How Do You Seriously Apologize For Something.......

[rsmith6621]

.....You said and really mean that YOU ARE SORRY for dissing people....... You either believe what you said or you don't...The General had enough time to reconcile this with those he dissed before the Rolling Stone article was unveiled... I think the General wants out from under Obamas authority...

[saltpoint]

1. Here's hoping that he gets his wish.

I agree with you-- he had plenty of time to try to cover this before publication and he also had enough residual sense to know that it was a stupid posture for him to take.

Also, and this is strictly my own view, I would never refer to Joe Biden as Joe "Bite Me," for fear that the street-smart rough-and-tumble Joe of earlier days would flare again and beat the crap out of me, a beating richly deserved. If McChrystal was doing his job he would have reprimanded his senior staff guy who made that remark with a reporter present. In the internet age that sort of comment can reach every PC in the world in about 5 minutes.

[Jennicut]

2. He called Biden Monday night...but never called Obama.

He is a strange bird.

[zipplewrath]

3. Sister Dorthy

Sister Dorthy taught that there were 3 stages to forgiveness.

1)The apology. The apology is an admission that what you said/did was wrong. It's not just sorry that you got caught, you actually have to acknowledge that what you did was wrong. He'd have to admit that dismissing the man, and the office, were both wrong. They were both worthy of serious respect and consideration even if you conclude that they are wrong.

2) Atonement. You have to make an effort to directly, or indirectly atone for your sins. This can be complicated for things that can't be reversed. You can make restitution where appropriate. But more often than not that really isn't in the cards. So you have do something along the line of contrition. Doing an act in compensation for what you've done. He might have to show up at a Charitable Organizations benefit that Biden supports or something.

3) Commitment to change. You have to commit yourself to changing such that you don't repeat your mistakes. This would mean that the good General would have to commit to treating all other people, especially the civilian command, with respect as equals and as men and women worthy of consideration. No dismissing out of hand any suggestion or concern "because of the source". And this would have to be communicated to his staff, sternly it appears, so that they don't dismiss others "by proxy".


I'm dubious he could be the commander he is, and has been, and probably the only kind he knows how to be, and behave in this manner.