"never shall i fail my comrades" -- the dark legacy of gen. mcchrystal’s memoir "my share of the...

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADESThe Dark Legacy of Gen. Stanley McChrystal & His Memoir My Share of the Task: His Betrayal of Pat Tillman, Command of JSOC Torture, and Failed Afghan War SurgeGuy Montag @ feralfirefighter.blogspot.com Dec. 28, 2012 [Ver. 2.4, Updated April 20, 2014]

Gen. McChrystal, after being fired by President Obama following Michael Hastings June 2010 Rolling Stone profile

There will be few markers from this war and much of the history will be inaccurate or incomplete Leaders make mistakes, and they are often costly. The first reflex is normally to deny the failure to themselves; the second is to hide it from others, because most leaders covet a reputation for infallibility. But its a fools dream and is inherently dishonest. -- Gen. McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013) A great many things went unsaid both during McChrystals [April 2012 Pittsburgh] address and the Q&A There was no mention of his role in the cover up of the friendly-fire slaying of Pat Tillman, including issuing a bogus Silver Star citation for the Ranger. No one asked him about the pattern of detainee abuse in Iraq by [JSOC] units overseen by McChrystals command McChrystal fizzled badly in Afghanistan, and everyone seems to want to dub him a 21st century Sir Gawain -- Carl Prine, McChrystal Clear (Line of Departure blog, June 3, 2012) I am concerned about General McChrystals public [Senate] testimony, which sought to convey that he was uncomfortable with various interrogation [torture] techniques and sought to reduce their use. Given the full history of his approach to interrogations, this testimony appears to be incomplete, at best. -- Senator Russ Feingold, Congressional Record (June 11, 2009) Of the several occasions when he himself attracted critical attention the Pat Tillman affair, for example, or the leaking of his Afghan strategic assessment McChrystal offers explanations [in his memoir My Share of the Task] that fall somewhere between perfunctory and disingenuous. -- Andrew Bacevich, New York Times book review Avoiding Defeat (February 8, 2013) He knows the administrations position on the matter was a cover-up a mistake. But it worked And anyway, his version could never be challenged [it] would become the governments official pronouncement And the media gave them their forum, always ascertaining beforehand that their allegations were borne out by facts if not the truth. -- [Senator] James Webb, Something to Die For (1991)

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES

[The title of my memoir My Share of the Task] comes from the Ranger creed part of a statement in that creed that says I will always do my share of the task whatever it may be and then some. And I was trying to capture the fact that each of us has a responsibility to do our part but none of us is preeminent. -- Gen. McChrystal, NPR Diane Rhem Show (January 16, 2013) [Rangers] were bound together by a shared history and values, best reflected in the Ranger Creed. The Ranger Creed is a six-stanza summary of Ranger values The third stanza provoked strong emotions. Never shall I fail my comrades. I will shoulder more than my share of the task... Although it had a rhythmic quality, the Ranger Creed was neither a poem nor a mindless mantra chanted by masses. It was a promise, a solemn vow made by each Ranger to every other Ranger. -- Gen. McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013)


PAT TILLMANNovember 6, 1976 April 22, 2004

L to R: Marie Tillman (widow), Mary Tillman (mother), Richard Tillman (brother), Kevin Tillman (brother), Patrick Tillman, Sr. (father)

in Afghanistan I watched the Rangers deal with the loss of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a fallen Ranger and his family in ways that reflected the deep values of the force. controversy arose and continued over the circumstances of Pat Tillmans death by friendly fire Sadly, truth and trust were lost in the process Concerns were raised over the wording in the Silver Star narrative, which some found misleading Any errors, which I should have caught, were not the result of any intention to misrepresent or mislead To this day, I am saddened by Ranger Tillmans death, as I am for the loss of every service member I served with, and for the pain such losses cause each family. -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013)

