Jim Mikawhatever at NBC says the Big Mac is toast.

TPM is also reporting toast.

Now MSNBC is saying Petraeus will take over the command. So much for an opportunity to change strategies. McCrystal was implementing Petraeus’s strategy.

Everybody says he’s gone, Petraeus likely replacement.

I fail to see why all of America must stop and hold its collective breath over this story.  I probably hate America, though.

Kevin, please ban Ripley. Thx.

It doesn’t affect the price of pork ‘n beans, Rip, but it’s kind of interesting. I was hoping it would be an opportunity to shit-can the entire failing strategy, but it looks like that’s not to be…

I still think he did it on purpose to wash his hands of the failed strategy.

And Kevin, after you get over your 2 beer bender please kick Ripley in the nads.

It’s fucking brilliant is what it is. 

That collective scream of “NOOOOOOOOOoooooo….” you heard a few minutes ago was from Keyboard Kommandoes across the nation when they heard Petraeus is replacing McChrystal.

It’s Petraeus.

Predictions: wingnuts will lose it over the pronunciation of “Pock-ee-stan” yet again…

Tying together privates and generals was pitch perfect.

Jeebus. MSNBC is interviewing Lieberman. Ugh.

BTW, I agree 100% that appointing Patraeus was brilliant politically. But unfortunately it means same old strategy, which Obama made McChrystal-clear in his remarks. Double ugh.

Lieberman just fellated Obama’s massive black tower of leadership on MSNBC. 

This Obama guy is good.

Obama’s plan for Afghanistan is to start getting out by this time next year.  I couldn’t see him changing that based on a prima donna’s media tantrum.  No drama Obama and all that.

McChrystal was building the case for a decade of COIN.  He was not on board with the mission.

BO looked fine. He made a smart pick. Good General and the GOP can’t say a word about it.

We’re still fucked, of course. I don’t think there’s any way to “win” this, and I’d be surprised if Petraeus sees any useful parallels between Afghanistan and Iraq. I’m not sure what he thinks he can do. Certainly, he has the credibility to sell the American public on any version of the war he decides to. I’m hoping that would include a modest definition of victory and an orderly withdrawal, but I’m a dreamer. I dread the thought that we may actually have larger ambiitons in Central Asia, but everybody does.

Certainly, he has the credibility to sell the American public on any version of the war he decides to. I’m hoping that would include a modest definition of victory and an orderly withdrawal…

Exactly right. What would serve as victory fig leaf? Bid Laden or his earthly remains would do the trick. But, of course, he’s not there…

Bid Laden or his earthly remains would do the trick. But, of course, he’s not there…

He’s in the Lincoln bedroom.

What would serve as victory fig leaf?

That’s the tough part. We can’t go back to the summer of 2001 when the Taliban were our allies and financial beneficiaries. My vote would be to turn Kabul into a heavily-fortified secular Vatican with Karzai as High Epopt, call it a fully-functioning independent democracy, and bolt for the door.

Ohhh, that Gen. Stan McChrystal… d’oh!

Strange, they won’t leave now that they’ve found all those minerals.

Lithium is like The Spice.

@justlen —Yes, but where are we going to get the damn Worms?

but where are we going to get the damn Worms?

PUMA

Besides, Len, we can’t stay there. It’s like China taking over Kansas. We’re surrounded on all sides by people who’d love to cut our throats, and who could rescind our air passage rites at any time. Hell, we’re going to have to pay someone just to let us leave.

Russia couldn’t do it, and they LIVE there. We have to project force halfway around the world 24/7, which is a bitch. Plus, if China or Russia decide they want the lithium, we’re fucked.

No. We need to irradiate all the lithium so that it will be useless to anyone else, then airlift the poppy fields to Colorado.

then airlift the poppy fields to Colorado.

I’ve got a nice big plain where we can put them. ;-)

and who could rescind our air passage rites at any time.

You do realize we only respect those when it’s convenient for us.

I don’t think our government troops will be there permanently, but I sure as shit do believe that favorable governments being put in place to ensure supplies of rapidly dwindling reources is a major driver behind a lot of our foreign policy now.

Remember, I’m the resident conspiracy nut that remains convinced China will eventually invade Russia.

Did anyone else hear Andrea Mitchell and Chris Matthews basically opining that the McChrystal thing was the latest evidence that our country is crashing down in ruins around us?  I really am beginning to think that these people need to get away from Washington for awhile.

Mar, “their” country IS crashing down in ruins around them. In “their” country, generals are only to be fellated, not held accountable.

McChrystal’s kind of funny looking.

In what way?

Oh, just in a general kind of way.

And Obama just put him in the wood chipper.