Simple Story

Before I go check out all the news site reviews and pundits punditing I wanted to say, "YES!"

I just got back from the LA Rally for Sanity where they had a big screen set up and some great sound so we could watch the rally with other rallyers who couldn't make it to DC. Really what I have to say about it can be summed up pretty simply.

It makes me proud to be an American.

If America was like a High School then the Rally for Sanity was the revenge of the nerds... The media is like the popular jocks and cheerleaders who are more interested in popularity (ratings) than any sort of truth -- and they'll say anything to be popular.

Being reasonable is boring... That's why the news is boring, it should be boring! CNN didn't lose to Fox news because Fox is better at news, but because they are better at saying what the popular kids say! Now everyone wants to be the popular kid and we see the result.

Thank you Jon Stewart. Thank you Stephen Colbert. Thank you those people who work for and believe in those gentleman who got out there mad as hell and let it rip.... if "rip" means "with good humor and charm calmly pointed out some of the absurd extremism currently operating within this system."


So in that spirit of being reasonable and sane.

Thanks, thanks to everyone who dares to be boring -- thanks for taking a stand so I know that I'm not... that we're not alone. That is what makes the United States of America the greatest nation upon this planet.

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This whole shebang with President Obama and General McCrystal is somewhat interesting for what isn't being reported.

Now, I'm all for a little reasoned supposition but that is all this is.

McCrystal quitted himself. There was no way he believed that he could hold those opinions about his Commander out in public and not severely jeopardize his position. Unlike politics, you don't get to be a General in charge by being a complete moron. He is a highly educated, highly skilled, professional solider. So why did he quit?

I think if we accept that he is skilled and intelligent then we cannot accept he'd nonchalantly rub his boss the wrong way. You have to understand that in the military disagreement is acceptable. Questioning your superiors, acceptable and even desirable. BUT ... in the right forum. You don't question the mission, your commanders or allies in a public venue (or a venue that is likely to be public). This guy was in command of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command, that's all the secret black ops for the military and all of a sudden he doesn't know when to keep his trap shut?

I just don't buy it. People are stupid, yes, they can make foolish mistakes, especially when they feel invulnerable but he had to know there'd be severe consequences to him and his team disparaging the civilian elements (Even if he is absolutely right in his disparagement, that's irrelevant).

So... what if we were to pitch this -- after the Holbrooke telegram scandal he realized that his mission was a failure. There was no way he was going to succeed as long as the civilian elements weren't supporting what needs to be done. So, what do you do? Allow a reporter to join your entourage and speak frankly -- knowing full well that the consequences may be dire for you personally but as far as the effort, the war, they might be profoundly helpful.

The two basic outcomes were him being fired or him keeping his job and other adjustments being made.

I don't know McCrystal, I haven't studied him as a man, I don't know if he was a strategist of this level but I think it's far more probable than him being an idiot. Obama has also learned a few valuable lessons -- first, "get your shit together" -- he needs everyone to be on the same page. It is HIS, President Obama's, leadership that failed here -- no one else. He should have vetted McCrystal better or changed the mission to make McCrystal do what the civilians were doing.

A good leader would have never let the situation get this bad to begin with. He would have called up McCrystal and worked out the problems earlier or he would have made the necessary adjustments or he would have laid down the law about what he expected from McCrystal and let him resign if he couldn't deliver.

Let's hope Obama comes to terms with that because otherwise we're in for a bumpy road. He isn't a Senator anymore, he doesn't need to build coalitions sometimes. Sometimes he needs to make them through issuing orders.

I've stopped listening to Obama's words lately because I'm looking for something else. I'm looking for his actions. Then I'll look to his words to explain those actions. As of late, all I've seen is inaction and if McCrystal teaches Obama anything, it's that action is required.

In that way, McCrystal, wittingly or un-so may be the best thing to happen to President Obama.

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