Several times today, I have read comments by people who feel that General Stanley McChrystal should not have been fired - the argument that sticks in my craw is that they believe the General was set-up because the conversations that took place were among friends and co-workers. In their world, a conversation among friends is private. It shouldn't be used. A drunken conversation is even more private. Even if all that was true, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference in this instance.
Generals don't have friends.
General don't have co-workers.
Generals have bosses. Generals have subordinates. Period. End of Sentence. If the General needs to vent, I hope his wife likes to listen or that his Chief of Staff knows how to keep his mouth shut.
And, by the way, Presidents, former or present, don't own Generals. They own the mission. There is no such thing as a Bushie in the military.
As to officers in the military having friends... when you are of lowly rank, like a 2nd Lieutenant or so, you have lots of friends. They work by your side and you go out and have drinks with them in the evenings. Sometimes, you might get a Captain or two to join. Every once in a while a Major might hang around for a while. The Colonel might come for the first round. The General? If he walks in to have a drink, you're on your best behavior until he departs the bar. The higher you move through the ranks, the fewer people you have to hang out with. And that guy who was your friend a few years ago might now be your boss - he's not your friend anymore.
Civilians have an extremely hard time with this concept. I don't even want to try to convince you if it is right or wrong. It just is.
So, when folks say that General McChrystal was just hanging out with friends, I say bullshit. A General is very welcome to hang out and have a beer with his subordinates, but he knows when to leave. And, if he doesn't, his staff should know not to get shit-faced drunk. Part of being an officer also means keeping your wits about you, especially when you invite a reporter from the Rolling Stone to tag along.
Another fallacy I want to address - Republicans and Democrats don't own Generals. Just because Bush put a General in charge doesn't make him a Bushie. Generals have worked long and hard to get where they are. I don't like all of them, but I respect the hours and the commitment they have to put in to do a difficult job. I don't even agree with the damn wars, but that isn't the point. These Generals are assigned a job, and they do it. If they disagree, they do so in private, behind closed doors. So, when General Petraeus works for President Obama, he should reflect President Obama's mission in Afghanistan. When he worked for President Bush, he reflected his mission.
I remember reading an article about President Eisenhower. While he was on active duty, he didn't vote. It wasn't because he didn't believe in voting, it's that he felt that as a military officer he should never be in a position to second guess the guy in charge. He understood what civilian leadership meant. Many were surprised when he chose the Republican party to run for President because, before that time, no one had a clue. I agree with President Eisenhower, the military should, at all costs, remain apoltical.
I get upset with my husband sometimes because he won't sign a petition or contact his congressman about an issue that bothers us both. I rant and I rail. But I won't do so anymore. I understand why he acts this way. He has served 20 years in the military this summer - under Republicans and Democrats. Soon, we hope he makes Colonel. Neither he nor I think General is in the books but what if it was... should they start looking at his political affliliation? 20 years of service and it matters whether he's a Democrat and there is a Democrat in office? Only Republicans get promoted when a Republican is in office? God forbid if you're an Independent... you might never see a higher office.
The military culture is different from civilian culture - the rules just are not the same. I don't want them to be the same. So, when you start to analyze these situations - like McChrystal resigning and Petreaus gaining the responsibility of Afghanistan - I ask you to put on your military thinking cap for just a little bit. If you don't have one, ask a friend who does before you start spouting about things you just don't understand.