...Revealing that Pats death was a fratricide would have been yet another political disaster [e.g. First Battle of Fallujah, April 2004 release of Abu Gharib photos]... So the facts needed to be suppressed. An alternative narrative had to be constructed. Crucial evidence was destroyed including Pats uniform, equipment and notebook. The autopsy was not done according to regulation, and a field hospital report was falsified. An initial investigation completed [by CPT Scott 1st 15-6 investigator] before testimony could be changed [and which hit disturbingly close to the mark] disappeared into thin air and was conveniently replaced by another investigation with more palatable findings. while each investigation gathered more information, the mountain of evidence was never used to arrive at an honest or even sensible conclusion To falsify a witness statement in a Silver Star award, fabricating it How come no one is held accountable for this? The whole thing is riddled with nonsense Writing a Silver Star award before a single eye witness account is taken is not a misstep. Falsifying soldier witness statements for a Silver Star is not a misstep. These are deliberate acts of deceit. -- Kevin Tillman (April 24, 2007 Congressional testimony) The truth may be painful, but its the truth If you feel youre being lied to, you can never put it to rest. -- Mary Tillman (2004)

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES If nothing ever works out all the way, and if all things change, whats left? Your family and your friends and your values, thats whats left. And your duty to them Theyre the only important things in life you must never violate your loyalty if you wished to survive the judgment of the ages. -- James Webb, A Country Such As This (1983) in Afghanistan I watched the Rangers deal with the loss of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a fallen Ranger and his family in ways that reflected the deep values of the force -- Gen. McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013) [McChrystal] told people he considered his Ranger vow never to leave a fallen comrade behind more binding even than his marriage vows. -- Dana Priest, Top Secret America (2011)

...[Gen. McChrystals] command sergeant major [Mike Hall] said, The Rangers are a standards-based organization, and what makes them a little bit different from other organizations is that they enforce their standards. Comparatively, its sort of easy to get into the Rangers, the hard part is staying in and maintaining the standard every day The ideal is to see what is right and to continue to do what is right until it becomes second nature. -- Neil W. McCabe, The Man At McChrystals Side (January 12, 2013) "If you are going to lie and cover up what happened to someone who gave their life ... -- then you deserve to swing. When I started hearing about the false award recommendations, spinning the facts, changing their stories -- I was so pissed. The dishonor the Army is doing to Pat's family ... it's unforgiveable. ... From the moment you first join the Ranger Battalion, its ingrained in you that you will always do the right thing. You will always tell the truth. Then you see something like what theyre doing to Pat what [commanding] officers in the Ranger Regiment are doing and you stop being so nave. The only two times where I personally was in a position to see where the Army had the choice to do the right thing or the wrong thing, both times they chose to do the wrong thing. One of those times was what they did to Pat. It made me realize that the Army does what suits the Army. Thats why I wont put that uniform back on. Im done. -- Pat Tillmans Ranger Team Leader SGT Mel Ward (from Where Men Win Glory)

...I want to thank anybody involved in the military, especially the Rangers I dont know a lot about what happened but Pat was doing his job. And I dont even know what the Ranger motto is, but Ill bet you a buck that he upheld it. -- Patrick Tillman, Sr. (at his sons Memorial Service, May 4, 2004) You are a General. On paper you subscribe to this [West Point] motto [Duty, Honor, Country] and honor code There is no way a man like you believes the conclusions [of the 3rd Army 15-6 investigation into Pat Tillmans death]. But your signature is on it. I assume, therefore, that you are part of this shameless bullshit. The Rangers stand for something to this day, in my mind, the best. [No one] involved in this deserve to be affiliated with the Rangers. If your uniforms are so decorated, [with the Ranger Tab] you should remove those items. In sum: Fuck you . And yours. -- Patrick Tillman, Sr. (April 2005 letter to BG Gary Jones)

