Dismissal of Gen. McChrystal: Frustrations or Disciplinary Action?

Commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan Gen. McChrystal was dismissed by the President Obama after he and his staff had made some inappropriate comments about U.S. Afghan war policy and about various U.S. political leaders and diplomats.

Afghanistan has been the center of U.S. war on terror since October 2001. Afghanistan was attacked primarily to capture Osama Bin Ladin and dismantle the network of Al-Qaeda. Second, to oust Taliban from government in Afghanistan as they had refused to hand over Osama bin Ladin to U.S. Taliban were easily over thrown from government but the prime U.S. mission of capturing Osama had failed so far and they had also failed to really eliminate Taliban from Afghanistan.

Gen. McChrystal remarks show a declining confidence in the campaign and the abilities of the political leadership to lead to any success. For a serving ‘General’ it may not be not appropriate or legal to pass such remarks but on the other side as a realist these remark refer to realities on ground. Does this not mean the American army has lost hope for success in Afghan war? The way Obama administration sharply reacted does not reflect the frustrations on part of the civilian leadership as well? Does the whole situation not show dearth of confidence between civilian and army leadership on the issue of Afghan war?

Afghan war never dominated the social media since Pew started its News Media Index (NMI) in January 2009 but the news of Gen. McChrystal became a top story on the social media as well. Looking at Pew NMI it becomes obvious that bloggers debate show frustrations regarding Afghan war. Mostly the issue of withdrawal comes to the surface repeatedly at various blogs and the issue of ‘success’ & ‘salvation’ remains very dim. Bloggers really captured the frustrations surrounding the issue.

How do you see this whole episode of Gen. McChrystal dismissal? Why an army general will make negative statements about his campaign, or political leadership if he is winning the war? does it not show the dearth of confidence between army generals at ground in Afghanistan and a civilian leadership in U.S?