‘Cheney Praises McChrystal’
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The headline says it all. Smack in a middle of his latest FOX News torture apologia, ex-Veep Cheney says President Obama would be “hard put to find anyone better than Stan McChrystal” to lead the forces in Afghanistan.
Oh, and for good measure, Max Boot and Charles Krauthammer approve, too.
Coming from Cheney, who has spent the last month condoning torture, or so-called “harsh interrogation techniques,” of detainees in his administration’s GWOT (global war on terror), this statement is quite apropos. Too bad the perverse joke will be lost on most people reading the mainstream news accounts of Gen. McChrystal’s ascension this week. To read it, McChrystal is one resounding chord in the evolving ballad of the new Army versus the Old, the “fresh eyes” versus the crusty cataracts, conventional versus asymmetric. McChrystal “gets it,” all the cool COIN blogs say. McKiernan — he was a stand-up guy — just didn’t.
Day two into this story and The New York Times is talking about McChrystal’s iPod and “encyclopedic” knowledge of terrorists, while WaPo talks about his “exhaustive energy” and being “big into road marching” in the 1980’s. Thankfully, the “scary smart” moniker has already done it’s rounds, for now. Both reports acknowledge the general’s role in the Pat Tillman cover-up might strain upcoming confirmation hearings.
But seeing that the whole of Washington is up to its very eyeballs in torture memos, torture hearings and the expected release of torture photos, one would expect the major papers of record to talk about long-standing accusations of torture practiced by an covert elite task force headed up by one Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Sure they nibble at the edges — WaPo calls him a “manhunter,” who must transcend the “perception that he is, at his core, an Army Ranger, an elite practitioner of rapid-fire raids intended to ‘find, fix, finish’ the enemy.” Sounds like a Schwarzenegger film. The NYT admits, “Most of what General McChrystal has done over a 33-year career remains classified, including service between 2003 and 2008 as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, an elite unit so clandestine that the Pentagon for years refused to acknowledge its existence.”
But what the blogs have been talking about at length and what the mainstreamers seem to be afraid to acknowledge, is that McChrystal can be placed at the very center of the controversy the Obama Administration is now wrestling with and Cheney seeks to defend: the torture and abuse — sanctioned and delegated from the top — of battlefield detainees throughout the GWOT theater under President Bush. It doesn’t take long to click through and read in-depth accounts of the goings-on under McChrystal’s special operations command in The Atlantic (May 2007) and Esquire (August 2006).
Just a taste from Richardson’s piece:
This was Camp Nama, the home of Task Force 121, the Special Ops team that chased Osama bin Laden and caught Saddam Hussein and would ultimately locate and kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the self-described leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. It was Rumsfeld’s baby, the Platonic ideal of his fast and mobile army. From its size to its mission, everything about it was and remains an official secret. (Snip)
It was a point of pride that the Red Cross would never be allowed in the door, Jeff says. This is important because it defied the Geneva Conventions, which require that the Red Cross have access to military prisons. “Once, somebody brought it up with the colonel. ‘Will they ever be allowed in here?’ And he said absolutely not. He had this directly from General McChrystal and the Pentagon that there’s no way that the Red Cross could get in — they won’t have access and they never will. This facility was completely closed off to anybody investigating, even Army investigators.”Given Task Force 121’s history, that was a remarkable promise. Formed in the summer of 2003, it quickly became notorious. By August the CIA had already ordered its officers to avoid Camp Nama. Then two Iraqi men died following encounters with Navy Seals from Task Force 121 — one at Abu Ghraib and one in Mosul — and an official investigation by a retired Army colonel named Stuart Herrington, first reported in The Washington Post, found evidence of widespread beatings. “Everyone knows about it,” one Task Force officer told Herrington. Six months later, two FBI agents raised concerns about suspicious burn marks and other signs of harsh treatment. Then the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency reported that his men had seen evidence of prisoners with burn marks and bruises and once saw a Task Force member “punch [the] prisoner in the face to the point the individual needed medical attention.”
Not to diminish it’s importance, but why the NYT and WaPo would think the Pat Tillman cover-up might be more of an obstacle to McChrystal’s confirmation than stuff like this is beyond me. Really. I feel like I am missing something here. Perhaps it’s simply because the anointed, conventional media filters on the Right and Left like this guy, and have already embraced a narrative of why he was chosen: because he “gets” the “new war” and that the “new” President is “changing course” to overcome the quagmire that “Af-Pak” became under his predecessor.
That McChrystal himself might carry the ugly baggage from that predecessor’s policies just doesn’t fit the script.
Filed under: Uncategorized, War
[...] #3: Kelley Vlahos in TAC. But what the blogs have been talking about at length and what the mainstreamers seem to be [...]
The NYT gives the general, perhaps intentionally, the back-handed compliment of the year,
“[McChrystal] is said to move easily between the political and military realms”
Add to that approving descriptions of him as “sneaky” and “stealthy.” Why am I (and I imagine many under his command) not reassured?
Don’t you libs get it? It’s not torture if WE do it, only if THEY do it. Also, Jesus would approve of torture, even though it was done to him, because he’s an American too.