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES A true war story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue If a story seems moral, do not believe it. If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie. There is no rectitude whatsoever. There is no virtue. -- Tim OBrian, The Things They Carried (2010)[Pat Tillman] admittedhe always felt a surge of energy and emotion at the point the National Anthem was played. He chuckled and said, I guess I have a patriotic bone in me. From the time I was very little, I was aware of my fathers pride in being a Marine. When I was three years old I would stand between my parents, feet digging into the soft leather of the big front seat, and sing the entire Marine Corps Hymn at the top of my lungs Military service was prevalent in my family and my husbands family and we were taught to respect it. -- Mary Tillman, Boots on the Ground by Dusk (2008) This war is so fucking illegal -- Pat Tillman to Ranger Russell Baer at Baghdad airport (2003) Pat had joined the Army and yet had not believed in the Iraq War We felt it was illegal and unjust. Ill do my job, Pat told me one night before he left But I dont think our role there is virtuous at all. his feelings on the matter certainly dampened his enthusiasm about service What the fuck kind of marriage involves my absence for months at a time? Its funny because at the time I felt that any absence would be tolerable due to the cause or whatever concept I deluded myself into believing I was standing for. Im a fool. How I managed to find a way out of our perfect existence is incredible. -- Marie Tillman (Pats widow), The Letter (2012) Im Pat Fucking Tillman!! -- Pat Tillmans last words before killed by FF in Afghanistan (2004) I was so certain of life, and of my place in it. I was so sure of my love, and of my future. I now have none of those certainties, but at least I can comprehend pain. I was so ready, so eager to fight and now I pay, richly pay, for having fought. I guess thats what the world does to you. It makes you reali ze that honor and loyalty are traps with no reward. -- James Webb, A Sense of Honor (1981) Pat died for this country, and he believed it was a great country that had a system that worked Congress is supposed to take care of their citizens. It isnt just our family. Every time they betray a soldier, they betray all of us. We had officers that we trusted. We had high regard for them. we knew they [Pat & Kevin] could die or they could come back wounded But we never thought that they would use him the way they did -- Mary Tillman, Congressional testimony (April 24, 2007) For Mary Tillman, what the army did to her son made a mockery of everything he went to war for honesty, integrity, the defence of the truth. 'If you ask me if I trust our system now, the answer is Im pretty disgusted by it. Unfortunately in our culture people survive more effectively through lies and deception and dishonourable behaviour than they do the reverse. And thats very sad. -- Mick Brown, Betrayal of an All-American Hero, UK Guardian (Oct. 7, 2010) Not only is he [McChrystal] lying about the circumstances surrounding Pats death he is proposing false language for the Silver Star narrative. His statement [P4 memo] indicates that no one had any intention of telling us, or the public, that Pat was killed by fratricide unless forced to do so That memo is damming as hell. And the fact that he is off the hook is atrocious. -- Mary Tillman, Boots on the Ground by Dusk (2008)

TABLE OF CONTENTSPage #:

Foreword (& List of Updates & Revisions) The Dark Side of Gen. Stanley McChrystal & His Memoir:Gen. McChrystals Biographical Note Guy Montags Pre- Publication Amazon Book Review Guy Montags Post-Publication Amazon Book Review Gen. McChrystals Biographical Note (w/ Annotations) (Dec. 8, 2012) (Jan. 6, 2013) (Jan. 26, 2013) (Dec. 28, 2012)

13 1920 22 23 29

... Mission Black List #1: The Untold Story of 2003 Capture of Saddam Hussein 35 Thats One Dead SOB: The Untold Story of the 2006 Killing of Abu Zarqawi No Blood, No Foul: McChrystals Command of JSOC Torture 2003-2005A Few Rotten Apples Standard Operating Procedure Copper Green Grab Whom You Must. Do What You Want No Blood, No Foul Torture & Consequences The Emperors General Obamas Detainee Photo Protection Act of 2009 Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet? This is How We Lose

42 5455 59 65 67 75 78 82 88

...My Share of the Blame-- McChrystals Whitewash of JSOC Torture 93 Dirty Wars-- Jeremy Scahills Take On McChrystal & JSOC Torture & Gardez Killings 97 Detainee Treatment Report-- Constitution Projects Whitewash of McChrystal & McRaven 99

McChrystal Clear -- Peddling McChrystal Meth on the Lecture CircuitMcChrystal Clear (Carl Prines June 3, 2012 Line of Departure Blog Post) Got Questions for General McChrystal? "Friendly fire happens...as soon as we found out, that's what we said Alerting family was other chain of command s responsibility"

103104 111 113 114


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)Page #

The [Untold] Tillman Story -- McChrystals Betrayal of Pat TillmanThe Official Tillman Story The [Untold] Tillman Story McChrystals [Bullshit] Tillman Story (w/ Guy Montags Commentary)

115117 118 129

LeAffair Rolling Stan -- Michael Hastings Team America Road TripLeAffair Rolling Stan (adapted from Michael Hastings book The Operators) Its a Slap in the Face to Appoint this Man McChrystal Takes Responsibility for Rolling Stone Article The Emperors General

143144 150 153 159

Something to Die For -- McChrystals Failed Afghan War COIN SurgeThe Operators The Wild & Terrifying Inside Story of Americas War in Afghanistan Obamas General Why Hes Losing the War Team America (America Fuck Yeah!) An Unfortunate Deficit of Trust I Was Selling an Unsellable Position A Bleeding Ulcer It Would Be Folly The Sons-of-Bitches with All the Fruit Salad The Costs Would Rise I Was Responsible

