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06-25-2010, 10:33 AM
Mullen: Petraeus can adjust war plan, tactics
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 25, 2010 7:47:43 EDT
The Pentagon’s top civilian and military leaders said Thursday that they fully support the removal of Gen. Stanley McChrystal as top NATO commander in Afghanistan after he was quoted in Rolling Stone magazine criticizing the Obama administration.
His nominated replacement, Gen. David Petraeus, will be able to make adjustments in war plans and tactics, including the rules of engagement that many troops feel handcuff their efforts, the officials said in a Pentagon news conference.
“Any new commander, Gen. Petraeus included, will go in, assess his command, and what it is going to take to achieve the mission,” said Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking alongside Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Petraeus “certainly has the flexibility to make changes that he thinks are necessary,” Mullen said.
“He’s very aware of the issue of civilian casualties. He’s very aware of the tactical directive” aimed at minimizing civilian casualties, Mullen said.
“He was involved in approving it — so now, he will be on the ground to see how it’s being executed, and make … changes that he would think would be appropriate. But that does not necessarily portend changes.”
“The president has established strategy,” Gates said. “But from my perspective, Gen. Petraeus will have the flexibility to look at the campaign plan and the approach and all manner of things.”
Both expressed deep admiration for McChrystal’s performance in Afghanistan. But what Gates called a “serious lapse in judgment” made his continuation in command unacceptable.
“I was nearly sick,” Mullen said of his reaction when he first read the story. “Literally, physically. I couldn’t believe it.”
Asked why the story had drawn such a visceral reaction when most of the negative comments were expressed by anonymous aides, Mullen said, “Gen. McChrystal is responsible for his people. And he has every bit as much responsibility for what was in that and what his people said as the individuals who said it — and the accountability that goes along with that.
“Gen. McChrystal understands that completely, reflected by the fact that he offered his resignation,” Mullen said.
Gates called McChrystal, whom Gates and Mullen had hand-picked a year ago to replace their former choice, Gen. David McKiernan, “one of the finest officers and warriors of his generation, who has an extraordinary record in leading the fight against some of this country’s most lethal enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
McChrystal and his staff, Gates said, “have served and protected this country in combat with great courage, valor, skill and devotion, for many years. Their outstanding record of service remains intact for posterity and is deserving of our lasting recognition and profound gratitude.”
Gates saying that if it hadn’t been for the magazine’s portrayal of McChrystal and his staff as generally disdainful of aspects of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and disrespectful of senior government civilians, “Gen. McChrystal would still be there, and executing … the strategy the president decided on and the campaign plan that McChrystal developed.”
But, Gates said, “the statements and attitudes reported in the news media are unacceptable under our form of government, and are inconsistent with the high standards expected of military leaders.”
Gates and Mullen defended the war effort in Afghanistan, despite widespread corruption concerns; difficulties in recruiting, training and retaining enough Afghan security force personnel; and reports of continued fighting in Marjah even as the Kandahar campaign — which McChrystal recently said wouldn’t get under way in earnest until fall — continues to heat up.
The overall situation in Marjah is improving despite continued Taliban resistance, Mullen said.
“This is classic counterinsurgency,” he said. “We haven’t put off the operation in Kandahar. … And in any operation, you make adjustments.”
“I do not believe we are bogged down,” Gates said. “I believe we are making some progress. It is slower, and harder than we anticipated.”
Gates said it was President Obama who first suggested Petraeus as a possible replacement when they met for a half-hour Tuesday afternoon.
Gates and Mullen said the selection of oft-deployed Petraeus is not evidence of a “weak bench” of generals qualified to take the job but rather, Gates said, of the need to find someone on short notice with the unique combination of good relations with key Afghani and Pakistani leaders, U.S. and allied military commanders, the campaign plan and current operations.
“We talked about other generals,” Gates said. “But my concern was that we not lose time, and that we not lose focus during a transition period. And it was evident that there was only one general officer who was in the position to move in with hardly a missed beat … and continue with this campaign.”
Having Petraeus agree on short notice to take the job, subject to Senate confirmation, Gates said, is “the best possible outcome to an awful situation.”
