McChrystal most likely on the way out..

[Zachstar]

And if flares had started the smallest of fires somehow the Taliban would surely enhance to use to make it seem that the US is attacking civvies again. Because of the times we did so and tried to cover it up. Its very hard to trust...

That is why drones are SO SO SO much better for this role. They are so quiet and so long ranged that they can make ABSOLUTELY sure they are attacking a bad guy and have the whole thing on tape clear as day which wards off pressure and scares the hell out of the enemy.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by thorn69

Couldn't be any worse than Obama calling that rap guy awhile back a "jackass" in the media behind his back or comparing his own bowling game to those of mentally retarded children in the Special Olympics - especially when it's not his bowling game that makes him look retarded.

What does that have anything to do with the comments a military general made?

Oh and careful about the "jackass" note. Almost everyone agreed with him and actually made him more popular for a time. The jackass deserved it and admitted he deserved the comment from the president.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Originally Posted by thorn69

Couldn't be any worse than Obama calling that rap guy awhile back a "jackass" in the media behind his back

Actually I agreed with him on that, Kanye West is a bit an arse. Also Kanye's not Obama's higher-up.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

What does that have anything to do with the comments a military general made?

Oh and careful about the "jackass" note. Almost everyone agreed with him and actually made him more popular for a time. The jackass deserved it and admitted he deserved the comment from the president.

I agree the rapper was a jackass to that girl but I didn't need the president to slam him in the media for it. That was Obama just trying to gain some popularity amongst most people who felt the same way about the rapper. I'm not sure about you but I have a big problem with the president using his seat to throw around personal insults at common US citizens. Obama is in the job of public service. I find it far worse for people in positions of trust using their authority to go around attacking common citizens. He's certainly not a king and is certainly not a reincarnation of Christ. He's just a public servant that was elected by a bunch of misinformed sheeple.

[Skybird]

http://sundance.bside.com/2010/films...o_sundance2010

http://festival.sundance.org/2010/bl...hers_restrepo/

Der Spiegel had a German essay about it today, describing it as a very good but depressing movie showing the human suffering in the soldiers and contrasting that with the meaninglessness of their fight. If Spiegel International has it in English in the coming days, I'll ring the bell.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

And if flares had started the smallest of fires somehow the Taliban would surely enhance to use to make it seem that the US is attacking civvies again. Because of the times we did so and tried to cover it up. Its very hard to trust...

That is why drones are SO SO SO much better for this role. They are so quiet and so long ranged that they can make ABSOLUTELY sure they are attacking a bad guy and have the whole thing on tape clear as day which wards off pressure and scares the hell out of the enemy.

Yea about those drones... last I heard they werent to fond of those either.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ne-protest-va/

Woops .... heh link for LOL's

]This story first appeared at Inter Press Service.[/I]
WASHINGTON, Jun 3, 2010 (IPS) - Some CIA officers involved in the agency's drone strikes programme in Pakistan and elsewhere are privately expressing their opposition to the programme within the agency, because it is helping al Qaeda and its allies recruit, according to a retired military officer in contact with them

Here is the right link

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0603/dis...drone-strikes/

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by thorn69

I agree the rapper was a jackass to that girl but I didn't need the president to slam him in the media for it. That was Obama just trying to gain some popularity amongst most people who felt the same way about the rapper. I'm not sure about you but I have a big problem with the president using his seat to throw around personal insults at common US citizens. Obama is in the job of public service. I find it far worse for people in positions of trust using their authority to go around attacking common citizens. He's certainly not a king and is certainly not a reincarnation of Christ. He's just a public servant that was elected by a bunch of misinformed sheeple.

Have a read of the 1st Amendment and note Obama is a civilian.

The Obama christ thing again? So 2008

[Skybird]

Claims on mineral wealth a PR trick?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...701854,00.html

The announcement of huge mineral deposits in Afghanistan was a coup for both the US and the Afghan governments. But there are doubts about how realistic the estimates are, to what extent they can be developed commercially and, above all, whether mining companies will accept the security risks.

Was the "sensational find" of large natural mineral resources in Afghanistan reported by the New York Times last week a PR trick by the United States government? Or was it a clever chess move by Afghan Mining Minister Waheedullah Shahrani?



Both had good reason to announce the surprising news. US President Barack Obama is lobbying Congress for a further $33 billion for the military mission in Afghanistan, so the reference to Afghanistan's "stunning potential," as General David Petraeus, the head of US Central Command, put it, comes at a highly convenient time.


Shahrani had some time ago scheduled a meeting with around 200 foreign investors in London for this coming Friday to receive bids for the development of Afghan deposits. But most of the finds reported by the Americans have been known for decades.

The main news is that the deposits are significantly greater than had been thought to date. Shahrani last Thursday exceeded the Americans' claims, saying he thought their estimates were too conservative and trippling the value of the mineral deposits to $3 trillion.

Even if those close to President Hamid Karzai say the timing was pure coincidence, they are already beginning to assess the advantages the natural resources could bring to the region.

