How Can Obama “Listen to the General” In Charge of Afghanistan If He Has Only Spoken to Him Once?

Obviously, Obama has higher priorities! Like seeing how many times he can say “I” or “my” in his next speech!

General Stanley McChrystal told CBS reporter David Martin in a television interview that aired Sunday on 60 Minutes that he’s only spoken with the President once in the 70 days since being appointed by Obama to oversee our efforts in Afghanistan.

Remember that during the 2008 campaign and at the start of the Obama Administration the focus was on making Afghanistan the highest priority national security issue.

Remember also that in 2008, candidate Obama promised to listen to the generals. This was a mantra that Democrats beat like a drum during the Bush years.

But now, the Gen. McChrystal writes a requested report leaked in PDF in which he says:

“Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near-term (next 12 months) — while Afghan security capacity matures — risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible.”

Time is critical to turning this situation around. But Obama’s response is to wait, study and evaluate. Evaluate what? Either you believe the general you appointed knows what he is talking about and give him the support he requests or you don’t.

Team Obama will only start discussing the issue this week with the first of what is billed as a series of meetings with no deadline set for reaching a decision regarding Gen. McChrystal’s request for tens of thousands of additional troops.

How long will we have to wait until a reporter asks Obama why he doesn’t listen to his general?

How long will our troops in Afghanistan have to wait to find out whether the Commander in Chief will support their mission?