17 Burst results for "Stan Mcchrystal"
Bloomberg Radio New York
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Bloomberg Radio New York
"The deep programming I think is not the politically correct term I think the radicalization is the term that these consultants and nonprofits prefer But it's this idea that people who fall into extreme belief systems can be talked out of it and treating these extreme belief systems And they really run the gamut from radical Islam radical islamism to kind of far right white nationalist type extremism And as you say they're treating it like an addiction And it's something that these people are compelled to do And one of the most interesting things in this article to me that the main character enemies are really breathtaking story and I don't want to ruin the whole thing But the main character who's a young man who has fallen in with various extreme ideologies he bounces between ideologies It's not like he embraces radical Islam but then he falls into sort of far right White nationalist type behavior And then he gets into snakes you know And so it's just this thing where I think the Internet in particular has exploited vulnerabilities that some percentage of population have where they're just drawn to these ideologies Internet kind of turbochargers it All right that's max Jeff Features that are Bloomberg business speaker special double issue the persuasion issue it's out on newsstands and online now Coming up retired four star general Stan McChrystal on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and dealing with risks in all walks of life feel listening to Bloomberg businessweek.
Bloomberg Radio New York
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Bloomberg Radio New York
"We'll safe to say he knows a lot about the subject of risk dealing with it facing it managing it and Tim now writing about it Retired four star general Stan McChrystal is former commander of the joint special operations in Iraq and founder of the McChrystal group his latest book risk a user's guide aims to help individuals and organizations mitigate risk Yeah he's lived a life filled with the deadly risks of combat We know that We began though our conversation along those lines by asking for his thoughts on the recent U.S. Military withdrawal from Afghanistan where he also served I was sad to see the way it played out overall Because many of us became very emotionally connected with Afghanistan So it's important to remember that because I also would tell you that's one of the reasons my views are biased by my personal opinion I think that some fortunate we pulled out But I would say that I think President Biden made a courageous decision I mean the accord that was signed in Doha by president Trump's administration essentially set a hard date of 1 May 2021 So President Biden was faced with the choice of either abrogating that agreement and extending the war or following it which is essentially what he did People ask me if I agreed with it and my answer is I respect the decision by the commander in chief It's not the recommendation I would have made but that's the way our system is supposed to work Military leaders provide best advice and then president decides The top U.S. Military officer we're talking about general Mark milley chairman of the joint chiefs of staff He called the 20 year war in Afghanistan a strategic failure Why was that And do you agree Well I couldn't argue with the fact that it was a failure of somebody if I tried to say no it's a success I think that be disingenuous However I will say that it wasn't completely for nought Afghanistan is a very different country than it was in 2001 when we went back So the reality is the 20 years of educational opportunities for females for young people and other advances that Taliban are going to try to control a very different state And I'm hopeful in the long term that either causes them to change the way they lead or open opportunities for different governance I'm wondering general McChrystal if the way that the United States left Afghanistan if it tarnishes the United States reputation in the view of countries around the world It certainly doesn't help There were some miscalculations that came out and I don't plan to fall with the planning But things happen But the reality is when people see it from afar whether they are potential enemies in which case they might think less of us or our potential allies and they are trying to decide if we are a reliable capable partner So in a very public world as I'll describe it every time you have a challenge like that It has some effect on your reputation So like a commercial firm We now need to work on that We need to pay attention and work to try to recover a better off ground there Well the world continues to find itself in some incredibly risky situations Your book is all about it And I think about the financial crisis the pandemic that we're still dealing with today's increasingly crisis within the energy sector cyberattacks our leaders ignoring the signs are their systems for detecting risk not good currently focusing on the wrong signs and methodologies or risk in terms of obviously pulling out of something like Afghanistan Yeah I would say first we don't assess risk very well because we're always externally trying to predict what they will be and when they'll come And that's really just too hard because they're too buried I think we need to be looking internal more What is it that you think a leader needs to keep in mind when it comes to diversity and assessing risk I think we think about diversity too often as just gender or race or religious background We're really talking about different perspectives And so if we talk about bringing together a team we'll call it a board of directors or anything else If you have diversity on an on a superficial level of general and whatnot you might not have diversity of perspective You might have people all from the same background all bankers or whatever And so what they'll do is they'll leave blind spots And diversity needs to be thought of not as equality a quality is a legal right and a moral right Diversity is an operational necessity for organization So ensuring that you've got people that are looking from every different angle and bring different experience of expertise Have a question for you And I'm going to give credit where credit's due because your team kind of shared some thoughts with us But one of the things that came to their mind and we think this is just spot on is how do you feel U.S. leadership dealt with COVID-19 And what could have been done differently Yeah that's a great question I think they fumbled it pretty badly If you think about COVID-19 although it is a dangerous risk it's not ten feet tall It's not unbeatable And it wasn't unexpected We have this kind of challenge every few years and we know a lot about public health So we actually know what to do about it And then of course we've got the help with the scientific miracle of fast vaccine But if you think about from the beginning what we really needed was clear communication even admitting what we don't know informing the national population And then we needed a clear narrative How is it is our nation going to deal with that Tell people if we want to use a war analogies I think would have been appropriate We asked every American to take part in the common defense of every other American And then of course we go down the willingness to make decisions overcome the inertia that sometimes causes us issues And the ability to be adaptable is things change like the rise of the delta variant In almost every case we fumbled it pretty badly and I would argue that the 700,000 Americans that we have lost is far more than we ever needed to lose Do you think general McChrystal Americans would have made that sacrifice if it was communicated to them in the way that you communicated it to us It does seem like right now there is not a sense of shared sacrifice among all of us right now with the way that people act when it comes to being asked to wear a mask taking a vaccine a vaccine mandate that sort of thing Jimmy you're right I think that they would have of course we couldn't approve it until we did it But if we go back in time our history when we have asked the American people to sacrifice and be a part of that we hadn't very good results And I think that's the only way to go when we're trying to do something that affects all of us That was retired four star general Stan.
