Obama fires top general in Afghanistan war effort
By ANNE GEARAN
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama fired the top U.S. general in Afghanistan on Monday, replacing him with a former special forces commander in a quest for a more agile, unconventional approach in a war that has gone quickly downhill.
With the Taliban resurgent, Obama's switch from Gen. David McKiernan to Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal suggests the new commander in chief wants major changes along with the additional troops he's ordering into Afghanistan to shore up the war effort. McKiernan, on the job for less than a year, has repeatedly pressed for more forces. Although Obama has approved more than 21,000 additional troops this year, he has warned that the war will not be won by military means.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates echoed that view at a grim Pentagon news conference announcing the leadership overhaul. "As I have said many times before, very few of these problems can be solved by military means alone," he said. "And yet, from the military perspective, we can and must do better."
A new team of commanders will now be charged with applying Obama's revamped strategy for challenging an increasingly brutal and resourceful insurgency. The strategy, still a work in progress, relies on the kind of special forces and counterinsurgency tactics McChrystal knows well, as well as nonmilitary approaches to confronting the Taliban. It would hinge success in the 7-year-old war to political and other conditions across the border in Pakistan.
McKiernan, named to his post by former President George W. Bush, had expected to serve into next year but was told he was out during Gates' visit to Afghanistan last week.
Gates said he asked for McKiernan's resignation "with the approval of the president." The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, and McKiernan's military boss, Gen. David Petraeus, both said they supported the switch.
The White House said the recommended change came from the Pentagon.
"The president agreed with the recommendation of the secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the implementation of a new strategy in Afghanistan called for new military leadership," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
McChrystal is a former special forces chief credited with nabbing one of the most-wanted fugitives in Iraq. Taking a newly created No. 2 slot under his command will be Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, a veteran of the Afghanistan fight who has been Gates' military shadow, the top uniformed aide who travels with him everywhere.
In June 2006, Bush congratulated McChrystal for his role in the operation that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. As head of the special operations command, McChrystal's forces included the Army's clandestine counterterrorism unit, Delta Force.
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tc1 (anonymous) says...
"As head of the special operations command, McChrystal's forces included the Army's clandestine counterterrorism unit, Delta Force."
Now that is hope. When something has to be done and the enemy sets the rules these are the people that make it happen.
May 12, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
The President is clueless. He fired McKiernan because McKiernan was asking him to let him unleash hell on these dirtbags and he needs more troops to do that. Obama is taking us back to the Clintonite years where it was all talk and very little to no action. Obama doesnt think we can win militarily. His first mistake. He thinks we need to dialogue with these barbarians. Second mistake. What a lightweight!
May 12, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
Great move by Obama.
Understanding that a one-dimensional approach to guerrilla warfare won't succeed doesn't take a genius. Those lessons were learned in Vietnam, Afganistan (both in our war and the USSR's), and Iraq.
Gates is a shrewed and resourceful man. He knows that a massive, powerful military is only one of the outstanding advantages we have over these thugs.
It's about time we start using all of our resources to bring the Taliban down.
May 12, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
mosinfan: If actually did some rudimentary research you would know that General McChrystal is a sterling example of our Army's illustrious leadership. His background clearly reflects years of training and mission successes that warrant him being the logical choice for the job.
General McKiernan is also a highly decorated officer whose contribution to the mission is much appreciated.
There are times when a mission dictates a change in direction and hence leadership in order to be successful.
This is one such instance.
Secretary Gates is a President Bush appointee who's been asked by President Obama to continue to fight this inglorious fight.
So instead of the usual Obama-bashing pandering, how about you educate yourself about the article's main topic.
Perhaps then your comprehension of geo-political articles won't seem so limited.
May 12, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
why is it that when a General is replaced the news states he was fired---FIRED?---when I was in the military it was called a trnsfer to new duties----why always a negative bent
May 12, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CSHCHS (anonymous) says...
"Obama Fire Generals"
These juvenile headline grabbers written by an 8 year old get tiresome. These guys have spent their careers defending our butts and deserve better treatment.