"The deposits could be the future negotiating asset with our neighbors," said one official, who declined to be named. "With these resources we can play diplomatic ping pong -- we must now divide up the huge opportunities between the Afghans and the neighbors."

Difficult Access



Still, Afghanistan won't grow into a world-leading raw materials exporter as quickly as Petraeus is claiming. For example, the Hajigak iron ore deposit in central Afghanistan -- supposedly the largest untapped reserve in Asia -- being discussed in London this week is located close to a pass with an altitude of 3,700 meters (12,139 feet), and so far no one knows how the ore could be transported from there.


China has promised to build a railway over the Hindu Kush mountain range, but has not yet laid out any firm plans to do so. And the development of the copper mine in Aynak, for which Chinese state company MCC acquired the rights in 2007, is progressing only slowly.

The issue of security is even more difficult. David Beatty, head of Canadian mining company Rio Novo Gold, said: "Would I send a team to Kandahar? And then call a guy's wife after he gets shot? No."

[Zachstar]

According to various rumors he has handed in his resignation. Good that ought to be minimal for destroying morale among his command by mocking a superior.

If he had just waited till he resigned he would be as free to do as he wants he could sit on fox news and whine all day.

Of course Fox will try to have him on day after day and of course job offerings but like Palin this will peter out as well.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

According to various rumors he has handed in his resignation. Good that ought to be minimal for destroying morale among his command by mocking a superior.

And you assume that morale is derived from respect for the chain of command? In such a perfect world, I'd derive more morale from the approachable princesses riding unicorns.

I'm joking, of course. Respect for the chain of command is essential, and it plays a very important part in morale, but it is very rare to see an officer who can manage respect, performance, and troop morale. Show of hands from the military guys here. How many of you had what you would consider "good" officers more than half of the time?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know whether Gen. McChrystal is a good leader, but I can say for certain that his removal for political reasons will be bad for morale. If there's one thing that troops hate more than being led by an idiot, it's being led by an idiot who is led by an idiot. If what I've heard first-hand thus far is any basis, Obama is pretty unpopular amongst the troops anyway. Assuming that is true, most servicemembers would take offense at the General's removal.

Perhaps I can make the point more clear. The worst thing to happen in a combat situation is to be attacked from an unexpected direction. Even the most elite troops will rarely weather such a thing, hence the importance of flanking. If McChrystal is removed, the troops will feel both outflanked and unable to do anything about it. Worse, they will think (whatever the case may be) that it is for unrelated political reasons, and troops hate dying for unrelated political reasons.

The fact that this situation occurred is bad enough already. Let's hope that it does not become worse.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

According to various rumors he has handed in his resignation. Good that ought to be minimal for destroying morale among his command by mocking a superior.

If he had just waited till he resigned he would be as free to do as he wants he could sit on fox news and whine all day.

Of course Fox will try to have him on day after day and of course job offerings but like Palin this will peter out as well.

Well that would be one pretty short reign. I remember reading McChrystal's introduction from Newsweek or Time just recently.

It was this one.

Oh well.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

I don't know whether Gen. McChrystal is a good leader, but I can say for certain that his removal for political reasons will be bad for morale.

When I was in the military, it was my observations that the workers in the military care little about Generals. One is about as good/bad as another. Managerially and from a leadership standpoint, Generals are fungible... they come and they go and the workers keep on working the mission.

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by August

You nailed it Zach.

A Sergeant doesn't bitch about the Captain to the Privates, a Captain doesn't complain about the Colonel to his Sergeants and a General damn sure shouldn't complain about the Commander in Chief, at least not publicly.

While I think you're right, I don't doubt that McChrystal was completely aware of that as well.

As has been stated, I think he's just fed up. I've worked for plenty of completely incompetent bosses in my life, and once I was resigned to my ultimate fate, I never once felt the need to restrain myself.

Obama's administration has been nothing but incompetent, and their decisions would ultimately reflect poorly on the general. So he essentially flipped them off on the way out the door to a nice pension and some lofty senior private position.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

Have a read of the 1st Amendment and note Obama is a civilian.

The Obama christ thing again? So 2008

He's still serving the people of this nation in a public office. He's a servant of the people, by the people, for the people just like a police officer is. He was on duty and talking bad about another citizen. If I did that (I'm a cop btw) what do you think would happen to me? Suspended for 30 days minimum, terminated maximum. Either way, I'd be at home more! Hmmm, I could use a little break to play SH5 some more! That settles it then... The next person I pull over, I'm calling them a "jackass"!

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Platapus

When I was in the military, it was my observations that the workers in the military care little about Generals. One is about as good/bad as another. Managerially and from a leadership standpoint, Generals are fungible... they come and they go and the workers keep on working the mission.

Seriously. Generals are closer akin to politicians anyway for the most part. Just a whole lot of brass and hot air. They come, they go, like a breeze, and so far up the food chain, as to become meaningless in your day to day life.

I think the most meaning a general brought to my existance, was if they came up with a really stupid idea. I think "McPeak" should be entered into the USAF lexicon of unutterable profanity. The ideas that clown had for uniforms is a freaking joke.

edit:
BTW, i think this is the article in question, i'm not sure:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/119236