Bloomberg Radio New York
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Bloomberg Radio New York
"It facing it managing it and Tim now writing about it Retired four star general Stan McChrystal is former commander of the joint special operations in Iraq and founder of the McChrystal group his latest book risk a user's guide aims to help individuals and organizations mitigate risk Yeah he's lived a life filled with the deadly risks of combat We know that We began though our conversation along those lines by asking for his thoughts on the recent U.S. Military withdrawal from Afghanistan where he also served I was sad to see the way it played out overall Because many of us became very emotionally connected with Afghanistan So it's important to remember that because I also would tell you that's one of the reasons my views are biased by my personal opinion I think that some fortunate we pulled out But I would say that I think President Biden made a courageous decision I mean the accord that was signed in Doha by president Trump's administration essentially set a hard date of 1 May 2021 So President Biden was faced with the choice of either abrogating that agreement and extending the war or following it which is essentially what he did People asked me if I agreed with it And my answer is I respect the decision by the commander in chief It's not the recommendation I would have made but that's the way our system is supposed to work Military leaders provide best advice and then president decides The top of his military officer we're talking about general Mark milley chairman of the joint chiefs of staff He called the 20 year war in Afghanistan a strategic failure Why was that And do you agree Well I couldn't argue with the fact that it was a failure of somebody if I tried to say no it's a success I think that'd be disingenuous However I will say that it wasn't completely for nought Afghanistan is a very different country than it was in 2001 when we went back So the reality is the 20 years of educational opportunities for females for young people and other advances that Taliban are going to try to control a very different state And I'm hopeful in the long-term that either causes them to change the way they lead or open opportunities for different governance I'm wondering general McChrystal if the way that the United States left Afghanistan if it tarnishes the United States reputation in the view of countries around the world It certainly doesn't help There were some miscalculations that came out and I don't plan to fall with the planning But things happen But the reality is when people see it from afar whether they are potential enemies in which case they might think less of us or our potential allies and they are trying to decide if we are a reliable capable partner So in a very public world as I'll describe it every time you have a challenge like that It has some effect on your reputation So like a commercial firm We now need to work on that We need to pay attention and work to try to recover a better loss ground there Well the world continues to find itself in some incredibly risky situations Your book is all about it And I think about the financial crisis the pandemic that we're still dealing with today's increasingly crisis within the energy sector cyberattacks our leaders ignoring the signs are their systems for detecting risk not good currently focusing on the wrong signs and methodologies or risk in terms of obviously pulling out of something like Afghanistan Yeah I would say first we don't assess risk very well because we're always externally trying to predict what they will be and when they'll come And that's really just too hard because they're too varied I think we need to be looking internal more What is it that you think a leader needs to keep in mind when it comes to diversity and assessing risk I think we think about diversity too often is just gender or race or religious background We're really talking about different perspectives And so if we talk about bringing together a team we'll call it a board of directors or anything else If you have diversity on an on a superficial level of general and whatnot you might not have diversity of perspective You might have people all from the same background all bankers or whatever And so what they'll do is they'll leave blind spots and diversity needs to be thought of not as equality a quality is a legal right and a moral right Diversity is an operational necessity for organization So ensuring that you've got people that are looking from every different angle and bring different experience and expertise Have a question for you And I'm going to give credit where credit's due because your team kind of shared some thoughts with us But one of the things that came to their mind and we think this is just spot on is how do you feel U.S. leadership dealt with COVID-19 And what could have been done differently Yeah that's a great question I think they fumbled it pretty badly If you think about COVID-19 although it is a dangerous risk it's not ten feet tall It's not unbeatable And it wasn't unexpected We have this kind of challenge every few years and we know a lot about public health So we actually know what to do about it And then of course we got the help with the scientific miracle of a fast vaccine But if you think about from the beginning what we really needed was clear communication even admitting what we don't know informing the national population And then we needed a clear narrative How is it is our nation going to deal with that Tell people if we want to use a war analogies I think would have been appropriate We asked every American to take part in the common defense of every other American And then of course we go down the willingness to make decisions overcome the inertia that sometimes causes us issues And the ability to be adaptable is things change like the rise of the delta variant And almost every case we fumbled it pretty badly And I would argue that the 700,000 Americans that we have lost is far more than we ever needed to lose Do you think general McChrystal Americans would have made that sacrifice if it was communicated to them in the way that you communicated it to us It does seem like right now there is not a sense of shared sacrifice among all of us right now with the way that people act when it comes to being asked to wear a mask taking a vaccine a vaccine.
