Security

Military Critic on McChrystal: 'Everybody in Uniform is Replaceable'

Lt. Col. Paul Yingling became a military folk hero when he called out his superior officers during the darkest days of the Iraq war. Now, he’s got some choice words for Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his team, after their beyond-inflammatory remarks to Rolling Stone. Yingling, a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for […]

Lt. Col. Paul Yingling became a military folk hero when he called out his superior officers during the darkest days of the Iraq war. Now, he's got some choice words for Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his team, after their beyond-inflammatory remarks to Rolling Stone. Yingling, a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies,* e-mails Danger Room:*

Commanders who indulge in sloppy, tough guy, cowboy lingo - "smackdown, scumbags," etc. tend to run sloppy, tough guy, cowboy operations. Units, and especially staffs, tend to adopt the language and demeanor of their commander.

Commanders of large formations can't possibly police every comment by every soldier and staff officer. However, as General Petraeus often says, it's important for senior leaders to set the right tone.

Insular backgrounds, whether in special operations or conventional forces, encourage tone-deafness. Applause lines in the testosterone driven subculture of combat units are not likely to play well on CNN. Senior commanders have to move easily between these two worlds, delivering a consistent message to very different audiences.

When I encourage young officers to go to grad school, I tell them to stay away from military people. Have lunch with the lesbian anarchists, attend the environmentalists' weekly emergency teach-ins, and try to see the world through different eyes. That skill will come in handy later on in life.

It's a bit premature to pass judgment on General McCrystal's situation. However, it's important to distinguish between our long-term interests and goals and those currently entrusted to carry out those goals. While we have long term interests in stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, everybody in uniform is replaceable.

Photo: U.S. Army

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