CNN RW meme: Cut the general some slack

[unhappycamper]

Editor's note: Frances Fragos Townsend, a CNN contributor on national security issues, was President George W. Bush's chief anti-terrorism and homeland security adviser. She is a partner in the law firm of Baker Botts LLP, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a consultant for Raytheon, a component manufacturer for drones used by the U.S. military in Afghanistan.


Cut the general some slack
By Frances Fragos Townsend, Special to CNN
June 22, 2010 6:49 p.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal has issued an apology for a controversial Rolling Stone profile. President Obama needs to accept it and focus on winning the war in Afghanistan.

Over the last decade, I have had the privilege to work with McChrystal and found him to be, as his apology states, a man who lives by "the principles of personal honor and professional integrity." Nobody -- no man or woman, no general or soldier -- is perfect.

The remarks in the Rolling Stone article attributed to the general and his staff warrant the very apology that he has issued. Because McChrystal is a true leader, he shoulders the blame, not just for his comments but also for all those who spoke with the Rolling Stone reporter. Cooperating with profile pieces is always risky, and this one is a good example of why.

But let's be clear.

The real betrayal here is not of the president and those in Washington by McChrystal, but by the general's staff of their military commander. In the midst of battle, a military commander's staff becomes his war zone combat unit. Among them, he is in the one and only place where he should be able to speak his mind without fear of it being repeated. I, for one, have said things at home out of frustration and anger that I don't expect my family to repeat to The Washington Post.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "We aplogize." - Republicon Homelanders

"We are soooo sorry that President Obama might actually employ the Uniform Military Code to discipline our right-wing A-hole after he did such a fabulous job covering up the truth about Army Ranger Pat Tillman, and such fabulous FAIL in terms of accomplishing any of the actual goals for our republicon crusade in Afghanistan."

- Republicon Homelanders

[redqueen]

2. Wow.

Baker Botts LLP *and* Raytheon?

CNN is shameless.