May 12, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Hey how 'bout we just go back and forth between Iraq and Afghan for the next 20 or 30 years? Then just leave everything all FUBARED up like we always do.
Obama = change you can beleive in
May 12, 2009 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
who wants to pay an additional 3 cent tax on soda, gatorade, green tea and other sugar drinks to fund health care-----this proposal is in the US senate---is this the change we can believe in ---hidden taxes that stike at a families food, this will be a tax on those least able to afford it-.03 x 24 drinks = $.72 per case x 52 weeks = $37.44 per year---why stop at drinks why not every pastry also they contribute to obesity---oh heck let us also include sugary fruits---taxing food sources is a bad idea
May 12, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
Hey eyfigueroa, how bout doing a littel history research back to the Clinton years. I served during that time so I know of what i speak. Clinton didnt want to do anything in teh Balkans except maintain the status quo so he had his man Wesley Clark run things for him to a stalemate.
Airpower alone will not get rid of the vermin roaches...er that would be Taliban for you terrorist sympathizers. McKiernan has been howling for the ground footprint needed to eliminate and destroy the Taliban. Your man Obama wants to "talk" them to death. The guy is clueless and he's our President because clueless drone voters like you put him in office. We will reap the consequences of him now playing politics with the military in Afghanistan. Our guys will suffer. Been there and seen that. Here we go again.
May 12, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Numba -- No mo sugar for you, dude.
May 12, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
Numba10, when the average troop is moved he is replaced and reassisigned. When a 2 or 3 star general in command of a major operation is moved mid stream due to something other than his own retirement...it means he got Fired!
May 12, 2009 at 12:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
AFWALLY--to funny---
May 12, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
eyfigueroa, you need to also do a little political research on your own before you make asinine statements. Gates is still in the administration because he is a "Yes" man appointed by Bush after he got beat up for Rummy. Obama has surrouned himself with either far lefties or "Yes" men/women that the media hails as "moderates".
May 12, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
Battle weary troops + Deteriorating hardware and equipment + a regroped taliban with plenty of opium and heroin to sell + the wily chinese and russians fronting ammo and guns + Obama as POTUS = FUBAR
May 12, 2009 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
I'll leave the "rudimentary" research to drones like eyfigueroa. Folks that want to see the truth will recognize that talking to people that would blow themselves up around littel children to get at us is complete and utter folly. But that is what the left is good at. Check out todays homicide bomber attack in Afghanistan for some real research...genius.
May 12, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mosinfan (anonymous) says...
that would be "little children"...
May 12, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatMeWorry (anonymous) says...
mosinfan is incorrect about Gates. He is in no way a "Yes" man. Though I was not a fan of the Bush administration, I was very pleased with his choice of Gates.
Gates is intelligent, hardcore, and creative. His work as director of the CIA and president of Texas A&M show his breadth of talent and versatility. He says what's on his mind regardless of party politics and follows through with action.
I am not impressed by people in politics in general. But Gates is an exception.
May 12, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
So mosin by your sterling logic, the current situation in A-Stan is the same as the Balkans? Gotcha there hero.
So to prevent a situation like you "knew" of via word of mouth in the Balkans, the Pres on the advice of his Bush appointed SecDef, decides to put a general with stellar special warfare credentials in charge to maybe end this fiasco? Special Warfare will win this asymmetrical unconventional battlefield where regional politics play a pivotal role in operations. I guess we could stick with a career armor officer huh because the taliban/AQ have lotsa tanks?
I'm a recent veteran of the recent fiasco in Iraq and A-Stan. I also finished up contracting work last year in A-Stan and those MRAPS built here in Charleston sure looked new to me, bu then again you water cooler warriors enjoy gossip and putting others down to enhance your sad sense of self-worth. Feel better?
Maybe mosion or whatever your moniker is, you should do some mundane things like thinking before opening your trap.
I'm so glad to see all our "vets" on here are kinda hoping for a failure in A-Stan so what? You guys can wag your fingers? Frigging REMFs and HQ heroes without a clue. moisin and wally.