News Radio 1190 KEX
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on News Radio 1190 KEX
"After 20 years. One question many Americans have had as they watch things unfold there recently is. How did we get to this point? So help answer that question. I'm joined now by David Loin, BBC Foreign correspondent and author of the Long War, The Inside Story of America and Afghanistan since 9 11, David, Thanks so much for coming on with us Now I want to start by going back to Afghanistan pre 9 11 because I think understanding that Is really important if we're to understand where that country is likely headed now, with the Taliban having retaking control 20 years later the line. I think that's a really interesting question. And I mean you mentioned the timing. Much like when I When I set the 20th anniversary of 9 11 is my outdated for the book. Hadn't expected the Taliban be back in power in Kabul by on 9, 11 and 2021. So, um, it's been a shock. It's been the surprising thing to me that Who watch Afghanistan that many of the of the reasons why this became America's longest war and why it became such a difficult war. That's that right at the beginning, Um, you know, back in 2000 and one when you mentioned Al Qaeda work very significantly in control really in Afghanistan In the last two years of the Taliban Will. The Taliban came in five years? Previously 1996 at the end of the terrible civil war. And When when, by the time of 2000 and one and the twin towers coming down. And the attacks on 9 11 Al Qaeda effectively in control. It was striking people who travel there. I travel there During those years I went to Kandahar and met more. Um, on one occasion, the leader of the Taliban very briefly. We want to meet Western journalists, but I, but at least he acknowledged me when I was The defence, um, that the Taliban were more marginalized by Al Qaeda. This has really become a state that was, you know, a crucible of international international terrorism. And it was understandable that that will happen. But it was how the war happened, which right at the beginning, but I think led to it being America's longest war. And the first thing that happened with the decision by secretary thanks from the Rumsfeld to have a light footprint. He called it no American boots on the ground beyond Special operators who are effectively only stopping. Um, uh, airstrikes and very heavy air power, and it was very striking out a lot of time about frontline in October, November 2000 and one just watching the the airplanes coming in in waves and bombing the Taliban front lines and, um, the people on the ground who were doing the ground fighting. We're not then American soldiers they work. Militias led by warlords who are the very people that the Taliban and defeated five years previously, and it was in standing those people up in order to The war for us in 2001, but in a sense, But beginning the first spark of corruption the field in Afghanistan those individuals in 2002 As immune nation began to try and emerge paradigm try and kind of sense with what had happened and those individuals were the most powerful people and we have the most muscle. They're the most money, but the CIA million And they were the people who really began. The The corruption that in Afghanistan, which led ultimately, 20 years later to the army, being completely hollowed out, so it collapsed. All right, so we go into Afghanistan following the September 11th attacks that period between the start of our mission there and the ramp up to the war in Iraq. Were we making progress and successfully doing what we set out to do and how much does our decision to invade Iraq change things on the ground in Afghanistan? I mean, I would say yes up to a point We succeeded. We succeeded in bringing down the Taliban government, which was the main plan he didn't succeed in killing some of the Martin And one of the reasons for that was because of this, I think because of this problem, uh, wrong stuff, not willing to put American boots into harm's way. The work 1000 US brain. Under the command of Major general then Major General Jim Mattis. Relation Cook became secretary. Marina Airfield at Kandahar were 3.5 1000 more us brings on board ship close by and they were pumped up and well motivated after 9 11 to go and take out a form and whatnot and They've been given the chance. I think I think history might have been different because they were kept out of the battle was quite matters Human on the line to Centcom. In Florida to try and bring his poison because Donald Rumsfeld desire only to use local militias and some pretty drug out. Those local militias stood up in The battle of Tora core in December. 2001 and Osama bin Laden escaped, of course not to be killed. I found an adult about it in Pakistan 10 years later, so I think there were there were problems even in terms of the of the of the war itself right at the beginning. And I think Iraq obviously with the destruction from then General Tommy Franks, who was the commander or commander of US forces. The Afghan campaign was asked by the White House to come up with a plan the war in Iraq even before carbon fallen at the end of 2001 so Which I write about in the book. So block was a distraction right from the very beginning. I'm joined by David Loin, BBC correspondent and author of the new book, The Long War, The Inside Story of America and Afghanistan since 9 11 now following our intervention in Iraq, and you write this in your book, Afghanistan is viewed as that other war becomes, in a sense, the forgotten war that is It's all the decisions made to implement. A surgeon 20 tend to try to get things back on track there what was happening on the ground in Afghanistan then and based on your extensive conversations for the book with military leadership from that time period? What was their take on how things were progressing? Did they feel like it was a futile effort or or the confident they could get the job done? Well, you know that that period you're right, but really, really instant period performed. Jimmy In 2000 and six and 2009 10 and you mentioned military commanders fine in this book is a serious of interviews with the all of the commodity commodity during the main combat period of the Afghan war. And they're rather extraordinary individuals. It was a privilege to spend time with them and to and to do these interviews. People like General David Petraeus and support General David Claimant meal and so on really extraordinary individuals who get to that level and I think they saw After 5 2006 when, uh there were many more combat troops and many more from NATO nations as well, um, from from that period in Afghanistan from Allied nations. Would come in really for the peacebuilding operation, not a war fighting operation, and they were a bit surprised by the scale of the war that they had to fight. And so it was during those years that they really began to One pop. And then you have President Obama coming in in 2000 and nine, which is the crucial Yeah, the decision making in the Iraq war and everything that happened, uh, in the Afghan war, everything that happened. In the first eight years step in the end of 2000 and one Everything that happened after was setting 2009, but it's really two important, Yes. President Obama came in as you'll remember wanting to close down Iraq where she saw the bad boys necessary war of choice and to turn Afghanistan into what was called the Good war. This was the war that there might be one And that the weapon that was used with counter uncertainty. That counterinsurgency involved a lot of troops. Um, and the question was how many troops were the United States and its allies willing to put in And during 2009. The decisions took the home. Yeah. To decide. Um General Stan McChrystal. When commanding in Afghanistan wanted at the top end 80,000 for robust counterinsurgency. He got 30,000, but less than half of what he wanted, And that was That was all the way through when General put in their troop requisitions and they come back. Yeah, tough down by the White House. They come back the plans would be limited. They've been rewritten in some way that Restricted the capacity of military commanders to do the job that they thought they were doing in order to achieve the talk that may be set by the civilian leadership. Um And the other thing that happened in 2009, which was really significant in the years that followed what there was also an except, um, timetable drawn into the number of troops, so it wasn't just troop numbers of troops that we're going to go in. It was the timetable under which thing withdrawal, So as soon as they were on the ground, the surge troops were effectively on my way out, and the Taliban knew that. And as he said, You know, they were the people who.
