What will be the reaction tomorrow if Obama keeps McChrystal on?

[tekisui]

Trying to read the tea leaves and coming up with interesting scenarios. What would the reaction be if President Obama recommits to McChrystal, after a closed door talking?

What would your reaction be?

No one has stepped up defend McChrsytal, although Kerry did soften the rhetoric. I don't think McChrystal is necessarily out tomorrow. What about you?

[jezebel]

1. The pundits will claim he is weak and nostalgically pine for the the days of hard ass Bush. nt

[tekisui]

3. And the Democrats that were calling for his head today?

[jezebel]

6. They will give "on background" quotes to the pundits calling Obama weak. And say it's good for the

Republicans. You know, typical Democratic Party circular firing squad.

[vaberella]

10. Funny because some Dems on here said if Obama keeps M on he's weak.

And they'll lose their support for Obama. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[tekisui]

18. He is stuck with no great options.

But, he knows the repukes will never support him. And, he has an opportunity to really reverse course in Afghanistan.

[vaberella]

25. I agree and I think he will.

Well he's already on the path of draw down. A lot of people ignore and/or forget the fact the draw down begins next summer. So this is about to happen. But we have a military set that don't want to end it. And sadly he has some advisers who are pro-war. I hope he takes these people out.

[RichGirl]

37. Bush fired dozens for similar reasons.

Olbermann listed them off in his special comment.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Bad move if he isn't relieved of command. Really, really bad move.

The troops know what the general did wrong. They should not be held to a higher standard than a four-star general.

[MadMaddie]

8. Agreed! Totally unacceptable! It sets the stage for everyone

to committ the same acts and the possibility of not being able to disclipine would rise. Lead by example, McC failed!

[TwilightGardener]

9. People act like there's no one else who can run the mission over there.

Stanley is not some singular genius. Hell, if he got hit by a bus tomorrow, he'd be replaced and we would all move on without him somehow. That's the way it works, in every walk of life, but particularly in the military--there is always someone waiting in the wings to take over if needed.

[MadMaddie]

12. Bingo!

What I also don't hear is that this Counter Insurgency was McCrystals baby, this was his idea. So he turns around and blames the administration for his failure. This is not the first time he has done this and this is why he has to go.

[jillan]

4. I like Keith's idea - refuse his resignation and tell him to get back to work.

Get the job done, and then Biden should tell McC to stfu!

[applegrove]

31. I agree.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

41. Yep that is a great idea Keith had

he convinced me for sure.

[leftynyc]

46. First strip a star or two off

his shoulder (there simply must be some punishment for what he did) and then send him back.

[emilyg]

5. My reaction will be that

Obama made a wise decision. We need the best warriors in this war.

[gateley]

7. The same reaction if he fires him -- outrage. He can't win either way. nt

[scheming daemons]

11. +1 billion

[csziggy]

35. Yeah - tow pundits were wondering why the Republicans had not taken a stance

And I was wondering how stupid they were. Obviously, the Repubs will not state what they think should be done so they can complain no matter what he does. Same reason Repubs do not want to make any positive contributions to any legislation - if they do, they cannot bitch about it later.

[Thrill]

13. He has to show he has some backbone

You can't keep him after this. If he does, I think I might even start wondering if he is tough enough to be President.

You can bet your ass if one of McChrystal's soldiers disrespected him like this they would have charges brought against them.

[Perky]

16. I think He shows stunning backbone if he keeps him

But I sort of played it on paper and I just don't see ow you can justify keeping him....He crossed the Rubicon. And I just can't think of a way to finesse keeping him on without a tacit admission that he was right on the substance, even if was a complete ass on how it came out or that you are so dependent on his expertise that you are willint to keep him on in spite of his insubordination. There is no way to keep him. It is that simple But it probably needs to be Gates recommending the way he leaves the statage.

A court martial for insubordination and conduct unbecoming or resign it the choice he ought to be given He won't be fired.

