President Obama Should Pull A Harry Truman And Fire Gen. McChrystal

Fire Gen. McChrystal.

There is a time and place for frank assessments and candid conversations.  That goes for the office place, family settings, and parties.  Without stating the obvious it also goes for one of the top military commanders in the nation.  

So to read and hear that Gen. McChrystal allowed his views to be aired over and over with a Rolling Stone reporter who was all too happy to listen and write is one of the most galling episodes of recent times.  This was not the idle chatter of one who has no responsibility or stature.  To hear Gen. McChrystal speak sounds as if he feels he has no one to account to for his actions.

The fact is Gen. McChrystal is accountable to others. 

For those in the military who think that morale would suffer if openly gay men and women served the nation, now need to ask themselves what McChrystal has done to undermine the larger national efforts that we face.  This is not a nation where military brass call the shots.  This is still a nation where civilians run the national affairs on a foundation of rules and laws, and soldiers salute and jump as they are told.

When one of the nation’s most notable generals goes as far off the playing field as McChrystal did there is only one way to deal with it.

Fire Gen. McChrystal.

Anything less will be a weak response from President Obama.  It is time again for the military to wise up, shut up, and follow the leaders who call the shots.  That is what we pay them to do.

The tail should not wag the dog.