NewsRadio WIOD
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on NewsRadio WIOD
"Years and one question many Americans have had as they watch things unfold there recently. Is. How did we get to this point should help answer that question. I'm joined now by David Loin, BBC Foreign correspondent and author of the Long War, The Inside Story of America and Afghanistan since 9 11 David, Thanks so much for coming on with us Now I want to start by going back to Afghanistan pre 9 11 because I think understanding that is really important if we're to understand where that country is likely headed now, with the Taliban having retaken control 20 years later. Ryan. I think that's a really interesting question. And I mean you mentioned the timing. I must say when I When I set the 20th anniversary of 9 11 is my outdated for the book. Hadn't expected the Taliban to be back in power in Kabul by by 9 11 in 2021. So, um, it's been a shock. It's been a surprise. I think too many of us Who watch Afghanistan. But many of this of the reasons why this became America's longest war and why it became such a difficult war. Worth set right at the beginning. Um, you know, back in 2000 and one when he mentioned, uh, Al Qaeda work very significantly in control really in Afghanistan In the last two years of the Taliban rule, the Taliban came in five years. Previously 1996 at the end of a terrible civil war. Um When, uh when, by the time of 2000 and one and the twin towers coming down. And the attacks on 9 11 Al Qaeda were effectively in control. It was striking people who travel there. I travel there a pit During those years I went to Kandahar. I met Muller Omar on one occasion, the leader of the Taliban very briefly. You didn't want to meet Western journalists, but I've but at least he acknowledged me when I was there. There was a sense that the Taliban were more marginalized by Al Qaeda. This has really become a state that was, you know, a crucible of international. International terrorism. And it was understandable that for that the war happened, but it was how the war happened, which right at the beginning, but I think led to it being America's longest war. And the first thing that happened was the decision by Secretary Defense Rumsfeld to have a light footprint. He called it no American boots on the ground beyond Special operators who were effectively only spotting. Air strikes in very heavy air power. I mean, it was very striking out spent a lot of time on that front line in October, November 2000 and one just watching the the airplanes coming in waves and bombing the Taliban front lines and, um, the people on the ground who were doing the ground fighting. We're not then American soldiers. They work militias led by warlords who are the very people that the Taliban have defeated five years previously, and it was in standing. Those people are In order to fight the war for us in 2000 and one but in a sense, the beginning, the first spark of corruption was fueled in Afghanistan. Those individuals in 2000 and two As um You nation began to try and emerge post Taliban try and kind of sense with what had happened. And those individuals were the most powerful people. The most have the most muscle. We have the most money, but the CIA million And they were the people who really began. The The corruption in Afghanistan, which led, you know, ultimately, 20 years later to the army being completely hollowed out very collapsed. All right, So we go into Afghanistan following the September 11th attacks that period between the start of our mission there and the ramp up to the war in Iraq. Were we making progress and successfully doing what we set out to do? And how much does our decision to invade Iraq? Change things on the ground in Afghanistan. Well, I mean, I would say yes up to a point We succeeded. We certainly succeeded in bringing down the Taliban government, which was the main plan. We didn't succeed in killing some of bin Laden and one of the reasons for that was because of this, I think because of this problem, uh, of Rumsfeld not wanting to put American boots into harm's way. There were 1000 US Marines. Under the commander, Major general, then Major General Jim Methods Relation. Cook became secretary of defense. Um, who were in an airfield at Kandahar and there were 3.5 1000 more U. S Marines on board ship close by and they were pumped up and well motivated after 9 11 to go and take out a song that North and If they've been given the chance. I think I think history might have been different because they were kept out of the battle. That's quite matters. Fuming on the line to Centcom. In Florida to try and bring his voice in because of Donald Rumsfeld desire only to use local militias and some pretty drug adults. Local militias which stood up in Battle of Tora Bora in December. 2001 and Osama bin Laden escaped, of course not to be killed until he was in Found in Abbottabad in Pakistan 10 years later, so I think there were there were problems even in terms of the of the of the war itself right at the beginning. And I think Iraq obviously with a distraction from them. General Tommy Franks, who was the commander overall commander of US forces for the Afghan campaign, was asked by the White House to come up with a plan for war in Iraq even before Kabul have fallen at the end of 2000 and one so Which I write about in the book. So Iraq was a distraction right from the very beginning. I'm joined by David Loin, BBC correspondent and author of the new book, The Long War, The Inside Story of America and Afghanistan since 9 11 now following our intervention in Iraq, and you write this in your book, Afghanistan is viewed as that other war becomes, in a sense, the forgotten war that is Until the decisions made to implement a surgeon. 20 tend to try to get things back on track there what was happening on the ground in Afghanistan then and based on your extensive conversations for the book with military leadership from that time period, what was their take on how things were progressing? Did they feel like it was a futile effort or or the confident they could get the job done? Well, you know that that period you're right. It's really, really instant period before the search in the between 2000 and six in 2009 10 and you mentioned military commanders. The spine of this book is a series of interviews with the All of the commodity commodity during the main combat period of the Afghan war. Um and they're rather extraordinary individuals. It was a privilege really, to spend time with them and to and to do these interviews people like General David Petraeus, General Stan McChrystal again General David McKiernan, Dan McNeill, and so on it really extraordinary individuals who get to that level and I think they saw After 5 2006 when, uh there were many more combat troops and many more from NATO nations as well, um, from from that period in Afghanistan from Allied nations. Who would come in really for the peacebuilding operation, not a war fighting operation. And they they were a bit surprised by the scale of the more that they had to fight, and so it was during those years were really began to ramp up. And then you have President Obama coming in in 2000 and nine, which is the crucial year the decision making in the Iraq war and everything that's happened, uh, put in the Afghan war. Everything that happened. The first eight years was set in the end of 2000 and one Everything that happened after was set in 2009, but it's really two important years. President Obama came in as you'll remember wanting to close down Iraq, which he saw as a bad wars, man necessary war of choice and to turn Afghanistan into what was called the Good war. This was the war that there might be one And that the weapon that was used with counter uncertainty. Counterinsurgency involved a lot of troops. And the question was, how many troops were the United States and its allies willing to put in and during 2009. The decisions took the whole year two. To decide. Um General Stan McChrystal, then commanding in Afghanistan wanted at the top end 80,000 for a robust counterinsurgency. He got 30,000 less than half of what he wanted. And that was the That was all the way through When General put in their troop requisitions. Um they come back yet Tough.
