the punchy tone of the McChrystal quotes, coupled with Gen. Petraeus’ collapse in front of Congress last week, suggests that these guys are close to worn out. That’s not a good thing, and it’s an unfortunate contrast to our golf-and-politics-as-usual political class in DC.Conservative Opinion is largely lining up in support of civilian control of the military, in spite of Obama's very serious shortcomings concerning Afghanistan. Some think that McChrystal should stay, (after some stern discipline) and blame Obama for the undisciplined atmosphere (not much different from the larger society) in which verbal sniping between the military and civilian leadership has been common. Not that they're all happy with General McChrystalmon other counts: Michael Yon, reporting from the ground in Afghanistan, has been very critical of his leadership. Others have called McChrystal "an accident waiting to happen".
The liberal media was pretty solidly lined up against President Bush when there was disagreement with his military policies (remember "Listen to the Generals?". But they seem to have re-discovered civilian control of the military now. Naturally.
Why is our effort in Iraq more successful than the one in Afghanistan? One possibile contributing factor.
Update: Obama has replaced McChrystal with Petraeus. Roundup of reactions by The Anchoress. Most people think he made a smart move. But this situation is, indeed, full of ironies.
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