I see Gibbs can't help himself:

"The purpose of calling him here is to see what in the world he was thinking," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at today's briefing, referring to the Rolling Stone story featuring the general and his aides bashing President Obama, Vice President Biden and others.

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I see that the general's being recalled to Washington to talk about what his critics are calling a "distraction" from the mission. The irony abounds.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Yes. Poindexter, the nickname people give McC behind his back, is a strange duck. He has a strange health regimen, encouraging people to eat only one small-medium meal a day at noon and drink lots of tea like the Afghans do.

He is also remembered as the three-star who rushed to sign the Silver Star for Pat Tillman, but also sent a P-4 memo to selected General officers, indicating through back channels that Tillman may have been killed by friendly fire. He then did nothing to prevent the cover-up, and later sacrificed a couple colonels to pay for it.

This may sound cold, but in my personal opinion, Poindexter is the kind of guy who would help the guard closing the oven door on the crematorium, then say " It wasn't me! So-and-so was doing all the work closing the door, I just happened to be there."

On the other hand, I have nothing but the greatest respect for GEN Petraeus, whom I think, is just trying to figure a way out of this $h!tpile we're in, and go home with minimal losses.

Dump Poindexter and get someone truly focused on the job.

I have to admit though, Richard Holbrooke is an egotistical dork. I saw him in Skopje, Macedonia in 1997-98, I was a peon over there and he was " the President's special envoy" and told that to everyone who would listen. He was Hilary's boy then, too.

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Strelnik
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It's a little scary that someone in this position doesn't have enough self control to STFU in front of a reporter. It's about time for him to "pursue other interests" and/or "spend more time with his family." He should have known better.

I remember having a similar conversation with an ex-military officer who had worked in the pentagon during the clinton administration, they were not allowed to express political opinions, hang up cartons, etc. while on duty.

Which comments did he make in front of the reporter that trouble you? I'm not saying you're wrong, just that it seems to me that most of what was said to the reporter was by his aides.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

Check out the quotes in the video near the top of this page. What ever happened to politics stopping at the shore? If someone chooses to work for the military, they do not make these types of comments about the civilian leadership, especially on foreign soil. If they cannot tolerate working for a particular administration, they can always retire.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/06/2010622111222326834.html

Did you read the actual article? Again, the majority of those quotes are from aides describing something they have heard the boss say. The boss himself stepped in it, but not to the degree that the news is reporting. The Biden remarks, as I stated on page 1, appear to be the general and his aide suggesting stupid remarks he MIGHT make since he knows he doesn't choose his words well. If that is the case (which is indeed how it reads in the RS article), the news is being very dishonest by reporting them as actual quotes about the VP.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I just when back and read the entire article; I'm not impressed by this guy if any of these quotes are accurate. Why did obama put him in charge of this operation?, why did he accept the job?; they clearly were not on the same page. Overall, he does not come off very sophisticated; my impression was that I wouldn't want him walking my dog. Maybe the reporting was bias; but unless he was completely mis-quoted, there is no excuse for a military leader to act like a middle-school student in front of a reporter.

Couldn't disagree more on the first sentence -- they make those comments as much (or more) than the civilian population, but don't (and shouldn't) generally make them in public and can't make them in uniform.

Agree with the second part.

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)

I was trying to say that they should not make those comments, I do understand that inappropriate comments are made my military officers.

Gonna be tough to replace him.

Where would one find a professional military leader who would be willing to work under a nitwit who isn't comfy with the idea of military victory?

By definition, doomed to failure.....

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Palangi

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TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Didn't you get the memo (?) Victory isn't an option, never has been.

On another note the guy isn't really popular with his troops.

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Could this cover it?

Uniform Code of Military Justice, Sec. 888, Article 88.....

"Any commissioned officer who uses contemptiuous words against the President, the Vice President (And a long list of other elected officals) in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct."

Popularity has nothing to do with it. If you feel you cannot serve the Commander in Chief you should take steps toward retirement. This General can be replaced in seconds. Anybody can. Our Military is set up to deal with this and has been for many, many years.

I remember the Captain of an Aircraft Carrier that said ugly things about Clinton after Clinton was first elected. A friend of mine, a strong Republican, laughed his head off and said that would show Clinton. I disagreed and said the guy would be waiting tables with-in 24 hours.

A few hours later Clinton was on the Bridge of the Carrier and the Captain informed the crew the President was on board. No one knows what was said, but I don't recall any officers, including that one, making snide comments about Clinton after that.

Furthermore... I think that to imply our troops will not follow their leaders is not realistic. I knew a guy who though Reagan was a John Wayne wanna-be, but if Reagan told him to go he would have walked bare-foot through Hell for him.

When Clinton had a clear shot Osama was meeting with members of the Saudi Royal Family. Clinton could have killed Osama if he had not minded killing a number of the Saudi Royals at the same time.

After the Saudi Royals left Clinton dropped 36 cruse missils on the training camp. Yes, he did blow up a few tents as Rush Limbaugh like to claim. Rush leaves out the part about the 3400 terrorist that were blown up with the tents.

Osama was not among them. He left just after the Royals did.

The nitwit is GW Bush. He got us into this mess and never had a plan for victory. If he did he didn't pass it on to Obama.