WTVN
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on WTVN
"Really, to spend time with them and to and to do these interviews. People like General David portray it, General McChrystal General Dave MacKinnon. Dan McNeill, and so on it really extraordinary individuals who get to that level and I think they saw after 5 2006. When, uh there were many more combat troops and many more from, uh, NATO nations as well, um, from from that period in Afghanistan from Allied nations. Who would come in really for the peacebuilding operation, not a war fighting operation, and they they were a bit surprised by the scale of the war that they had to fight. And so it was during those years were really began to Ramp up. And then you have President Obama coming in in 2000 and nine, which is the crucial year the decision making in the Iraq war and everything that's happened, uh, put in the Afghan war. Everything that happened. In the first eight years was set in the end of 2000 and one Everything that happened after was set in 2009, but it's really two important years. President Obama came in as you'll remember wanting to close down Iraq, which he saw as a bad wars, man necessary war of choice. And to turn Afghanistan into what was called the good war. This was the war that there might be one and that the weapon that was used with countering certainty now counterinsurgency involved a lot of troops. And the question was, how many troops were the United States and its allies willing to put in and during 2009. The decisions took the whole year two. To decide. General Stan McChrystal when commanding in Afghanistan wanted at the top end 80,000 for a robust counterinsurgency. He got 30,000 less than half of what he wanted. And that was the That was all the way through When General put in their troop requisitions. Um they come back yet Tough down by the White House. They come back the plans would be limited. They'd be rewritten in some way that Restricted the capacity of military commanders to do the job that they thought they were doing in order to achieve the top that they've been set by the civilian leadership. Um And the other thing that happened in 2009, which was really significant in the years that followed was that there was also an exit. Um, timetable drawn into the number of troops, so it wasn't just troop numbers of troops that we're going to go in. It was the timetable under which they mature. So as soon as they were on the ground, the surge troops were effectively on their way out, and the Taliban knew that. And as he said, you know, they were the people who Had had, uh, seen off army before by just waiting them out saying that the Taliban supposed to have had that you may have time but you may have a watch, but we have the time. And that certainly happened. 20 years old the way that America Truong timetable and the Taliban literally took over the capital city. Five weeks later, BBC foreign correspondent David Loin, author of the new book, The Long War, the Inside Story of America and Afghanistan since 9 11, David, Thanks so much for coming on and sharing all of that reporting with us, we really appreciate it. Ryan. It's good to be with you. Thank you for your interest, All right, coming up. Next. I'm going to talk to the director of youth and young adults initiatives at NAMI the National Alliance on mental Illness because it's going to be another school year where things are a bit different for kids all across the country and mental health can be a big issue. Through all of this. We're going to have some mental health tips. For back to school coming up for you in just a few moments. Keep it here. Amazon.
Pod Save America
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Pod Save America
"This bad in the obama administration but we did have some bad ones me. Can you talk about what it feels like to be inside. The white house consumed by multiple crises. Miss thinking back to from not fun. Thinking back to sort of like the the most tumultuous periods and i got the national security council spokesman job in january of twenty ten right before the haiti earthquake in then the arab spring and there was a period around Benghazi and you can see what it's like on biden's face you can see it. Jigsaw vin tony blankets face when they're when they're briefing after benghazi seven. Am room check ins and then seven pm later that day when you do go home you know. You're not getting sleep. You're getting caught in the middle of the night was our update from the situation room You're getting new information constantly. You know that some of that information is going to be wrong but you still have to brief congress yourself to brief the press in real time to the best of your ability. You're trying to get answers from people in different continents in different time zones. You're trying to coordinate and hold accountable. Massive government agencies like the pentagon and the state department and you tell community and actually get them to do what you want them to do. And then if you're jigsaw alvin or tony blinken your briefing the president and the vice president and you're dealing with however they feel your moment. They're probably not there. Biding probably pretty happy. Right now understandably and it's it's completely unsustainable and then on top of that you can't just drop all the shit you have to do you know i mean. I read the wall street journal. This morning. there's a report that north korea is resuming nuclear enrichment. I'm sure that nfc is meeting about that. The the prime minister of israel was in town on thursday the day of the attack. You're supposed to meet with biden like you can't just drop him This hurricanes barreling down so like they are in the barrel and the fallout from this. In terms of the impact on the administration the individuals involved. Congress like it's just beginning at the beginning of this. Yeah in in. You've gotta remember that these are these are human beings right. everyone is tired. everything is reactive right. There's very little time for planning or for proactive messaging about any of the You know agenda items. You wanna pass. I think they were like they had planned to talk about the economic plan and hold events. Do any of that you know commoner supposed to campaign with gavin newsom that gets cancelled or these are just small things but like when you're in the white house and there's like ten different things hitting you at once and all you have to do is you don't have time to like really sort of digest a bunch of information and then react you're reacting in real time constantly there's a foxhole mentality when you're just getting attacked all the time and trying to push back it is it is fucking brutal brutal brutal on your best day on the right like i mean one of the most like weirdly soul crushing times for me in the administration were the days after the bin laden operation because the us leads us unbelievable on precedent operation to kill osama bin laden. We ask john brennan. Who has been hunting that fucker for fifteen years. Who like literally killed people he knew and john briefs get some facts wrong. Based on the information he added the time and then like we spend a week having john called a liar and trying to sort of like cleanup or walk back mistakes we made and the and that's what they were their mistakes. They but you. They get framed as lies reference to mislead the press. I mean jake solve incredibly well loved. Like he's like the nicest the brilliant guy he's super thought phobic. He looks like you know he's been in the barrow time. I remember when remember the oil spill in in two thousand ten In the obama white house and it was all consuming there. Was you know every single cable channel. We're talking about the oil spill and there was like a little box in the bottom of the screen that just showed the oil shooting out into the gulf. And saying you know obama's like the worst presence carter and he's not doing anything about the that he ju. Yeah that barack obama is not personally figure out how to get that and plug it in scuba tank. And i remember robert gibbs tells the story that they're all sitting in and gives his office and obama's there and a bunch of other visors and as they're figuring out this oil spill crisis so says oh by the way there's this article rolling stone but stan mcchrystal and now he has to fire stan mcchrystal kim house me and that crisis happens as you're dealing with the oil spill crisis right and so this is these multiple things happened at once and it's it's it's pretty brutal also that like so much of what in situations like that. So much of what is unfolding. Is the question. Will this crisis negatively impact. The politics of this administration of everything else is doing and so often the way that political punditry and political coverage works. The question will this have a negative. Political impact on the administration is the means by which the crisis creates a negative political impact on the administration. You end up in this sort of like rhetorical loop of. We're still talking about this. Isn't that because of bunch of dumb democrats answer phone calls from politico or the wall street journal or whoever and say oh yeah. I'm really worried about this impact. The midterm unburden yourself to a reporter to really make it feel good. I mean looking for like jake in the nfc people like all you can do is hope that the nfc process and structure that you built kin like hold all the weight that you're trying to carry in the moment and weeks like this. You're not always sure that it can. So republicans have been pretty clear that their argument for the midterms will be that. The country's fallen into chaos joe biden is to weakening competent to do anything about it How worried to the white democrats. Be about that message. And how should they think about responding. I think that they should be worried about the message. Insofar as the country is in chaos and dissolution do. I think they should be worrying about it. In terms of like the specific news cycle of this moment no i think joe biden will be judged by his actions but the actual consequences of his policy choices and beyond that they need to the i think they are doing. Their best to kind of share information manage the the news cycles as they're happening without being so buffeted by them that they changed course. And i think that is i. Think the signature aspect of the way. This administration has done politics from the beginning. It is partly drove. It's our job and became president. I think it's actually how jen psaki conduct yourself in that briefing room incredibly while every single day And i think that is their strength. They know when to respond and they know when not to respond And as long as they keep doing that and the the the test for this administration will actually play out with what's happening with the infrastructure bill. What's happening with the with the You know giant When we call it the other one the other one part of the problem with better. Better plan.
