Since the McChrystal Report was leaked to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, and after a speech in London by Gen. McChrystal speculation has run rampant in the media about a possible public rift between the General and the President. So much so that SecDef Gates has weighed in as well:
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates cautioned military and civilian leaders Monday against publicly airing their advice to President Obama on Afghanistan, just days after the top U.S. general in that country criticized proposals being advocated by some in the White House.
"In this process, 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," Gates said in a speech at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army.
WaPo
Speculation has also arisen about who leaked the report and why. This raises some serious questions about national security, petty partisanship and media complicity.
Who do you believe leaked the McChrystal Report....the military or the Administration....and for what gain?
Is it beneficial or detrimental for strategic consultations and/or differences of opinion between the CinC and a Combatant Commander to be held in the public eye?
Is there an ideological rift between the two, or is the media ramping up speculation for profit and gain?
I wonder a lot of the same things. I think that McChrystal's report was leaked by someone in the administration...but that's just what I think. I enjoy your blog and your analysis. Check out my blog! allmilitarynews.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteI take a different tack.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've not really bought into the speculation of a Petraeus nomination bid for 2012, I can easily see a leak by the CentCom staff on behalf of Gen. McChrystal. With POTUS on the fence about escalation or withdrawal, McChrystal can either become the Petraeus-like COIN-dinista of Afghanistan or preside over this generations rooftop evacuation of Saigon [dramatic flair added for benefit of the scaremongers].
I am intrigued to no end over the politico-military wranglings, I'm just not so sure that they should always be carried out on the front pages of US daily's.