, and missing half your paycheck by the time the 1st of the month came around. There is nothing worse than a "wanna be" military person impersonating those that are really out there doing the job. Get a real job, dude!


by lilbear925 June 23, 2010 1:30 PM EDT: The general has not blown his reputation -- he has lived up to it.; Reply to this comment


by larrryshrine June 23, 2010 1:19 PM EDT: by stevador39 June 23, 2010 12:42 PM EDT
Obama will lose this very quickly. After Herbert Hoover, and Jimmy Carter he is way down on the list of poor presidents.
-------

Actually, Obama is far better than a poor president. His current approval rating, according to the Gallup Poll, is 45 percent. His disapproval rating is 46 percent. It's a dead heat, folks. It may not be evident from the posts here, but Obama is popular with half the American population with an opinion. Reagan, that icon of the right, polled at about 46 percent at two years into his first term. Bush left office with a 34 percent rating, higher than only one president, Richard Nixon. Let's not let this get too skewed by the name calling, folks. This is just proof that the CBS forum is mainly peopled by right wingers, many of them overcome by hatred.; Reply to this comment


by jeffinpa1234 June 23, 2010 1:18 PM EDT: Fire them both and call it a day! The General was wrong in making the comments. The Commander In Chief failed to fully support the surge plans, delayed the decision for months and announced a pull out deadline awell in advance of when it made sense to do so thus compromising the safety of our troops. Both should be fired!; Reply to this comment

by JFK2112 June 23, 2010 1:06 PM EDT

"No matter what happens, McChrystal will always be remembered for the Rolling Stone article the same way Monica Lewinsky will always be attached to Bill Clinton."

You cant be serious...the guys a warrior, did black ops for 5 years in Iraq. As usual everyone is rushing to judgement...we don't have any proof that what was written in the article is even true.

Reply to this comment


by JFK2112 June 23, 2010 1:16 PM EDT: What are you talking about pub17...I said nothing about civilian control over the military. Frankly, I servered over 20 years and worked for both SECAF Sheila Widnall and F. Peters at the Pentagon. Maybe someone needs to shut their pie hole...


by USMC-Mom June 23, 2010 1:17 PM EDT: Due to what he did he has to go, but! As a mom I am thankful that he has spoking up at the same time I hope the "others" don't forget that these opinions have to stay inside their own very close circle.

Now the putting this General and Bill Clinton in the same sentence is BS. Sorry to this day when I see Clinton I still imagine a girl on her knees....When I see the General I see a man who gave up years to fight for us and who I think has done the best he could.

See all 5 Replies

by pinkkitteh June 23, 2010 12:54 PM EDT

I have more respect for him now, than I ever did in the past. Who doesn't get that we started losing wars as soon as congress decided they were in charge of running them? Hurts to hear, but they've all ended in quagmires and insurgent BS that we eventually pretend isn't happening... while we ...advance to the rear.

Reply to this comment


by troutfishyman June 23, 2010 1:16 PM EDT: Really? I hope someday you have employees, and that they disrespect you every day.


by superdem1 June 23, 2010 1:32 PM EDT: Congress IS in charge of wars, that's the Constitution. It's Presidents who didn't want to deal with all that "formality" who started getting us into wars that we cannot win. Presidents like George W. Bush, who attacked a nation for the actions of a single terrorist cell. This failure began right there. The Soviets had twice as many troops with no scruples how they were used, and they failed. The British failed twice, and Alexander the Great failed in Afghanistan. When you attempt the impossible, don't be surprised when you fail. Obama's mistake was to believe the fantasy that occupying Afghanistan buys America protection from terrorists - it doesn't, quite the opposite. More people hate America than ever before. Why you would respect a General who forgets his place and shoots his mouth off, I cannot comprehend.

by dadirt June 23, 2010 12:53 PM EDT

As far as I am concerned, he has helped his reputation. If he didn't have something to say about washington's backing, I would think he is just another butt kissing fed. He isn't getting what he needs from washington while washington takes polls, sides with the enemy while condeming our allies. All weakens our postion in the world, and gets our soldiers killed because we are more concerned about the enemy hating us than we are about protecting our soldiers.

Reply to this comment