Related stories:
* http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/06/military_gatesmullen_mcchrystal_062410w/
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jun 25, 2010 7:47:43 EDT
The Pentagon’s top civilian and military leaders said Thursday that they fully support the removal of Gen. Stanley McChrystal as top NATO commander in Afghanistan after he was quoted in Rolling Stone magazine criticizing the Obama administration.
His nominated replacement, Gen. David Petraeus, will be able to make adjustments in war plans and tactics, including the rules of engagement that many troops feel handcuff their efforts, the officials said in a Pentagon news conference.
“Any new commander, Gen. Petraeus included, will go in, assess his command, and what it is going to take to achieve the mission,” said Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking alongside Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Petraeus “certainly has the flexibility to make changes that he thinks are necessary,” Mullen said.
“He’s very aware of the issue of civilian casualties. He’s very aware of the tactical directive” aimed at minimizing civilian casualties, Mullen said.
“He was involved in approving it — so now, he will be on the ground to see how it’s being executed, and make … changes that he would think would be appropriate. But that does not necessarily portend changes.”
“The president has established strategy,” Gates said. “But from my perspective, Gen. Petraeus will have the flexibility to look at the campaign plan and the approach and all manner of things.”
Both expressed deep admiration for McChrystal’s performance in Afghanistan. But what Gates called a “serious lapse in judgment” made his continuation in command unacceptable.
“I was nearly sick,” Mullen said of his reaction when he first read the story. “Literally, physically. I couldn’t believe it.”
Asked why the story had drawn such a visceral reaction when most of the negative comments were expressed by anonymous aides, Mullen said, “Gen. McChrystal is responsible for his people. And he has every bit as much responsibility for what was in that and what his people said as the individuals who said it — and the accountability that goes along with that.
“Gen. McChrystal understands that completely, reflected by the fact that he offered his resignation,” Mullen said.
Gates called McChrystal, whom Gates and Mullen had hand-picked a year ago to replace their former choice, Gen. David McKiernan, “one of the finest officers and warriors of his generation, who has an extraordinary record in leading the fight against some of this country’s most lethal enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
McChrystal and his staff, Gates said, “have served and protected this country in combat with great courage, valor, skill and devotion, for many years. Their outstanding record of service remains intact for posterity and is deserving of our lasting recognition and profound gratitude.”
Gates saying that if it hadn’t been for the magazine’s portrayal of McChrystal and his staff as generally disdainful of aspects of U.S. policy in Afghanistan and disrespectful of senior government civilians, “Gen. McChrystal would still be there, and executing … the strategy the president decided on and the campaign plan that McChrystal developed.”
But, Gates said, “the statements and attitudes reported in the news media are unacceptable under our form of government, and are inconsistent with the high standards expected of military leaders.”
Gates and Mullen defended the war effort in Afghanistan, despite widespread corruption concerns; difficulties in recruiting, training and retaining enough Afghan security force personnel; and reports of continued fighting in Marjah even as the Kandahar campaign — which McChrystal recently said wouldn’t get under way in earnest until fall — continues to heat up.
The overall situation in Marjah is improving despite continued Taliban resistance, Mullen said.
“This is classic counterinsurgency,” he said. “We haven’t put off the operation in Kandahar. … And in any operation, you make adjustments.”
“I do not believe we are bogged down,” Gates said. “I believe we are making some progress. It is slower, and harder than we anticipated.”
Gates said it was President Obama who first suggested Petraeus as a possible replacement when they met for a half-hour Tuesday afternoon.
Gates and Mullen said the selection of oft-deployed Petraeus is not evidence of a “weak bench” of generals qualified to take the job but rather, Gates said, of the need to find someone on short notice with the unique combination of good relations with key Afghani and Pakistani leaders, U.S. and allied military commanders, the campaign plan and current operations.
“We talked about other generals,” Gates said. “But my concern was that we not lose time, and that we not lose focus during a transition period. And it was evident that there was only one general officer who was in the position to move in with hardly a missed beat … and continue with this campaign.”
Having Petraeus agree on short notice to take the job, subject to Senate confirmation, Gates said, is “the best possible outcome to an awful situation.”
Related stories:
* http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/06/military_gatesmullen_mcchrystal_062410w/