Those shortcomings have a negative effect on morale throughout the organization and they cannot be tolerated. An officer in McChrystal's position has only one option: resign. Resign or be fired.
Some media outlets have wrung their hands over whether anyone can replace McChrystal. That is to be expected. MacArthur was irreplaceable too, until General Ridgeway replaced him. So was McClellan, until Lincoln replaced him, ultimatelywith the drunken, slovenly, and undistinguishedUlysses S. Grant.
There are something like 12 four-star and 50 three-star generals in the Army right now. If we can't find one of those people capable of taking over a field command, then the Army's has far bigger problems than General McChrystal's mouth. That situation would also tell us we have been getting hosed to the tune of $700 billion a year to support a military operation that can't fight a war.
(Or, to quote an old boss of mine, "If I wanted this job to get f*cked up, I'd have given it to somebody less expensive than you to f*ck it up for me.")
Obama should keep in mind the immortal words of Harry Truman, when he fired MacArthur: "I fired him because he didn't respect the authority of the President " I didn't fire him because he was a dumb son-of-a-b*tch, although he was, but that's not against the law for generals. If it was, half to three-quarters of them would be in jail."
McChrystal has got to go. He is apparently ready to resign. He should, and Obama should accept it.
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