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Gen. McCrystal is now openly challenging the government in Washington by claiming that his failures are all the fault of the Washington beauracracy and by demanding that his massive escalation of the Afghan-Pakistan war be put into effect with limited debate. President Harry Truman knew how to respond.During the Korean War, President Truman faced a very similar situation. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the regional commander, was challenging his authority and leadership. MacArthurr similarly claimed the only reason he wasn't winning the war was because of the limitations placed on him by Washington. And similarly, Gen. MacArthur claimed to have a strategy that would be guaranteed to win the war if only he was allowed to execute it.
First off, is there anyone today who isn't glad that MacArthur didn't get to follow his strategy. Gen. MacArthur's brilliant strategy was to use nuclear weapons against China. With hindsight, about all anyone can say today is to say "Thank Gawd" that MacArthur didn't get to launch his holocaust.
But, more to the point of today's news, President Truman knew exactly to handle an aggressive general who thinks he should be in charge. He fired him. On the spot. Appointed his replacement and told MacArthur to come home.
There was political turmoil. There was talk of MacArthur being the Republican candidate against Truman. But in the end, MacArthur went to West Point and gave his speech with the famous line about how 'old solidiers never die, they just fade away.'
And then he did fade away. The Korean War didn't escalate into WW3. We didn't launch more nuclear weapons. The free world didn't collapse when the ceasefire in Korea took place.
President Harry Truman knew exactly how to handly this situation. Now, we get to see if Obama is another Harry Truman, or not.
