Stanley McChrystal to lead WH initiative to help military families

AP

The White House has invited retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former top U.S. general in Afghanistan who was relieved of duty last year after making derisive comments about the Obama administration, to help lead a new initiative to support military servicemen and their family, a White House official confirms to CBS News.

McChrystal will lead a three-member advisory board for Joining Forces, an initiative that encourage all sectors of society -- citizens, communities, businesses, non-profits, faith based institutions, philanthropic organizations and government -- to support military families.

President Obama relieved the general of his duty as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan last year after a scathing Rolling Stone article was released in which McChrystal and members of his staff bad-mouthed the administration. McChrystal told the New York Times on Sunday that his new role in this White House initiative should prove there are no hard feelings between the nation's civilian and military leaders.

"We can prove it's about something bigger," he said. "It sends a strong, positive message that this is about taking care of our people."

McChrystal will join First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden at the White House Tuesday to officially launch the initiative, according to the White House. Mrs. Obama and Biden will then set out on a two-day national tour to visit examples of communities and businesses that are supporting military families. The initiative aims to reconnect servicemen to their communities and builds upon the president's directive to establish a comprehensive federal approach to supporting military families.

In an email statement, the Times reports, Mrs. Obama said McChrystal "will be a unique and powerful advocate for the millions of Americans who serve our country selflessly."

[Karl_Magnus]

This is simply bizarre.
The good General was relieved of his command, yet he was allowed to keep the fourth star that went with the position. Methinks that POTUS Slappy is trying in some small way to conduct a do-over ... Perhaps knowing that Gen. McChrystal is no political threat - yet.
I hope the good General, and I mean that sincerely, is double-dipping in a BIG $$ way. As a former "snake-eater", I'm sure he knows how to stifle the gag reflex when he gets together with the old ladies who, let's face it, are trying to attach themselves to a good and patriotic cause for political purposes.
Give 'em hell, General!
That's a man's man: Willing to do everything he can for his troops despite the nauseating nature of his partners.

~(?)~

[LotsaHelpingHands]

We applaud The Administration's commitment to our nation's military families and want to share a resource that is already providing support to many families - whether experiencing deployment or challenges related to injuries upon arrival home. Called Lotsa Helping Hands, our service provides an immediate way for our nation's military families, and those wishing to support them, to create a private web-based community to organize well-meaning offers of help with those daily tasks that become a challenge during times of medical crisis and caregiver exhaustion. The service includes an intuitive group calendar for scheduling meals, rides and other daily activities that provide respite for the family as well as community sections (well wishes, blogs, photos) that provide emotional support. We created Lotsa Helping Hands to answer the question "what can I do to help?" - I hope readers find it helpful in their caregiving journey.

[charken22]

As a 22 year Army Spouse who endured the countless deployments of my late husband SFC Kenneth Westbrook to many lands across this world, I know first hand the hardship and courage it takes to be a first rate patriotic military family. I also know the sacrifice and honorable commitment that goes along with being a military family in waiting... waiting for a loved one to return from yet another combat tour. This was not meant to be for our family... my husband a 22 year Army NCO with many years of combat experience did not survive the wounds he received while involved in an ambush on September 8, 2009 in the Ganjgal Valley of Afghanistan that killed 4 US Service Members; Marine Gunnery SGT's Edwin Johnson and Aaron Kenefick, 1st Lieutenant Michael Johnson and Navy Corpsman 3rd Class James Layton. Many patriotic families were affected that very sad day. These brave men who gave the ultimate sacrifice died under the watch and rules of General McChrystal who issued the ROE restrictions on the use of military force to reduce the risk of further alienating the population. "Tying our Warfighter's hands behind their backs is past unsatisfactory&it's criminal!" [Colonel Wayne Morris, USMC (Ret)]. McChrystal had countless brave men and women sacrifice their very safety under HIS VERY watch. My husband and the brave men who unnecessarily died that day died due to McChrystal's ROE. Ken and the brave men were left and abandoned to die under McChrystal's command and three Army officers were responsible for their deaths by following the orders of McChrystal's ROE. Now appointing him to an advisory board to "help" military families has and will only add salt to an unbearable wound that HE has caused myself and our three sons! I am appalled that the Obama's have the gall to appoint this cowardly man to spit into the faces of our Fallen Service Members who gave the ultimate sacrifice all while claiming to "help" military families. Where is the shame and outcry of this atrocity! Does he think this will help him sleep at night? Shame on the Obama's!

[brookskenny]

We applaud The Administration's commitment to our nation's military families and want to share a resource that is already providing support to many families - whether experiencing deployment or challenges related to injuries upon arrival home. Called Lotsa Helping Hands, our service provides an immediate way for our nation's military families, and those wishing to support them, to create a private web-based community to organize well-meaning offers of help with those daily tasks that become a challenge during times of medical crisis and caregiver exhaustion. The service includes an intuitive group calendar for scheduling meals, rides and other daily activities that provide respite for the family as well as community sections (well wishes, blogs, photos) that provide emotional support. We created Lotsa Helping Hands to answer the question "what can I do to help?" - I hope readers find it helpful in their caregiving journey.

[brookskenny]

We applaud The Administration's commitment to our nation's military families and want to share a resource that is already providing support to many families - whether experiencing deployment or challenges related to injuries upon arrival home. Called Lotsa Helping Hands, our service provides an immediate way for our nation's military families, and those wishing to support them, to create a private web-based community to organize well-meaning offers of help with those daily tasks that become a challenge during times of medical crisis and caregiver exhaustion.
The service includes an intuitive group calendar for scheduling meals, rides and other daily activities that provide respite for the family as well as community sections (well wishes, blogs, photos) that provide emotional support. We created Lotsa Helping Hands to answer the question "what can I do to help?" - We hope readers find it helpful in their caregiving journey.

[chunkymutt]

My father was a conservative who voted Democrat his entire life. He believed that Democrates gave him the most for his vote. My father died broke, I had to pay for his burial, pay for his funeral, pay to have our family eat a meal and drink to his memory. The funny this is, that even if my father had been a conservative who voted Republican his entire life, we would have still died broke. There is no difference between Republicans who cut such a small amount of debt, (and then all high five each other) or Democrats who think that they fooled the Republicans and American people by having Planned Parenthood Provide other services to women (including abortion) so they can fund abortion with government money. There is no difference, we're screwed. Too many idiots running around looking for handouts, and too many jerks paying for them...it seems that this jerk is no longer having to pay for that dead Irish Democrat, unfortunalty, Obama has replaced him with 4 illegal hispanics.