Reinvention Radio
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Reinvention Radio
"I could lose all my everything. I if the fear is rational than but your gut is telling you do it. I say do it. Yeah yeah and it's interesting. I don't know if. I know that we've never matters is the first time we're meeting so i mean i really do appreciate you taking the time and being here Today's you know obviously on a special episode here. We mentioned radio but You know one of the things that. I'm not even sure if you're familiar with or if you had a chance to do any research into who i am what i've done Is since around that same time. Two thousand eight two thousand nine albeit. I don't have a ted talk with twenty four million views. But that's other conversation but you know it's It's something that i've been teaching of around the whole concept of. What is your what so the book that i put on the new york times bestseller. Look it's called. what is your what. Discover the one amazing thing you were born to do. And i always get that question of what's the difference between your what's and you're y and maybe you can kind of give me some insight in terms of this resonates for you. But you're what to me is really that it's how you're naturally wire to excel. Dna is wired to a very specific way. And so the what is your. What equation combines your court gift which in your case is probably communication or teaching or something of that nature with the vehicle that you use to share that gift. And then lastly the people that you're most compelled to serve the gifts the vehicle and the people that comprise the what is your what equation and i believe that it is really really hard to create anything. That is sustainable. Or that doesn't have an expiration date unless you're super clear on what you're what is and so it's almost as if the what is internal in my way of thinking in the why is external and that's how i explain it which is the why what drives you. It's like you know if you want to help. Starving children in africa. Or if you want to basically feed the homeless. Or i'm going to start on the smoothing guess. I'm hungry this morning but the point is it's what drives you to do what you do. Whereas your what is everything. That's internal and kind of gives you that natural set of skills abilities. What's in your dna etcetera any. Take on the what versus wise. I explained it and that way semantic. Yeah so do you think the. Why is an internal thing as well. What do you think that the. Why is an internal thing as well in other words. I believe that the what. I believe that you're what choose you. It's not something that you choose right shows in you not that what you choose. Chosen antics a semantic debate. It's got tired of having the discussion with people what comes first vision or mission positioning or brand. You know it's it's it's a semantic debate and so i ask people who believe vision was primary and they said why do we do and i asked him. Mission was primary will. It's why we get out of bed. The brand impertinence. I both why we said okay. Well let's watch with me. Because i just got tired of semantic debates so this is another bait. I mean what i've learned. Is that the the. Why is safe on our upbringing. It's who we are. What drives us. It's what inspires us. It's not changeable you have one and it's fully formed by the time you're eighteen or nineteen hundred percent bass vile decision making what we do is measurable appealable and you can see it and touch it. And it's tangible if you reverse the definitions for a different model i want. That's fine but it sounds like what you describing is the same thing. Gotcha gotcha so on. He has a question and whatever question is does a couple of questions. Can i take a couple of days. Please yeah exactly. And that's and that's what. I was going to read off here unless you unless you can just see the feed and you want to just answer them directly unless so here's one How from s talk ginger. How you find someone with same vision or attitude. I said you know you want to attract people who believe what you believe in find people who believe in your cause While the way you find them is you start talking in a. We're social animals and if if you keep it to yourself how will anyone know what you stand for what you believe you know And so when i started talking about the why literally was every conversation when somebody says so what are you up to. I would tell them about the golden circle and at get together with old friends and old clients. Let's say what are you. I start drawing on napkins. I mean it was an obsession. It still is you know I couldn't. I couldn't talk about it because i was so amazed by it was a student but i wanted to keep learning and i wanted to keep talking about it so that i could take more and the more i talked about it. The more other people's that this is really interesting and people said i need you to meet somebody and the more i talked about it. The more introductions other people may and so my publisher the ted talk. Everything came from somebody else. Saying i want you to meet somebody. And so the only thing i committed myself to was being the clearest brightest lighthouse lighthouse. I i would practice articulating and communicating my message. My message in words so clearly that other people could repeat it without me being there. I made the decision trademark. Everything you know. What's that gonna do. All it means is. I'm the only person who can can use it and talk about it. I wanted to be open source. I wanted other people to take it and build on it. I believe delete desperately in spreading the message. And everything i said and everything i did. And every decision i made communicated what i believe. There's no mistaking when you read my books. Listen to my talks. visit our website. Anything that comes out of us. It's committed inspiration of people around us right. There's no mistaken and so if you want to attract able you've gotta be a lighthouse you to talk and talk and talk and it will be cumbersome at the start people will know what you're talking about fifty or one hundred times but if you believe in at you practice and practice and practice and practice when i first started talking about this stuff. People looked at me. Like i had three heads. That's how klein people believe what you believe in life and there'd be drawn to you just out of curiosity when you go back to the sort of the inception of star with. Wow which i know you were doing in talks and you were doing things long before the book came out. Did you have a book deal in place. I mean obviously you have a. I mean it was published but i would think that you know it was not so. Can you talk a little bit of the origination story. Then of the book. It's it's the same as the to the ted talk. Somebody said i remember. I think giving this talk for three years right in long form. I was out there talking talking spreading spreading in small forms. Ten people fifteen people thirty people you know making a thousand bucks sometimes nothing you. I was just out there communicating banging the drum and somebody said who knew somebody had a friend was putting on a tax event recommended me right. Same with the publisher. Somebody met me an editor. Who introduced me to her publisher. And i ended up having a meeting with adrian. Zakheim got business publishing the original publisher from good to great. And seth godin publisher and stan mcchrystal's and all that and we had a twenty nine minute meeting and three days later..