162163 167 168 169 170 171 172 174 176

Remember the Iconoclast, Not the Icon 178 The [Missing] Pat Tillman Legacy The Cause I Deluded Myself Im a Fool 179 Something to Die For 180

... After Pats Birthday - Somehow No One is Accountable for ThisAfter Pats Birthday President Obamas War on the Whistleblowers The One Thing You Can Never Dodge Never Shall I Fail My Comrades Is Military Integrity a Contradiction in Terms? What Had I Learned About Leadership?

183184 188 191 194 198

About the Author7

202


APPENDICESPage #

APPENDIX A: Senate Armed Services Committees November2008 Report -- Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. CustodyIntroductory Note to the Senate Report

203204

The Command of JSOC Torture from Sept. 2003 to June 2004, by Gen. McChrystal, 207 Admiral William McRaven, and BG Kyle Koenig Timeline of JSOC Task Forces Development of Interrogation SOPs, From December 2002 to June 2004 Removal of Clothing Used by JSOC Task Forces (Although Technique Was Outside Their Interrogation SOPs) with the Knowledge of Commander Legality of JSOC Task Force Interrogation SOPs was Repeatedly Questioned Pro Forma (Or No) Investigation of Reported JSOC Detainee Abuse 209 215 218 220

...

APPENDIX B: McChrystals Testimony Was Incomplete, at Best 221-- Senator Russ Feingolds Congressional Record Response to General McChrystals June 2, 2009 Senate Testimony ...

APPENDIX C: Notes from Constitution Projects DetaineeTreatment Report (April 16, 2013) on BG Koenig, LTG McChrystal [and Admiral McRavens] Role in JSOC TortureConstitution Project Found Responsibility For Torture Fell on Certain Military Leaders (But Their Report Didnt Hold Them Accountable) Gen. McChrystal & Admiral McRavens Command of JSOC Torture Non-Coercive Rapport-Based Interrogation Techniques Are Most Effective (But Constitution Project Omits Examples of Maddox & Alexander Using Them to Get Saddam Hussein & Abu al-Zarqawi) Gen. McChrystal, The Army, And President Obamas Whitewash Of JSOC Torture Constitution Project Whitewash of McChrystal & McRavens Command of Torture8

224

226

228 235

236 239


APPENDIX D: THE FERAL FIREFIGHTER BLOGTABLE OF CONTENTS -- 2008 to 2012 2014 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:Defend Your Integrity -- Robert Gates Leadership of the Failed Afghan War COIN Surge and the Bipartisan Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans 2004 Friendly-Fire Death in Afghanistan & Command of JSOC Torture (April 2, 2014)

240

2013 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:More Lies Borne Out By Facts, If Not The Truth -- The New York Times Disingenuous Obituary of Michael Hastings & Their Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Role in LeAffair Rolling Stan and The Pat Tillman Story Never Shall I Fail My Comrades -- The Dark Legacy of Gen. Stanley McChrystal & His Memoir My Share of the Task: His Betrayal of Pat Tillman, His Command of JSOC Torture, and His Failed Afghan War Surge (Ver. 2.2) Something to Die For -- The [Untold] Tillman Story Annotations to Michael Hastings book The Operators (Ver. 1.2) (June 23, 2013)

(May 19, 2013)

(Dec. 24, 2013)

2012 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts (continued):Never Shall I Fail My Comrades -- The Dark Legacy of Gen. Stanley McChrystal: His Betrayal of Pat Tillman, His Command of JSOC Torture, and His Failed Afghan War Surge (Ver. 1.0) The [Missing] Pat Tillman Legacy: The Pat Tillman Foundation & The NFLs Betrayal of Pat Tillman Something to Die For -- The [Untold] Tillman Story Annotations to Michael Hastings book The Operators (Ver. 1.0) (Dec. 28, 2012)

(Dec. 3, 2012)

(Apr. 22, 2012)

9


APPENDIX D: THE FERAL FIREFIGHTER BLOGTABLE OF CONTENTS -- 2008 to 2012 (Continued) 2011 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:"Jon Krakauer's Credibility Problem" (Ver. 2.4.1, Feb. 23, 2012) (and how he took down Greg Mortenson to launch Byliner.com) (Apr. 24, 2011)

