If Obama fires McChrystal
Cut the general some slack
If Obama keeps McChrystal
Obama The Weak
Either way the narrative is waiting to be unleashed.
My suggestion to Obama, toss out your copy of Team of Rivals and don't concern yourself with finding a central position that will mitigate the opposition. Your opponents only use reality to fashion political weapons against you. Whatever you decide to do about McCrystal, they are coming after you.
If McChrystal gets fired, cue Frances Townsend ...
The real betrayal here is not of the president and those in Washington by McChrystal, but by the general's staff of their military commander. In the midst of battle, a military commander's staff becomes his war zone combat unit. Among them, he is in the one and only place where he should be able to speak his mind without fear of it being repeated. I, for one, have said things at home out of frustration and anger that I don't expect my family to repeat to The Washington Post.
Before Washington pundits work themselves into a lather calling for the head of this distinguished military commander, they need to spend a tour in the war zone and walk in the general's boots. Every day, McChrystal deals with a corrupt and inept Afghan government and watches those he leads get maimed and die.
Every day he is surrounded by an enemy plotting to kill Americans in Afghanistan and here at home. And every day McChrystal must answer the questions of countless policymakers in Washington and around the world
If Obama spares McChrystal, cue Fred Barnes
There are three President Obamas. There's the Obama who defers, the one who dithers, and the one who's out of touch. The Obama presidencies have one thing in common. They're all weak.
Obama is a great talker. He's also what used to be called a "press hound." That's a politician who can't go a single day without lavish attention from the media. But talking and availability aren't the same as leading. Nearly eight months into his presidency, Obama has yet to offer strong leadership, on anything.
What's more, Obama is a liberal who's surrounded himself with liberals. His weakness makes his liberal domestic policies more vulnerable than they otherwise would be. For a moment after Obama's inauguration, Republicans were fearful of him. They quickly found that opposing him is safe and fruitful.
The deference started early.
Either way the koolaid is chilling and ready to serve.
(So to Keith I would say, keeping McChrystal around is not going to defuse anything.)