Changes

McChrystal reports to General [[David Petraeus]], head of Central Command.  

McChrystal reports to General [[David Petraeus]], head of Central Command.  

In August 2009, McChrystal reported on the dire conditions in Afghanistan to Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]]. He asked for 30,000-40,000 additional troops, warning that "Although considerable effort and sacrifice have resulted in some progress, many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating" and added that there is "the urgent need for a significant change to our strategy." <ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/21/mcchrystal-warns-failure-afghan-war/</ref>

In August 2009, McChrystal reported on the dire conditions in Afghanistan to Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]]. He asked for 30,000-40,000 additional troops, warning that "Although considerable effort and sacrifice have resulted in some progress, many indicators suggest the overall effort is deteriorating" and added that there is "the urgent need for a significant change to our strategy." <ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/21/mcchrystal-warns-failure-afghan-war/</ref>

McChrystal said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref>Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009]</ref>   

McChrystal said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians. He called the Taliban insurgency "a muscular and sophisticated enemy" that uses modern propaganda and systematically reaches into Afghanistan's prisons to recruit members and even plan operations. McChrystal alerted Washington that he urgently needs more forces within the next year; without them, he warned, the eight-year conflict "will likely result in failure."<ref>Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'' [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR200909200920.html ''Washington Post'' Sept 21, 2009]</ref>   

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a counterinsurgency strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin. Liberals thought Obama and Gates were making a big mistake—heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18-month deadline.  

American policy was increasing set by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]], originally appointed by President  Bush in 2006 and reappointed by  President Obama in 2009. Gates fired the commander General David McKiernan in May, 2009, replacing him with McChrystal. [[File:Afg-2009.jpg|thumb|350px|Obama plan to add 30,000 troops in early 2010]] Gates insisted on dropping the old strategy of hunting down insurgents and instead adopting a counterinsurgency strategy that focused on protecting local civilians and training Afghan soldiers and police to take over the job. Gates convinced Obama, who ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in Dec. 2009, with a deadline of 18 months, at which time a transition to Afghan responsibility would begin. Liberals thought Obama and Gates were making a big mistake—heading into another quagmire like Vietnam. However liberal Democrats in Congress will not try to block Obama's proposals.  Most conservatives, on the other hand, see victory in Afghanistan as a vital national goal and approve the new strategy, while voicing objections to the 18-month deadline.  

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

[[File:Af-UStroops.jpg|thumb|340px]]

By spring 2010 McChrystal will have over 100,000 American troops and some 30,000 or more NATO troops under his command in Afghanistan, exactly in line with his Aug. 2009 request.<ref>Richard A. Oppel, "Most New U.S. Forces for Afghanistan Will Be Sent to Taliban Stronghold in South," [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/world/asia/03deployment.html?scp=3&sq=&st=nyt  ''New York Times'' Dec. 2, 2009]</ref>

By spring 2010 McChrystal will have over 100,000 American troops and some 30,000 or more NATO troops under his command in Afghanistan, exactly in line with his Aug. 2009 request.<ref>Richard A. Oppel, "Most New U.S. Forces for Afghanistan Will Be Sent to Taliban Stronghold in South," [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/world/asia/03deployment.html?scp=3&sq=&st=nyt  ''New York Times'' Dec. 2, 2009]</ref>

==Controversy==

==Controversy==

In June 2010, McChrystal was summoned to the White House to explain biting and unflattering remarks he made to a freelance writer about President [[Barack Obama]] and others in the Obama administration. In the Rolling Stone article, titled "The Runaway General," McChrystal described Obama during their first meeting as "uncomfortable and intimidated." <ref>http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/22/the-rolling-stone-article-as-bad-as-advertised/</ref> National Security Adviser [[Jim Jones]] was described by a McChrystal aide as a "clown" stuck in 1985. Others aides joked about Vice President [[Joe Biden]]’s last name as sounding like "Bite me" since Biden opposed the surge.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38837.html#ixzz0razXNkpe</ref>

In June 2010, McChrystal was summoned to the White House to explain biting and unflattering remarks he made to a freelance writer about President [[Barack Obama]] and others in the Obama administration. In the Rolling Stone article, titled "The Runaway General," McChrystal described Obama during their first meeting as "uncomfortable and intimidated." <ref>https://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/22/the-rolling-stone-article-as-bad-as-advertised/</ref> National Security Adviser [[Jim Jones]] was described by a McChrystal aide as a "clown" stuck in 1985. Others aides joked about Vice President [[Joe Biden]]’s last name as sounding like "Bite me" since Biden opposed the surge.<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38837.html#ixzz0razXNkpe</ref>

Despite his criticisms of the Obama Administration, McChrystal is actually a political and social [[liberal]] who voted for Obama. In fact, he is so left-wing that he banned the [[Fox News Channel]] from the television sets in his headquarters.<ref>http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/liberal-stanley-mcchrystal-banned-fox-news-from-his-headquarters.html</ref>

Despite his criticisms of the Obama Administration, McChrystal is actually a political and social [[liberal]] who voted for Obama. In fact, he is so left-wing that he banned the [[Fox News Channel]] from the television sets in his headquarters.<ref>http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/06/liberal-stanley-mcchrystal-banned-fox-news-from-his-headquarters.html</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.nato.int/isaf/structure/bio/comisaf/mcchrystal.html NATO profile]

* [http://www.nato.int/isaf/structure/bio/comisaf/mcchrystal.html NATO profile]

* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092100110.html?hpid=topnews "COMISAF Initial Assessment" (McChrystal Report)Aug. 30, 2009]

* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092100110.html?hpid=topnews "COMISAF Initial Assessment" (McChrystal Report)Aug. 30, 2009]

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/asia/13commander.html?hp Elizabeth Bumiller and Mark Mazzetti, "A General Steps From the Shadows," ''New York Times,'' May 12, 2009]

* [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/world/asia/13commander.html?hp Elizabeth Bumiller and Mark Mazzetti, "A General Steps From the Shadows," ''New York Times,'' May 12, 2009]

{{DEFAULTSORT:McChrystal, Stanley A.}}  

{{DEFAULTSORT:McChrystal, Stanley A.}}