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"What doesn't just do what's important to us. That is very important. That can think back to those ideals. You talked about earlier ultimately. It's it's it's easy to easier to stay tethered to stay tethered difficult times. If you know what you're connected to train yeah. It gets back to ask the question. Why is it that way and someone says well. it's been that way while no we just. We just proved. It doesn't have to be that way. So what do we want it to be. And those are very important conversation. Some of which are be it had. But in many cases i think they're fairly superficial. I think we need to have deeper conversations about how we want our society to work how we want our politics door how we want our economy to work. And you know in the moment when everybody's just trying to go on vacation or you know. Enjoy a post kobe thing. There's a little reticence to have those but things will happen in an unfortunately if we missed the moment if if we take the next year and we don't take advantage of it. The pieces will slow. Down inertial a setback in short of wherever wheel and it will be hard to adjust again and so we don't want another pandemic to help us. Well stand you said. We had a gift of this moment to make some new choices. I think we had a gift today with you. Being on the podcast. I really appreciate your service to our country The lessons you're teaching all of us as leaders and your willingness to spend thirty minutes or so chatting with myself and the audience. I really appreciate that so much that you're completely my honor and thanks for all you. Oh my pleasure. Take care of yourself. Low folks that's all. I have for today's episode. My thanks to general retired stan mcchrystal for joining me today to discuss leadership and global an ever changing world..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"You can specialize all your people and and life is pretty comfortable and most of us were raised in organizations and educated into the complicated process world fragrance. Though taylor is the most famous name of bringing efficiency and most of us don't know who he is but yet we reflect a of his ideas. Yeah a lot of time and motion steady stuff that's right but but the one that fascinates me as a complex environment and complex environments one. Whether or so many variables and things move fast enough should that you cannot predict something beforehand. And you say wait a minute. That's that's disturbing because you don't know what the question's gonna be and if you did have the question you know what the answer is going to be and so a complex environment means you have to enter it with an entirely different mindset. It means your shooting at moving targets and yet they're not of a cetera directory distance. Or you're gonna have to constantly adjust. It also means that our organizations have got to be structured so that they are not tightened down a perfect efficiency. Instead they've got to be a little bit more loosely connected so that they are constantly able to adapt so that they are the winning strategy. There is group adaptability as an organization but that has implications for leaders and processes and all the other things and so if we understand that we are raised for complicated world but increasingly live in a complex world. We know we've got to take a journey and unfortunately most of us are sort of spring loaded. go back to our complex comfort. You know if you've ever been in an organization where seventy has a crisis whether it's a weather event or it's a war it's an economic crisis you come together. You start communicating very often yup rate and open spaces. You get the job done you order a lot of pizza and then afterward everybody pets each other on the back and say we did it were better organization now and then you go back to your cubicle in your separate silo section and you don't communicate that way again until the next crisis comes and the problem is we live in an environment. That is very much like a crisis down in terms of speed and complexity. And so we've got to get our our attitudes in our organization sepanek as we're wrapping up our conversation today. This podcast comes out as i mentioned earlier. It's it's one hundred which is exciting. I think you know retired. General stanley mcchrystal's great guests for the one hundredth episode..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"That's what they think you want to hear and they're not sure any other answers appropriate particularly if their chain of command is standing behind you and look at them when they're answered. Sure you've asked questions have been different and you gotta send a different vibe. That says and i learned to ask a question. That said if i told you this against invite told you. You couldn't go home until we with. What would you do differently from what we're doing now and it's very interesting because they were giggling initially because they weren't sure if i could do that but then they would give these very thoughtful answers because eagles trying to elect different. Because we're actually going to solve a problem. This is what we have to But the leader has got a create that and the leader. scott scotto. Remember that if you go and ask someone junior a question. And you're you're a number of morale and then as soon as they start answering you start looking over their shoulder to see somebody else or attention is gone. You've sent a very powerful message each you don't you didn't want the answer you wanted the perception you were asking and people pick that up immediately so there are a lot of little factors and just think how you feel when someone you know the grave woman or man comes around and and shines relied on your very briefly what what kind of interaction were really make you. Give them an honest and effective piece of feedback. I love that thought provoking question. Because you're right. If i go to my students even i say how things go and usually they'll be like it's find professor but if you ask a little bit like what could i do to make this better or a very common question. Is something which we start doing. Stop doing continue. Doing that requires people to go to another level of thinking. And they know you're open to do. You mentioned earlier..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"A wide range of flights they found that across the airline industry. This was a big problem so they implemented a different kind of training. A crew research are Resource training and it changed the culture of how they communicate and the number of accidents dropped dramatically over the following decade. You that seems like a complete wild. But how many towns it we've been in organizations. How many times have we been in. Rooms were something important is discuss. We walk out and when we walk out. We know that we didn't get to the key point. Or if the key point was put out not everybody heard it or understood it or accepted it and we were going to have problems. Oh that's when you have the meeting after the meeting in the hallway and not everybody's there oh no no. They're not they're in fact people in the third third rank in the formation. Who are talking about it in the hallway. But what do you do. You think it comes down to don't feel empowered like they can't say something don't feel like they leader isn't allowing it individual willing to step up. I mean it could be a lot of things but from your perspective. What have you learned about that. Yeah it's combination of things as unite. Both bur sometimes there's someone who goes you have an issue like this and you say well. Why didn't you tell me. And the person several. I didn't feel like i could and you say i'm always here. I've been policy. I want to hear your questions or your comments but there is a perception now. Maybe things you may just be their experience with other leaders in the past that. Make them reticence do it. We've got to understand that. That's a very real dynamics. So it takes intentional effort to overcome things like that to create an environment where information flows in you've got processes check to make sure that everyone has had their say and that you understand the concerns that come up. You're probably familiar with the exercise. Caller pre mortem. We used to do it. Military ops and basically what you do is you plan an operation. You get ready to go and then before you do it you get