The larger subtext is the aura of military exceptionalism that was successfully cultivated by the Bush administration. The war could be criticized but not the warfighter. Fair enough. Even the Left bought into that. However the exceptionalism label morphed the warfighter into “warrrior as nation builder”, “warrior as statesman”, “warrior as political analyst”, “warrior as whatever”. The assumption of military exceptionalism now transcends every domain. The military can not be criticized in those expanded capacities either.
Neo-conservative understanding has elevated military competence above all others. You have problem of any kind, send the military. Of course the military buys into that assignation of specialness. Why wouldn’t they? Under that rubric, a guy like McCrystal is assumed to wear a costume with an “S” on his chest by the cognoscenti, when in fact he may be a reckless cowboy.
As long as the ethos of military exceptionalism permeates the political elite on both the Right and the Left, we’re gonna be in a lotta wars for a long time.
McChrystal knows all about the Patrick Daniel Tillman assassination.
Three Tight Forehead Group
Most senior officers’ involvement in the Tillman fiasco would cause me to assume no more than the withholding of information (in that charmingly clumsy fashion of military brass), but McChrystal’s knack and love for the covert has me wondering just how far he may have ventured into deliberate fabrication.
Let’s hope someone uses the occasion of his hearing to grill him on the subject at length.
SteveM — Great analysis — depressing — but spot on.
“McChrystal can be placed at the very center of the controversy the Obama Administration is now wrestling with and Cheney seeks to defend: the torture and abuse — sanctioned and delegated from the top”
Kind of says it all doesn’t it. Real Conservatives respect our Federal Laws and revere our Constitution.
SIGN THE PETITION Ca;;ing for a Special Prosecutor
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
.
[...] and feels just the warmongering of his predecessor. As dutifully (and cheerfully) noted by the American Conservative: Smack in a middle of his latest FOX News torture apologia, ex-Veep Cheney says President Obama [...]
Hmm…first ouster of a theater commander since MacArthur….war expanding to Pakistan, hundreds of civilians killed….somehow I’m not feeling any safer. Neither does libertarian Army vet Lonnie Holcomb, whom I interviewed today…see youtube.com/watch?v=6lHxnA8AuoY
Cheney seems to be still in charge. Obama backs down on every confrontation with a Cheney position. I voted for Obama and pray he soon finds a spine! The swindlers have taken over our Treasury, and the war mongers are full speed ahead in Iraq and “Af/Pak”.
The Geneva Convention only applies to military forces of recognized governments, not terrorist combatants. If you want to use international law and treaties learn what you are talking about. Terrorist have no protection under international law.
As for the Tillman remark. Leave the man alone. If all the conspiracy theories where even partially credible Kevin Tillman would not of stayed in the Regiment. Not only did he stay, but he finished his entire enlistment in the 2d/75th. That is the same battalion his brother served in. He was with the separated group that fateful night. We have lost many Ranger brothers in this war and just as many in training. So where the hell are all the cries for those guys. Between I believe 1978 and 2001 over 37 Rangers have died in training accidents (gun shots, jump accidents, helicopter/plane crash, bus, artillery, drownings etc.)
You people who have not served our great country need to respect those who do and when it come to special operation forces and how they operate, you all need to shut your mouths. You have no clue as to whet you are talking about.
I went through far worse than what you people are calling torture. College fraternities,sororities, elite military units, survival schools, ivy league universities for hundreds of years. Some people say corporal punishment is child abuse. Every enemy combatant is going to say he was tortured. Why not the media and you people will believe them without any proof. The same guys who was going to blow up a school full of little kids or some other innocent civilian. I say take no prisoners than. Problem solved.
RLTW
Okay, if “it’s not torture”, then for centuries people have cried
about “Jesus the victim” of torture by Romans, etc.
Now it turns out that was NOT torture and just a bunch of hype?
Oh, if Dick Cheney says so, “it must be true”. LOL
Mark – thanks for illustrating my point first hand about the dangers of military exceptionalism – SteveM
Paid Troll;
Many of us have “served”.
Some more than once.
Why would any realistic person care what a liberal thinks about military officers. They don’t even exist in the same universe. According to your basic liberal all things military are evil anyway. Indeed if it were up to your basic liberal a military officer couldn’t be confirmed for any job because they have demonstrated a track record of approving violence.
Mark – rangers are typically college-educated. While you choose to sound like you are not, I assume you are indeed a Ranger (or ex-SpecOps of some sort).
Your frustration with dishonest liberals was expressed as “I say take no prisoners than. Problem solved.” We assume you were making a point, and not advocating murder.
Up until 2002, we in the military (and the CIA, etc) WERE taught that “the” Geneva Convention applied only to uniformed soldiers, regardless of how informal the uniform may be.
The ICRC (International Red Cross) became full of people who had an “anti-American” agenda, and they changed their website and the wordings of the various “Geneva Conventions”, and they ABSOLUTELY blur any distinction between civilians, terrorists, and regular soldiers. They CLEARLY (now) consider ANYTHING except formal and polite interview as TORTURE.
