Thoughts of Obama from Bama

Week 74: Obama’s MacArthur?

“I fired MacArthur because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the president. I didn’t fire him because he was a dumb son of a bitch, although he was."
Harry S. Truman

Abe Lincoln had to deal with Major General George McClellan, Commander of Union Forces and the Army of the Potomac. The good General’s refusal to take the fight to Lee’s Rebels in Virginia in defiance of the President’s constant pleading, cajoling and orders combined with his public insubordination finally forced Lincoln to unceremoniously relieve McClellan of command.

General McClellan’s refusal to engage delayed the Yankee’s victory in the War for Southern Independence by at least a year or two costing both sides thousands in additional casualties.

General Douglas MacArthur, a brilliant military genius and inspirational leader repeatedly publicly defied President Truman during the last days of WWII and the initial stages of the conflict in Korea. Truly a legend in his own time, and in his own mind, MacArthur eventually pushed it too far and “Give em Hell” Harry was just tickled pink to remove the General from his command.

During Week 74 of the train wreck known as the Obama Presidency the far leftwing rag the Rolling Stone published an expose on General Stanley McChrystal, our Commander of US and Allied Forces in Afghanistan. Based on comments quoted in the article it doesn’t seem the General and his staff thinks to highly of our Commander-in-Chief or his Advisors.

This serious breach of Military ethics won the General a free trip to the Presidential woodshed for an old fashion, foot stomping, raised voices, gather at the river, come to Jesus (or in President Obama’s case Mohammad) gathering.

What possessed this highly decorated elite group of fighting men to speak with such candor within earshot of Rolling Stone remains a mystery. What’s not a mystery is the disdain and contempt these gentlemen have for their civilian bosses.

Following are a few quotes from the article:

• Views on the President
• The Rolling Stone article described the general's first one-on-one meeting with Obama as awkward, leaving the reader with the impression that the president did not come prepared.
• An adviser to McChrystal was quoted calling the meeting a "10-minute photo-op."
• The adviser continued: "Obama clearly didn't know anything about him, who he was. Here's the guy who's going to run his f---ing war, but he didn't seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed."
• McChrystal personally commented on the three-month review period last year during which Obama and his advisers charted a new strategy in Afghanistan. "I found that time painful," McChrystal said. "I was selling an unsellable position."
• Vice President Biden
• "Are you asking about Vice President Biden? Who's that?" McChrystal said, laughing.
An adviser chimed in: "Biden? Did you say: Bite Me?"
• James Jones, National Security Advisor
• An aide was quoted calling the retired four-star general a "clown" who is "stuck in 1985."

So, is this Obama’s MacArthur? Not even close. Not in the same zip code, area code or ballpark. Lincoln and Truman had extremely difficult decisions. Obama was confronted with a no brainer, a proverbial piece of baklava.

Consider the following:

1. McClellan was Commander of all Union forces; MacArthur was Supreme Commander of all Forces in the Pacific; McChrystal is our Commanding General fighting Islamic Jihadist in Afghanistan. An important position but somewhat insignificant in comparison.
2. Preserving the Union was in the balance for Lincoln and McClellan; Truman and MacArthur were saving the world from tyrannical dictatorship and Communism; Obama doesn’t have a clue who he’s fighting or what for and McChrystal’s surge in Afghanistan doesn’t exactly rise to same threat level as the two previously mentioned conflicts.
3. Both McClellan and MacArthur were high profile; well connected; greatly revered; and extremely popular with the general public. With all due respect outside of the Military and DC insider circles General McChrystal is an unknown commodity relatively speaking.
4. In the final analysis Presidents Lincoln and Truman demonstrated great courage, wisdom, leadership and command qualities releasing two iconic Generals, especially in MacArthur’s case, of their commands. In comparison the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue made far too much of a routine decision that was blown totally out of proportion by the 24 hour news cycle and the President’s adoring dominions in the media elite press corps.

At the same News Conference confirming McChrystal’s early departure the President announced he was being replaced by General David Petraeus, one of our most experienced, capable and successful Commanders. Actually a smart move but hailed as brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant by every leftwing, pinheaded, liberal commentator and reporter desperate to build their man up who’s poll numbers and perceived competence have been in free fall for months.

Typical to form, President Obama, who would gladly take a good ass kicking before giving W credit for anything, and the far left media elite press failed to mention that Petraeus was W’s handpicked boy to implement the surge strategy in Iraq. Even more curious is the deafening silence about the vicious public verbal assault inflicted on Petraeus by former Senators Obama, Biden and Clinton about his role leading the surge strategy.

The three Senators who were all presidential candidates at the time openly mocked and scolded the General accusing him of lying to Congress, fabricating data and of being guilty of war crimes. Our future Secretary of State Hillary “Sarge” Clinton had this to say about the good General, "I think that the reports that you provide to us really require the willing suspension of disbelief."

Hopefully General Petraeus’ acceptance of this position came with strings attached. A free hand with no Presidential interference; no lectures from Joe “Bite Me” Biden; and no visits from Hillary and her butt ugly pants suits. We can only hope for the sake of the mission and victory in Afghanistan the President stepped out of character and had the good sense to make such a deal.

I am, “American by Birth and Southern by the Grace of God”

Ron W. Garikes