everyone in the room and you say if we fail everybody tell me what will it be that caused us to fail and sometimes from again from the third rank someone buried junior will say well you know we don't have any ammunition and it will be an piffle for every one. That reality is many people will see flaws or problems that aren't easily seen by people at the topper across. And so if you awry yourself to be very candid do this. Kind of a pre mortem. We really get people to tell you what. They're bush worried about often. Which will do is your uncover things that you can prevent. It's so true you know stand. It's it's interesting because i've heard leaders before who i think are seeing things wrong way. Who will say something like well. They should have come to should've talked to me. They should have and they kind of put the blame the onus on the individual and then he'll individuals sometimes saying well. The leader doesn't allow us to do this leaders and office to do it but it's really a to street. I mean the leader has to create conditions where people choose to step up and volunteer their best efforts but ultimately the individual has to step up and volunteer their best efforts as well in fact when i hear people say something like leader needs to gauge their people. My my response typically as. It's hard to engage people. You can create conditions where people choose to engage. Choose to volunteer perspective. What are some things that leaders can do to create that environment where people choose to raise their hand volunteer information..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"He had done all the things that general's do in preparation for aladdin and therefore in the moment what he could do as he could inspire and essentially because the rest of his work was done. You can make an argument. That if he got shot which he was badly wounded It was less important because he had done. His basic work in now was his time to stand up and accept the danger. That and you know again. It's not just the military. We see that there are times when leaders just have to take a very public stance age now where public criticism particularly social media comes really quickly and it becomes a hurricane of hatred. And we've seen a number of leader stand up say no. This is what i think knowing that they're going to take this barrage of sometimes pretty negative attacks but it's just so happens that the people in the third row of that formation have a big loudspeaker these days and and a degree of anonymity. So let's let's talk to the folks listening to the podcast. You said they may not be in. The military probably aren't in the military there probably not riding horseback. But they are in situations where they're working with teams where they can make all the difference in the world at any given moment because teams are where the action happens. You know this you wrote you. A team of teams and you brought this story to the forefront of our minds regarding what happened back in one thousand nine hundred seventy eight december one nine hundred seventy eight with an airplane that was flying from new york to denver and then onto portland. Would you mind telling us a little bit of that story. At the in two days ago i got to have lunch with the ceo of united airlines the currency yo and extraordinary later but this happened to flight. One seventy three and what happens. Is this.
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"I had a conversation with patrick lynch only on the podcast sometime ago. And he's a pretty well known author of the leadership space and we got into a discussion about why people choose to lead. And i'm just curious from your perspective. You don't want to say why should people choose lead but from your perspective. Why should people choose to lead. I leading is two things. It's a responsibility that you except for others and for causes and for things that must be done so it's it can feel at times like a burden but it's also an incredible honor. You have the ability to cause some things that if you're not in a leadership position can be harder to do so. I think there's a combination of. I don't know if you've ever spend the third of a formation. That's going the wrong way and you wanna stand up and say no. Wait a minute we could. We could get back on track if we did this. And you have two choices you can sit back in your complaint complain to your peers and talk down the current leaders or you can aspire and take responsibility. And of course i mean. Many many people are willing to stand up and do that even though you know that there are always going to be people in the third rank Criticized what you do. So i think it's really important and at certain point in your life you also take pride in the leadership aspect means. I'm going to help other people do as well as they can. You know either whether it's developing themselves nor leader or just taking care of themselves and you know we were taught as yom that you eat last. We were taught as young officers and unite. Both were in the eighty seconds. Young officers that when you do a road march with your troops. You inspect there and nobody's ever done that. You've got a young paratroopers. They've been walking for twenty miles and you in front of them..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"The future and that was hopeful and the fall of the berlin wall gave us an idea that may be autocratic regimes had seen their day. What we're seeing her several forces. That are disappointing. The first is information technology. Which has been so liberating in. So many ways has also proven to be a two edged sword and it's given people the opportunity to spread disinformation and hate and lies and whatnot. And it is corrupted many of the things about how we communicate and even how we think is caused people to go into pretty narrowly defined areas and and developed. What i think often verb mistaken ideas. Then there's the rise the autocratic leader and it's almost a celebrity kind of leadership. It's not new. You can go back to you know many times in our history. But i don't think we would expected that the strong man or woman but the strong man comes up and offers people a pretty simplistic idea of sometimes hyper-nationalism sometimes greed sometimes Calling out the worst us and wish she'd had around the world and the problem with is in the short term it works in the short term allows a nation or organization to move quickly in certain directions in make difficult decisions that are pluralistic democracy struggles with. It's also unfortunate that historically the tells us that democracies tend not to go to war with each other but dictatorships do well dichter. Distributorships are very efficient right. I mean effective but the very efficient that they are in in the short term particularly. Yes there are many long term issues. But but what worries me is these this combination of factors along with income inequality and other things are just i think heading toward a very difficult period. I think we can work our way out of it. But if we don't understand how challenging that the next decade or two in front of us are likely to be. We could be in trouble. Well good news. Is we have leader leaders listening to this podcast sir. Aspiring leaders listening to this podcast leaders..
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"You're gonna learn a great deal from this conversation so grab something to write with. Sit back and prepare to take some notes. As general retired stan mcchrystal and i meet in the leadership lab stanley.
Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"stan mcchrystal" Discussed on Leadership Lab with Dr. Patrick Leddin
"Hi this is patrick. Before we get started today i wanted to remind you about my new book the five week leadership challenge thirty-five action steps to become the leader. You were meant to be. It's available now for preorder and if you order it now. I have several free bonuses that we will.