Your distinction between “torture” as defined by permanent damage and organ failure, and the rabid-liberal definition of “TORTURE” as ANYTHING THAT OFFENDS THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS, will be completely lost on the BUSH-HATERS. You will be painted as argeeing with every bad thing that has happened (if, indeed, that was NOT your intention).
Steve M. great post.
Mark – scary post.
Mark you suggest as Americans what the military does to people it captures is none of our business. That’s wrong. The military represents our country. I served just like you. I believed we had better morals than our enemies. Under your prescription, we don’t. We can be just like them. What is right or wrong is not an objective standard it is what the military commander decides.
This goes beyond the issue of torture. We’ve had people die in military custody. You apparently think that’s all right too. If that’s the case, what are we fighting for? To become like the criminals of Germany, Japan, North Vietnam, etc. Read Steve’s post again and tell me why the military is above the law.
I never said the military was above the law. I said if you are going to use the law at least understand and know what you are talking about. Read the Geneva Convention PART I, GENERAL PROVISIONS, Article 3. You have to understand there are these things called laws and in the written law things (words, actions, acts) are defined and only the definitions used within the law applies. I’m not defining anything. Numerous law scholars are on record as stating that water boarding does not meet the definition of torture as defined within the law, not just Bush’s AG. Political ideology and emotions need to be put aside.
TomT-Yes, I served in the Rangers as well as other units, I also did some work/training down south after my military days. I have a M.S. degree, a wife and three kids. I work long hours and usually surf the net at night if I can not sleep. I choose to use simple words and basic sentence structure and no I could careless what any one thinks about me, Liberals or not. I have done more and seen more then most will ever see or do.
No, I was making a point. The US military are volunteers from within the population of the US, so, therefore, it is reasonable to assume you will have a certain percentage of people in the military just like within the civilian population that break the law. Most, if not 99% of military personnel are outstanding law abiding service men and women. While training and Chain of Command goes a long way in keeping a handle on the few bad apples there is always one or two that fall through the cracks. I do not like it, but that is a reality. Those individuals need to be held accountable for their actions and the punishment need to be severe and swift.
Now, explain to me how sleep deprivation, loud music, being forced to stand for hours is torture. I never said to beat, cut, twist or pull information out of individuals. The Intel guys can tell you that does not provide actionable intel. I have no problem making them live in the same conditions that our troops are living in (tents, MREs, no special diets, or extra privileges) or just making their lives miserable by making them work for low pay just like prison.
Lets put this into context being there is a war being fought. War is a very dirty, nasty business. There is nothing humane or pleasant about it. Forget all the Hollywood war movies you grew up watching. We have Rule of Engagements, Articles of War (predates the Geneva Convention) the Geneva Convention, plus the media oversight (arm chair generals) whom have nothing on the line with there decisions second guessing everything. The US military is usually the only one playing by the rules. We put our soldiers lives at greater risk to reduce civilian casualties. Our infantry soldiers would rather go into urban combat and conduct house to house fighting to get at the enemy combatants who want to hide among the civilians hoping to trick the Americans into calling in an air strike where they can blame the US for killing civilians.
llyonnoc, I said no such thing. I said for those who have not served inside Special Operation units not to speak about things they know nothing about. How you can go from my saying not to talk about special operation units and their methods of operation, to not saying anything about what the military does with people it captures is beyond me.
llyonnoc-I guess no one has died in police custody. The police have never abused a prisoner. Stop thinking as if the military operates in a vacuum. It does not. As I previously stated, the military is a microcosm of the US population. The good and the bad. So following your logic if I support the police that is a bad thing as well. Like I said, you will find bad people within any organization. I believe there are a few soldiers that were captured alive, why the hell is no one talking about them and worried about how they are being treated.
Steve, just what do you know about LTG.McChrystal? What do you think is the perfect type of general to place in control of operation in Astan? What gov’t agency or program has the capabilities to do what Special Forces and Civil Affairs do?
A few bad apples and everyone wants to condemn the whole bbunch. Not everything the media reports are facts. The story usually changes as more facts are uncovered during an investigation, but if the charges against the military personnel are shown to be unfounded the media just goes on to the next story without running a front page story saying they got it wrong.
Call me what you want. If you were attacked or your family member was in danger I would be one of the first people you would want to help you and do your fighting for you. I love my country and what it stands for. I’m a Ranger and when I fight I fight to win. I served because I believed in what our country stands for, I just did not say it I put my money where my mouth was and stepped up to the plate. I went all the way and became a Ranger (battboy for those who know what that means). If you want torture send the spec4 mafia to talk with them.
darker-No, what the Romans did to Jesus was not torture, it was inhumane punishment by our standards. It was a common practice at that time. He was sentence to a public beating and crucifixion. Crucifixion was a common method used by the Romans and others at that time. Torture is the use of various methods to inflect physical pain and suffering to obtain information from an individual or individuals. So I do not know what point you are trying to make. We were not discussing religion.
RLTW
Another brother has fallen. RIP brother. I will meet you at the rally point.
RLTW