Rolling Stone McChrystal Profile: The End of Fly-on-the-Wall Reporting?

Just another example of a liberal reporter assignating a public figure. Every reporter dreams of being the next Woodward or Berstein

True, the military is subserviant to civilian control, no mater how poorly the civilian performs or how little he knows of military operations, but is concerned about political considerations instead

I'm with you aerialbattlebat when I was in uniform we put it this way "shut up and Soldier"

These comments were made in an informal atmosphere and were not "official" so to speak...the reporter really invaded the privacy of these men and printed an article which was just basically a cheap gossip piece. I can't imagine Cronkite being in an informal setting with Churchill and FDR and reporting what might be said after Churchill had a few scotches and was revealing his feelings about Stalin. What is said informally is private. Can you imagine the problems during WWII if reporters like Cronkite and Murrow did not have respect for the privacy of those on whom they reported. Comments made at private anniversary party where the participants are relaxed, imbibing, and enjoying each other's company should not be treated as a journalistic interview...reporting overheard comments in a setting such as this is merely gossip obtained by eavesdropping. Some journalist! What amazes me is that no one seems to know the difference between this article and real reporting/journalism....Cronkite and Murrow must be turning in their graves. Frankly, it is so TMZ....put it right up there with the furor over reporting on some star in "fat jeans" because she gained a few pounds. Just plain Tacky...but we seem to live in a very "tacky" society these days.

I finally read the Rolling Stones article and, while some of the remarks of his aides were intemperate, it didn't rise to hype created prior to its' release. I can understand Obama replacing him; afterall McChrystal did box him into accepting a strategy he didn't want and now McC's aides are whining about there being no "win" available. And it was monumentally stupid to allow a Rolling Stone writer that kind of access. Exactly what other kind of slant did they think Hastings was going to put on it? But I'm not sure this will end "fly on the wall" reporting. Bush/Cheney were pretty controlling, but Woodward seemed to have enough access to get a couple of books out of it. I doubt Obama will allow it - they control it more than even Bush/Cheney. But we'll only have to wait 2 more years to see if it changes as there will be a new resident in the White House.

I served in the military during wartime, and am amazed that the General allowed himself to ignore one of the most basic military commandments; regardless of personal feelings, one must respect one's superiors. Inwardly we truly respected those that earned it the most, but outwardly-especially "in the heat of battle" -we understood our lives depended on discipline. With the exception of unlawful orders, all soldiers from E-1 through 4-star respect, adhere to, and obey superiors' commands. Much of this military discipline derives from the outward appearance of respect! I remember standing on a hot parade ground, celebrating some General's retirement whom I had never heard of before, and thinking what a jerk he must be for making all us poor sods bake our brains out just so he could have a nice sendoff. But if you or anyone had asked me in public, I would have 100% supported the man and left you with only the highest opinion of him. That's the way its done. I don't care how high up or how long-served, General McChrystal should have done what every good soldier does; think what you will about your C.O. but keep your mouth SHUT.

When I was raising my children, one of the first things they were taught, was that when socializing with their friends, they should NEVER say anything mean, or ugly about anyone in the group they were currently with, and most certainly NOT EVER say anything about some acquaintance who was NOT PRESENT. If you had something unpleasant or bad to say about a person, it should only be said directly to THAT PERSON. That would allow the other person an opportunity to defend themselves about any comments being made. I guess the good General didn't have that training in his classes before becoming General.

What troubles me most is how this administration took the lime light off of the context of "what" was said and spun it into "bad general" without regard for the troops who are currently in harms way and "what" should be done to improve their chances of survival and ultimate victory.

Obama and his Vanity Administration are a disgrace to all of US who've served.

Rolling Stone has screwed up chances for journalists to get embeded with troops now.

Oh, what the hell, just blame it all on Obama.

Before his interview with Hastings, McChrystal's motor-mouth got him in trouble twice. In London, he made personal assessments that were not cleared by either the DOD or Pentagon. He was forced to take back those words and eat a few crumbs of humble pie. He seems not to have learned how to hold his tongue since he spoke out of turn again, this time in Paris. His superiors made him eat those words, too. The general was also the architect of the Jessica Lynch PR stunt turned PR fiasco. And later when one of Lynch's Special Forces rescuers, Pat Tillman, died in Afghanistan, McChrystal used the former football star's death for PR purposes which ultimately backfired. As for COIN, a pull-the-rabbit-out-of-the-hat trick for a stratagem is a logistical nightmare; its tepid implementation eight years too late. If the Stone hadn't rolled out McChrystal's red carpet ego, the imminent failure of COIN would have rolled up his career.