Reply #21: You do question orders

[Gaedel]

A good soldier questions orders when they don't make sense or when he feels the person giving the orders might lack information on which his decision was based. Yes, the answer might be "do it anyway" and then you shut up and do it.

All the President has to do is to whisper in the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff's ear and McChrystal will be told to submit retirement papers immediately and McChrystal will do exactly that and be gone.

The problem for the president is a political one. He appointed McChrystal and supported McChrystal and if he fires him, he might be perceived as looking weak. It is the same as firing a cabinet member for saying the wrong thing.

The president and his advisers have to think through which is politically worse, having a general kvetching about the administration or firing the general.