"The Tillman Story" DVD Reviews, Comments, Director Interviews (Feb. 15, 2011)

"The [Untold] Tillman Story" (Ver. 1.1 ) -- President Obama & Congresss Bi-Partisan Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Central Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly Fire Death "The Emperor's General" (Ver. 1.1) -- President Barack Obama & the Whitewash of General Stanley McChrystals Role in the Cover Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly Fire Death "He Who Shall Not Be Fact Checked" (Draft) -- CNASS Andrew Exum and the Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly-Fire Death

(Dec. 28, 2010)

(Jan. 29, 2011)

(Jan. 15, 2011)

2010 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:"Throwing My Shoe at Bob Woodward ... Not" (Draft) Obamas (Dec. 29, 2010) Wars and the Washington Posts Bob Woodwards Whitewash of Gen. McChrystals Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly-Fire Death "The [Untold] Tillman Story" (Version 1.0) -- President Obama & (Aug. 15, 2010) Congresss Bi-partisan Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Central Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly Fire Death Appendix A1 Mar. 26, 2007 DoD IG Briefing, Tillman Response (July 14, 2010) Appendix B1 Apr. 24, 2007 Congressional Hearing Appendix C1 -- July 31, 2007 Appendix D1 -- July 13, 2007 Gen. Wallace Briefing Gen. McChrystal To Testify10

(July 8, 2010) (July 6, 2010) (July 13, 2010)


APPENDIX D: THE FERAL FIREFIGHTER BLOG TABLE OF CONTENTS -- 2008 to 2012 (Continued)Appendix D2 -- August 1, 2007 Congressional Hearing Appendix D3 August 1, 2001 Gen. McChrystal "No-Show" Appendix E1 -- May 2008 Senate Hearings Appendix E2 -- Senator Webb on May 27, 2008 Diane Rhem Show Appendix F1 -- July 17, 2008 Congresss Final Tillman Report Appendix G1 -- May 15, 2009 Diane Rhem Show Appendix H1 -- Gen. McChrystal's June 2, 2009 Senate Hearing Appendix I1 -- McChrystal's Testimony Contradicts Gen. Abizaids Appendix J1 Gen. McChrystal Protection Act of 2009 ... "The Emperor's General" (Ver. 1.0) President Obama and the Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillmans Friendly-Fire Death (June 22, 2010) (July 6, 2010) (July 13, 2010) (July 14, 2010) (July 4, 2010) (July 10, 2010) (July 4, 2010) (July 4, 2010) (July 14, 2010) (July 15. 2010)

"Barely a Footnote" -- Superbowl XLIII and the NFL's Betrayal of Pat (June 20, 2010) Tillman "That's My Hero" -- Pat Tillman, Rachel Corrie, and Yoni Netanyahu Introduction: Feral Firefighter's Tillman Files (Old Version) "Where Men Win Glory" -- Andrew Exum, CNAS and the Whitewash of Gen. McChrystal's Role in the Cover-Up of Pat Tillman's Friendly Fire Death (He Who Shall Not Be Fact-Checked is a completely revised version of this document) "Where Men Win Glory" -- Appendices (June 20, 2010) (January 2010) (Jan. 27, 2010)

(Jan. 27, 2010)

11


APPENDIX D: THE FERAL FIREFIGHTER BLOGTABLE OF CONTENTS -- 2008 to 2012 (Continued)

2009 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:Lies Borne Out By Facts, If Not the Truth" -- Senator James Webb, (Sept. 11, 2009) Thom Shanker & The New York Times and the Whitewash of General McChrystals Role in the Aftermath of Pat Tillmans Death "Lies Borne Out By Facts, If Not the Truth" -- Appendices "Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet?" -- Senator James Webb, Gen. McChrystal, and their Betrayal of Pat Tillman (Updated 9/09/09) (Sept. 11, 2009) (May 27, 2009)

Appendix A: McChrystal Responsible for Fratricide Investigation & Family Notification Appendix B: McChrystal's Early Knowledge of Confirmation of Tillman Fratricide Appendix C: McChrystal Declines to Appear at Waxman August 1, 2007 Hearing Appendix D: McChrystal's Misleading P4 Memo Appendix E: McChrystal's Fraudulent Silver Star Recommendation Appendix F: McChrystal's Misleading June 2, 2009 Senate Testimony

