PageLink - Gen Stanley A. McChrystal

Gen Stanley A. McChrystal "known for saying and thinking what other military leaders were afraid to" *one of the reasons cited for his appointment* to lead all forces in Afghanistan AFGHANISTAN post fm:  June 15, 2009 - June 23, 2010 Defence Secretary Robert Gates: "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I (have) ever met." Last assignment: Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander, US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Director, Joint Staff fm Aug 2008 - Jun 2009 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command fm 2003 - 2008 *criticized for alleged role in cover-up of the Pat Tillman friendly fire incident. reportedly: unflattering (and unprofessional) remarks about Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials attributed to McChrystal and his aides in a Rolling Stone article McChrystal recalled to Washington, DC Obama accepted his resignation as commander in Afghanistan ISAF COMMAND - Afghanistan assumed by: deputy commander, British Army General Sir Nicholas "Nick" Parker { pending the confirmation of a replacement } General David Petraeus = McChrystal's replacement ------ serving in the Pentagon as member of the Joint Staff, start of Iraq War in March 2003 {vice director of operations, J-3, since July 2002} McChrystal delivered nationally televised Pentagon briefings on US military operations in Iraq April 2003 shortly after the fall of Baghdad: announced, "I would anticipate that the major combat engagements are over." Commanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) for five (5) years Sep 2003 to Feb 2006 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/ Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, fm Feb 2006 to Aug 2008 Most of assignment in Afghanistan at US Central Command forward headquarters in Qatar & in Iraq {nominally assigned Fort Bragg, Nth Carolina} Success: capture by JSOC forces of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 McChrystal's Zarqawi unit, Task Force 6-26 = well known for interrogation methods, Camp Nama = accused of abusing detainees = taskforce disciplined after Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal became public in April 2004 criticized for his role in aftermath of 2004 death by friendly fire of Ranger and former professional football player Pat Tillman. McChrystal = one of eight officers recommended for discipline by a subsequent Pentagon investigation. = Army declined to take action against him. late spring 2007 JSOC and CIA Special Activities Division teams launch new series of highly effective covert operations that coincided with the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 killing or capturing many of the key al-Qa'ida leaders in Iraq joint efforts of JSOC and CIA paramilitary units said to be: most significant contributor to the defeat of al-Qa'ida in Iraq McChrystal credited with = transforming and modernizing JSOC = into a "force of unprecedented agility & lethality" = key factor success of JSOC in success of war Iraq George W. Bush failed to promote McChrystal assigned 3-star: Dir. Joint Staff, Feb 2008 Senate Armed Services Committee stalled McChystal confirmation more info sought: alleged mistreatment detainees by Special Ops under McChrystal command in IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN AFGHANISTAN June 10, 2009 Senate approval to take command McChrystal was promoted to general assumed command of NATO ops Operation Khanjar commenced largest offensive op and beginning of deadliest combat month for NATO forces since 2001 LEAKED REPORT McChrystal submitted a 66-page report to Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling for more troops in Afghanistan "We are going to win." public: Sept 20, 2009 *warned that the war Afghanistan may be lost if more troops are not sent *30,000 - 40,000 more troops needed in Afghanistan Chief UN Weapons Inspector in Iraq (Scott Ritter) stated McChrystal: should be fired for insubordination for disclosing info he should have said only in private to the President of USA leaked report - aka the "McChrystal risk" boxed Obama into a corner about boosting troop levels in Afghanistan MICHAEL HASTINGS freelance journalist Article: "The Runaway General", Rolling Stone magazine, July 8–22, 2010 issue McChrystal and his staff reportedly mocked: *civilian government officials *Joe Biden *National Security Advisor James L. Jones *US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl W. Eikenberry *Special Representative for Afghanistan & Pakistan Richard Holbrooke McChrystal's staff = contacted prior to release of article and did not deny validity of the article = Hastings: bemused at degree to which soldiers were free when speaking to him = senior members of his staff dispute this = accused Hastings of exaggerating seniority of aides quoted & breaking the "off the record" trust of private conversations McChrystal apology to Joe Biden: "I extend my sincerest apology for this profile." McChyristal called in by Obama = McChrystal tendered his resignation | Obama accepted Obama statement re resignation: "... certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country." WHITEHOUSE - 4-STAR RANK WH announced that McChrystal would retain his four-star rank in retirement {law generally requires a four-star officer to hold his rank for three years in order to retain it in retirement} RETIREMENT CEREMONY McChrystal awarded the: Distinguished Service Medal by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey Defence Distinguished Service Medal by Secretary of Defence Robert Gates PENTAGON INQUIRY Pentagon report = challenged accuracy of article "The Runaway General" (Michael Hastings) = disputing key incidents or comments reported in Hastings' article. Rolling Stone: = "... Pentagon’s inspector general offers no credible source—or indeed, any named source—contradicting the facts as reported in our story, 'The Runaway General." ------- At Yale University faculty, teaching courses in International Relations Chairman of the Board of Siemens Government Systems On the strategic advisory board of Knowledge International a licensed arms dealer whose parent company is EAI a business "very close" to UAE govt co-founded / partner McChrystal Group LLC Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm 2011 - advocated instituting a national service program in USA 2013 - endorsed stronger US gun control laws ------- OTHER McChrystal is the son of Major General Herbert Joseph McChrystal, Jr. (1924–2013) Entirely military family / and married into military family McChrystal said to: run 11-13 km daily eat one meal per day sleep four hours a night source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT I know this isn't PC, but ...  Ummmm, I sort of like the sound of McChrystal (on first impressions). Seems strong, tough, and forthright. Sounds like some kind of superman.  Swoon ... lol ꕤ