WhistlingDixie, well said.
May 12, 2009 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Okay mosinfan: You do not know me or have read ANY of my posts with any measure of reading comprehension or you would know that I'm NOT a drone but I'm also no full supporter of President Obama, not prior to his election or since.
So spare me your juvenile/ignorant attempts at insulting me. You're just showing your fellow posters your personal cognitive limitations.
And by the way, I served in the Army, 1st Armored Division in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Was not in the 'rear' and helped to capture POWs.
So spare me your feeble attempts at acting as if YOUR service (as admirable as it may have been) is some sort of validation for your posts.
Also, as AFWALLY mentioned (who I personally know to be an honorable veteran) Gates is no 'Yes Man'. Secretary Gates often disagreed with President Bush and he hasn't always lock stepped with President Obama either.
So keep on trying to extrapolate geo-political ramifications of our CURRENT Middle East policy with what the Clinton administration did AND your personal experiences in the Balkans. Ever heard the adage "Don't compare apples to oranges?"
Based on your posts here in the P&C you won't get too far. Especially if you continue to feel froggy and TRY to debate me on issues you're clearly not objectively able to.
So keep throwing out the insults.
If anyone is a drone it's you. You're buzzing around making the same noise all day everyday. Oblivious to what's actually going on around you. Fixated only what you perceive to be the truth. And when it seems you may be forced to deviate or hear/see the truth, you buzz angrily trying to sting.
If you continue to buzzing around me, I will swat you like I do the others who think to try to 'sting' me.
May 12, 2009 at 3:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AFWally (anonymous) says...
No REMF here gatorbait.....did a tour of duty in 21st NORAD and a tour on Habu....and I've done Intel work even recently, so you keep beleiving in the dream, bow before your POTUS and suck his toes....you might get lucky.
May 12, 2009 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Numba10 (anonymous) says...
eye--how do you capture a POW---I thot POW's were already captured---lol
May 12, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fyrefighter273 (anonymous) says...
mosinfan, you are not the only one who served, a lot of us did, we wore berets before some conventional marching in formation straight leg Sgt Major did it for morale. Afghanistan is not France in WWl it is a battle that requires the in depth use of SOF and the mindset they bring into the field. I never served (except for basic and ait) in any conventional unit in my career, and I hate to tell you but SOF can and will accomplish the mission without heavy divisions. We need to explore the options since some things are not going right there. Urgatorbait speaks wisdom in his post, general Westmoreland mentality is not going to work here. Gates is no yes man, like him or not Obama was elected, he is commander in chief, we are stuck with him. We are loosing ground in Afghanistan we cannot afford to pay for in blood again. I hate to tell you the Balkans mission profile and Afghanistan are not the same. Read stormin normans book see what he said about SOF in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Nor was the missions I served in (Grenadea, Panama, Desert Storm and Central America)the same as what we are looking at in central Asia today. Allow UW operators the opportunity to do their jobs, they don't want to be on TV or in the papers. Remember some guy named Hitler? He dispersed his troops all over the globe and would not listen to his generals, I hate to say this and do so with pain, Obama did listen to his SECDEF. Look for change in Afghanistan!
May 12, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
numba10 - I appreciate your attempt at correcting me. It gave me pause. That doesn't happen often on this site and I want to thank you. It would be more appropriate for me to say that under arms I escorted and guarded enemy combatants that tried to enter our perimeter. They were voluntarily presenting themselves for capture and were treated as POWs. Please use the appropriate terminology of your choosing.
"eyfigueroa when you post, do you look in the mirror and tell yourself how beautiful you think you are?"
HeHateMeBro Actually I don't normally tell myself something that I already know to be true.
However I will graciously tell you that I am beautiful, smart, funny, loving and caring. I'm superior in my chosen career path and a fantastic mother. I'm a fiscal conservative and a strong constitutionalist Libertarian who lives her life on the premise of truth, honor and the American way. I am the quintessential American success story.
I also have a MASSIVE ego!
After basking in the glow of my presence I'm sure you will have a Glorious day!
;-)
May 13, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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