[shayes51]

39. I agree. nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

14. By design it is a no win situation

I'm not overly emotionally vested in the decision either way due to the complexity of the situation.

[kestrel91316]

15. I won't be happy, but it's THE BOSS'S call.

[scubadude]

17. He should be demoted to private and reassigned duty at the front...

[FrenchieCat]

19. Whatever decision is made, the critics will say it should have been the opposite!

[jenmito]

22. But Keith O. gave a special comment saying he should KEEP him and Ed S. said he shouldn't. n/t

[vaberella]

43. I think Tweety said he should fire him and RM's guests said fire him. n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

20. This goes against my first reaction and every instinct I posses but I'm with Olbermann

on this one. I'd keep him at least for a little while longer, more for symbolic purposes. But I'd also clean house at the pentagon. This was no coincidence. Also raise the state department's profile.

[jenmito]

21. Well, Keith Olbermann will be happy and Ed Schultz will be mad. I want to hear Obama speak first.

[Spazito]

23. Well, if the past is prologue...

Obama accepts McCrystal's resignation=outrage
Obama fires McCrystal=outrage
Obama keeps McCrystal=outrage
Obama sneezes=outrage

The consensus is: outrage

[dyingnumbers]

24. On such short notice...

Obama seems to be faced with the dilemma of having to question the loyalty of his key general during a boiling point in the Afghan war, compounded with the fact that McChrystal does nothing to conceal his cynicism about either the strategy of the mission or his disregard for his superiors. Meanwhile, this summer is promising to be a very bloody one in Kandahar, and the month of June has already proved to be grim, with the US death toll starting at 1000+ in the first week.

[davidpdx]

26. 1/2 of DU will be with Obama on his decision and 1/2 will be against it

Oh wait....damn that's already happening.

[bigwillq]

29. Nothing wrong with that!

:hi:

[vaberella]

34. On this issue I'm seriously 100% unsure what the best course of action is.

So I'll defer that to the Pres and await his reasons if he gives one.

[treestar]

36. No matter what it is

If he keeps him or fires him, we'll defend that.

If he keeps him or fires him, the others will say he is a wuss or whatever. Just like the right wing will, no matter what he does.

[Justitia]

27. Personally, my head will explode. But, who cares about me. It's curtains for McChrystal. --eom

[backscatter712]

28. Most of the country would think Obama's a wuss. It'd seriously undermine his presidency.

Obama needs to fire McChrystal post-haste.

[vaberella]

30. That's the crazy shit. People said that if he fires McChrystal he's seen as a wuss as well. n/t

[Justitia]

32. That's nuts. Did they think Truman was a "wuss" for recalling McA? NO!

It really brought home "the buck stops here".

And showed McA's behavior to be completely shameful and deserving of censure.

[vaberella]

33. It's been stated on Hardball, KO and I'll see RM now to see if it's mentioned there. n/t

[Dr Morbius]

48. There's a difference. MacArthur was a smooth operator of the media.

MacArthur was very, very popular. It was a gutsy move by Truman, very much in character for him by the way, and for many people it was a wake-up call. Yes, you are correct in that Truman was asserting his command, and everyone could see it, and that MacArthur had stepped beyond his sphere when he tried to escalate the war into China.

Politically, this is a very different situation, and McCrystal's error is nowhere near as egregious as that of Douglas MacArthur.

[butterfly77]

38. I won't like it ...

[VMI Dem]

40. He has more information than anyone else. It is his decision to make.

[harun]

42. Who cares how people react. The issue is that other Generals will feel they

have the green like to be insubordinate.

[vaberella]

44. Possibly. n/t

[tekisui]

45. Thank you for offering your reaction.

[kjackson227]

47. I trust Obama to make the right decision. But, personally, I would like to see him gone. eom

[leftygolfer]

49. No way he keeps him

Can't imagine the message that sends to troops - that criticizing your civilian leaders is acceptable.

[LaydeeBug]

50. I will be PISSED. I'll get over it, but I will be PISSED!! and I will say so. nt