2008 Feral Firefighter Blog Posts:A Sense of Honor" -- Letters to Mary Tillman & Senator James Webb Remember the Iconoclast, Not the Icon" -- Pat Tillman 1976 2004 Battle for the Truth" -- Iddo Netanyahu, Kevin Tillman and the Cover Up of their Brother's Deaths (Yoni & Pat) (April 3, 2008) (Feb. 15, 2008) (Feb. 4, 2008)

12


FOREWORDNot only is he [McChrystal] lyingabout the circumstances surrounding Pats death he is proposing false language for the Silver Star narrative. His statement [P4 memo] indicates that no one had any intention of telling us, or the public, that Pat was killed by fratricide unless forced to do so That memo is damming as hell. And the fact that he is off the hook is atrocious. -- Mary Tillman, Boots on the Ground by Dusk (2008)

In 2002, Pat Tillman was the NFL football player who walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals and joined the U.S. Army. Pat Tillman (along with his brother Kevin) enlisted with the Army Rangers, did a tour in Iraq in 2003, and the following year was killed by friendly-fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. However, instead of telling his family the truth about his death, Gen. Stanley McChrystal supervised the Armys cover-up of his friendly-fire death and approved his fraudulent Silver Star recommendation package. Five weeks later, with the Rangers returning home1, the Army finally had to tell the Tillman family his death was fratricide. Over the next three years, a series of investigations were conducted by the Army and Department of Defense. However, these investigations were largely a whitewash of McChrystal and others involved in the cover-up. In February 2008, I was pulled into the Tillman story after Mary Tillman (his mother) called me on the phone. Her call motivated me to write Senator James Webb to ask for his help with her battle for the truth. But, in May 2009 after President Obama nominated Gen. McChrystal to command the Afghan War, I finally realized Senator Webb had instead helped the Democratic Senate whitewash Gen. McChrystals key role in the cover-up of Pat Tillmans friendly-fire death. I had stumbled upon what Ive called The [Untold] Tillman Story. That is, the Bush administration handed off their whitewash to the Democratic Congress. In 2007, Congressman Henry Waxmans Committee pretended to investigate, while in reality they shielded Gen. McChrystal from public scrutiny and accountability. During McChrystals 2008 and 2009 confirmation hearings, the Senate (particularly Senators McCain, Webb, and Levin) continued McChrystals whitewash. Finally, President Obama nominated him in 2009 to lead the Afghan War (he fired him in 2010), and President Obama appointed him in 2011 , over Mary Tillmans objections, to head the Joining Forces program to support veterans & their families.1

5-19-13 Update: COL Craig Nixon claimed that he kept the fratricide news close hold (he and McChrystal even hide it from the medical examiner). But, Joseph Kapacziewski wrote in his 2013 book, (p. 193) Back in the Fight, th that it was it was an open secret within the Ranger RGT: The 75 Rangers constituted a small community within two days the news had spread throughout the regiment, both stateside and in the war zone. Rangers knew the real story of how he died by friendly fire long before it became public.

13


Note: For an introduction to the Tillman story, Id suggest reading Gary Smiths 2006 Sports Illustrated profile Remember His Name, Mike Fishs 2006 series at ESPN.com E-Ticket: An Un-American Tragedy, the chapter The [Untold] Tillman Story in this post, or watching Amir Bar-Levs documentary The Tillman Story (original title: Im Pat Fucking Tillman, his last words). For more details, Id suggest reading Mary Tillmans 2008 memoir Boots on the Ground by Dusk (paperback with new Foreword at blurb.com), the revised 2010 paperback edition of Jon Krakauers book Where Men Win Glory (its a flawed book, but it presents the best account of the friendly-fire incident & the Armys cover-up), Michael Hastings 2012 book The Operators, John T. Reeds free articles on military matters about Pat Tillman & McChrystal, and my Feral Firefighter blog posts. ... Since December 2009, Ive documented The [Untold] Tillman Story at http://www .feralfirefighter.blogspot.com. No one else, including Jon Krakauer, has written much about it (even after I handed Krakauer my material in 2009, he failed to tell this story, although he used my research without credit to extensively revise his paperback edition). In my previous posts, Ive also described how General McChrystal played a key role in the Armys cover up Pat Tillmans friendly fire death: McChrystal received confirmation of Tillmans fratricide within two days, he had the responsibility to pass on notification to the family, decided not to forward the fratricide notification to inform the family, he supervised the preparation of a misleading Silver Star recommendation (no mention of fratricide, with two witness statements apparently altered by the Ranger RGT COs, and with inaccurate assertions in the citation & supporting narrative), he approved the fraudulent Silver Star citation, and apparently directed others to conceal friendly fire from the medical examiner & a CID investigator (McChrystals JAG officer congratulated the Ranger RGT JAG for keeping the CID at bay). Last year, in my post, Something to Die For, I added my Tillman story annotations to quotes from Michael Hastings book, The Operators, merging his narrative about McChrystal and the Afghan war with my Tillman story narrative (this post is the best introduction to my Tillman files, with links to more detailed documents and sources). However, more detailed documentation and links to source documents can be found in my earlier posts such as The [Untold] Tillman Story, Lies Borne Out by Truth If Not the Facts, and Did They Teach You How to Lie Yet? (see the list of posts in Appendix C at the end of my Table of Contents). ...14


