A new Gallup poll released today shows by a 2-1 margin, Americans want Military commanders to keep their recommendations private. McCrystal recently went to London to give a speech to push for his ideas, despite the fact that his boss has yet to review his recommendations.
From Gallup
The poll included a general question about this type of situation, asking Americans whether U.S. military commanders should make their positions publicly known when the U.S. is considering different courses of military action, or keep them private and reveal them only to the president and others in the military chain of command. The public -- by a 2-to-1 margin -- believes it is better for military commanders to keep their positions private
Shockingly, 65% of Republicans also agree that Military commanders should keep their position private, that number is slightly bigger than independents (60%) who also think their positions should be kept private.
Sec Gates was right when he said
"I believe the decisions that the president will make for the next stage of the Afghanistan campaign will be among the most important of his presidency, so it is important that we take our time to do all we can to get this right," Mr. Gates said at a gathering here.
"And in this process," Mr. Gates went on, "it is imperative that all of us taking part in these deliberations — civilians and military alike — provide our best advice to the president candidly but privately."
"And speaking for the Department of Defense," Mr. Gates said, "once the commander in chief makes his decisions, we will salute and execute those decisions faithfully and to the best of our ability."
On the Question of troop increase, Americans are divided
Americans about evenly divided over whether the U.S. should increase its troop presence there. Forty-eight percent say they would favor a decision by President Obama to send more troops, while 45% would oppose it. Two weeks ago, the public leaned against a troop increase.