Those of us who understand guys like Obama were not surprised when General Mcchrystal, the Commander in Afghanistan who was handpicked for the job earlier this year, revealed on 60 Minutes that he has spoken to our "Commander in Chief" exactly one time in 70 days. Others who originally thought Obama was actually a leader are now having second thoughts.
Well Obama knew he had been exposed and this revelation was damaging so what did he do today? He invited the General to meet with him on Air Force One for...... drum roll please..... 25 minutes!
Yes our young King is a cool guy and a quick study isn't he? Imagine, the General sent a report last month saying the war is going badly and we may lose this thing if additional troops are not sent soon. And yet Obama is able to wait for over a month and then meet with General Mcchrystal for a mere 25 minutes to grasp the whole situation. Pretty impressive, don't you think?
That is unless he is actually an arrogant airhead who knows absolutely nothing about leadership and is willing to let the clock tick while our young military members are being killed.... his spokesman says they are going to "study" this for a few more weeks. Yes, I guess he didn't realize this war thing would be so important when he was running for office and apparently still doesn't.
A real leader would be meeting through teleconferences and in person with his top military staff, to include General Mcchrystal, on at least a weekly basis and probably more often than that in a situation like this until a decision is made on the General's request for more troops.
Instead we got a 25 Minute Joke from Obama today all done to blunt criticism that he is not meeting with the key military leader on a regular basis when the war is going in the tank. And by the way, don't give me any nonsense about hiding behind the skirt of his Secretary of Defense citing "chain of command". This is an excuse from a man who knows nothing about the military or war and is trying to avoid it even though his position description says he is in charge of the military.
General Mcchrystal I've got some advice for you. Tell this airhead you are a busy man who is trying to keep our young soldiers from being killed and the war from being lost.
Explain to him in no uncertain times you have no time for photo ops or other butt saving exercises on his part. And he must understand that you are not about to take long trips out of theatre for 25 minute meetings..... or as I call it a 25 Minute Joke.
Tell him that when he is serious about being briefed on what is going on there you will be happy to give him that briefing. If you don't consider this to be reasonable or satisfactory you need to get someone else for the position.
In fact, I would demand a minimum of one meeting a week through teleconference that is at least one hour long with both him and the Secretary of Defense present. Tell him if he doesn't have that much time or interest in what is going on here he needs to get a replacement.
You may be fired and probably will be because arrogant people don't take criticism or frank talk very well. But better that than to allow this to continue while our soldiers lives and the outcome of this war are in the balance.
J. Cogburn
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