Of the several occasions when he himself attracted critical attention the Pat Tillman affair, for example, or the leaking of his Afghan strategic assessment McChrystal offers explanations [in his memoir My Share of the Task] that fall somewhere between perfunctory and disingenuous. -- Andrew Bacevich, New York Times book review Avoiding Defeat (February 8, 2013)

Gen. Stanley McChrystal has said, The one thing you can never, and should never want to dodge, is responsibility. However, despite McChrystals much vaunted candor, his memoir whitewashes or perfunctorily mentions all the controversies of his career. The book jacket promises he will frankly explore the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career. Before reading the book, I had anticipated McChrystal would ignore or only briefly mention-inpassing his controversies (with some prevarication). Instead, it appears hes adopted Goerings big lie propaganda technique and decided to disingenuously whitewash his controversies with a thick layer of bullshit & confabulation. This post, Never Shall I Fail My Comrades, is my rebuttal of McChrystals memoir and my attempt to tell the truth that is missing from his official history & biography. This post portrays McChrystals dark legacy and how he has dodged responsibility for his role in formally importing torture to Abu Gharib, for the use of routine torture by JSOC forces under his command, for his central role in the cover-up of Pat Tillmans 2004 friendly-fire death in Afghanistan, for his strategically flawed Afghan War COIN surge, and for the Rolling Stone profile that got him fired. In addition, McChrystal failed to credit the Tikrit Delta team & interrogator Eric Maddox for their efforts which directly led to Saddam Husseins capture. And his inside story of the interrogations that led to the death of Abu Al-Zarqawi (head of AQ in Iraq) totally contradicts the accounts of Marc Bowden and Matthew Alexander (We found Zarqawi in spite of the way the task force did business). Note: For an executive summary of this post, read the next chapter, Gen. Stanley McChrystals Memoir: My Share of the Task. ...For Mary Tillman, what the army did to her son made a mockery of everything he went to war for honesty, integrity, the defence of the truth. 'If you ask me if I trust our system now, the answer is Im pretty disgusted by it. Unfortunately in our culture people survive more effectively through lies and deception and dishonourable behaviour than they do the reverse. And thats very sad. -- Mick Brown, Betrayal of an All-American Hero, UK Guardian (Oct. 7, 2010)

In April 2011, just after McChrystal was supposedly cleared by the Pentagons NYT reporter Thom Shanker of all wrongdoing in the Rolling Stone case, President Obama appointed15

