A farewell to Stan

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, July 23, 2010 - 11:03 AM Share

Gen. Stanley McChrystal's retirement ceremony is at 6 pm today. I wish him well, and remain interested in what he does next. Interestingly the ceremony is at Fort McNair, the post named for the highest-ranking officer killed in World War II by friendly fire.

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EXPLORE:MILITARY
 

BILL KELLER

11:41 PM ET

July 23, 2010

Walter Reed also died there...

...a post surgical infection from appendicitis. At the pinacle of great contribution, felled by a common pestulance.

 

J.D

12:15 AM ET

July 24, 2010

teaching point

hopefully he takes what happened (whatever really happened....primarily why it happened) and uses it to literally teach both civilian and military leaders....at ALL levels (to include students)

 

BILL KELLER

1:37 AM ET

July 24, 2010

Did anyone before the fall....

yell out to Stan that he was going to precipice? Gates, Mullen, Casey or even Petraeus? If he was so damn valuable as they say, whay wasn't this prevented. I suspect that our military forces are becoming platforms for ambitious free agents or patronage beneficiaries on their spiral upwards. This may be why emotional dinner speeches and after action investigations produce such anger or cynicism.

 

CAMELLIA

4:01 AM ET

July 24, 2010

sad

The end of a great career of a superb military leader! I hope he gets a great gig with one of the Beltway Bandits and continues his service to our nation in another capacity.

 

SOLDIERSDIARY

4:49 AM ET

July 24, 2010

never

never feel bad for a fired or forced into retirment general, especially 4-stars...they will get a larger retirment check then most people make in a year, not even including their next job which is sure to be in hte 6 digits...

 

JRHAMP

10:34 AM ET

July 24, 2010

The Why of the Korengal

Ego...group ego that was the downfall of General McC. Questions remain under General McC relative to the issues of Tillman...but, more important the "why" of placing KOP's in the Korengal Valley.

The initiative to get " up close" to the locals has resulted in many deaths that just did not have to be..some 40 US KIA left their ghosts of life lost in that place.

The General's legacy will not doubt be a subject of a book sometime in the future.

Paktia/Khost-2003

 

RUBBER DUCKY

6:00 PM ET

July 24, 2010

Let's start a fund

We need to collect some money so these poor Army folks can wear something besides pajamas. Fotos of McChrystal's retirement show the soldiers there - him included - all dressed in some kind of mottled garb that could only be jammies. Let's all chip in so they can wear dress uniforms at important ceremonies, just like the big kids.

 

BILL KELLER

1:47 AM ET

July 25, 2010

Stan made his final stand..

Didn't Gates decree that the warrior outfit was inappropriate for DC...maybe he will start a militia.

 

RUBBER DUCKY

10:51 AM ET

July 25, 2010

Ceremony across the Potomac

Ft McNair is in Virginia.

 

INTEL GEEK

7:39 PM ET

July 26, 2010

The Patch

Did you also notice the USASOC patch the "not authorized for wear by the Big Army in CONUS" subdued flag? I doubt either was by accident.

 

JPWREL

9:12 PM ET

July 24, 2010

Just a guess but I suspect in

Just a guess but I suspect in about fifteen to twenty years as professional historians begin to research the wars in both Iraq and Af/Pak they will sketch out the various commanders including McChrystal and Petraeus in a very different light than we see them today. This is not surprising of course since in the after glow of history circumstances and events take on a different shape and leave us with altered impressions. Right now a more detached appraisal is difficult since these personalities are surrounded by their own drumbeaters banging out their praises. But time is remorseless and will eventually bring out something resembling less myth and closer to the truth.

 

OPSUPPORTER

5:32 PM ET

July 25, 2010

Ft. McNair

Ft. Myer is in Virginia near Arlington National Cemetery.

"Fort Lesley J. McNair, DC is located on the point of land where the Potomac and Anacostia rivers join in Washington, D.C. It has been an Army post for more than 200 years, third only to West Point and Carlisle Barracks in length of service."

 

RUBBER DUCKY

6:17 PM ET

July 25, 2010

Check check

Ft Myer in VA. McNair in DC. Tks.

 

J.D

1:17 AM ET

July 26, 2010

Lady Gaga

interesting that the cover of the magazine that helped get a 4star commander relieved was a picture of Lady Gaga in her best Madonna outfit......fascinating

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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