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES McChrystal to head up the Joining Forces program to support military veterans and their families. In response, Mary Tillman (Pats mother) said, Its a slap in the face to appoint this man He deliberately helped cover up Pats death someone who has a heartfelt desire to help families would not have been involved in the cover-up of a soldiers death On Memorial Day 2012, Mary Tillman (Pats mother) called and we talked for about an hour. She said she had spoken briefly with McChrystal in April and mentioned he said something like, I mourn your son every day. Similarly, in his book (p. 134) McChrystal said, To this day I am saddened by Ranger Tillmans death, as I am for the loss of every service member I served with, and for the pain such losses cause each family (Did this guy really just recycle his own talking point clich when he finally spoke with Mary Tillman?!) Mary also said she was considering traveling with Kevin to meet McChrystal in DC. Mary had hoped meeting him face-to-face might bring her some measure of closure. She asked if I would help them prepare questions. But, the next day, they decided not to go. They figured they would probably walk away more frustrated than when we walked in. And, after reading McChrystals memoir, I believe she was right. Despite McChrystals platitudes about leadership, the Ranger Creed, and taking care of a fallen Ranger and his family, it appears this guy is a master of confabulation & bullshit who just wont genuinely admit a mistake, genuinely take responsibility, or be genuinely truthful about the controversies of his career. His hypocrisy is pathetic. During our Memorial Day conversation, Mary said that seeing McChrystal in the news was like rubbing salt in a wound. Unfortunately, this old general just wont fade away. His memoir, My Share of The Task, was released on January 7, 2013 and since then hes been making the rounds of lecture circuit peddling his book. In the past, I used to have a grudging respect for McChrystal when he remained silent and simply refused comment about Pat Tillman. But now, he certainly feels free to break his silence and spin his bullshit story about Tillman, torture, etc. on the talk show circuit (I guess he figures no one in the media will call him on his bullshit, and so far, hes been right). Since McChrystal wont confess the truth about the controversies of his career, I feel he ought to take the advice of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who (according to David Sanders on p. 107 of his book, Confront & Conceal) offered up a barbed assessment of how the White House had spun the Bin Laden raid: I have a new communications approach to recommend Shut the fuck up. ...

16

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES Seven years ago I wrote, Of the many tragic aspects surrounding his [Pat Tillmans] death, one is that he cannot define his own legacy. Now, its up to his family and friends to reclaim the truth and integrity of Pats life and death. By documenting what Ive called the untold Tillman Story, Ive tried to follow my own sense of integrity to do my share of the task to reclaim the truth of Pat Tillmans legacy from the lies of McChrystals bullshit memoir, the governments official pronouncement, and the synchophantic bullshit of the mainstream medias coverage of the story (e.g. the Pentagons NYT reporter Thom Shanker). As [Senator] James Webb wrote in 1991, And the media gave them their forum, always ascertaining beforehand that their allegations were borne out by facts if not the truth. -- Guy Montag, December 28, 2012 SGT, Co. F (Ranger) 425th Infantry MI ARNG, 1983 1991 Firefighter, 1991 Present

...P.S. July 21, 2013: Michael Hastings died in a fiery car crash on June 18, 2013. My tribute to him, More Lies Borne Out By Facts, If Not The Truth -- The New York Times Disingenuous Obituary of Michael Hastings & Their Whitewash of Gen. Stanley McChrystals Role in LeAffair Rolling Stan & The Pat Tillman Story, is posted at the Feral Firefighter blog.

17


DESCRIPTION OF UPDATES & REVISIONS:Update Draft 1.1 (January 15, 2013): Now that Ive read much of My Share of the Task, Ive updated portions of No Blood, No Foul sections, especially Thats One Dead SOB about the Sadddam & Zarqarwi manhunt. Ill update the other sections later. Ive added McChrystals Tillman Story and Carl Prines McChrystal Clear post. Update Draft 1.2 (January 26, 2013): Added Amazon.com book reviews of My Share of the Task, updated The [Untold] Tillman Story.

...Update 2.0 (February 18, 2013): Rearranged TOC. Greatly expanded the Rolling Stone & Afghan War sections. Added Ranger Creed commentary at the front and numerous small edits and updates throughout the document. Added notes for After Pats Birthday section. Update 2.1 (March 31, 2013): Added notes from Maj. Douglas Pryers book The Fight for the High Ground, added new Afghan War & COIN links to The Costs Would Rise I Was Responsible section, made minor updates to Appendix A about the Senate Report and added Douglas Pryer quotes on torture, revised the Foreword and Book Reviews, added quotes from the book Assholes: A Theory and On Bullshit, finished After Pats Birthday section and added quotes from blogger emptywheel [Marcy Wheeler], John T. Reed, and Sibel Edmonds. Update 2.2 (Memorial Day -- May 27, 2013): Added note about heart attack of Dilar Dababa; No Blood, No Foul postscript notes from Jeremy Scahills book Dirty Wars (Andrew Exums swooning about SM4, etc.); No Blood, No Foul notes about the Constitution Projects whitewash of McChrystal & McRavens role in JSOC torture; added Appendix C detailing the Constitution Projects (April 16, 2013) Detainee Treatment report that whitewashed McChrystal (and Admiral Bill McRavens command of JSOC torture; added photo from Pro Football Hall of Fame Pat Tillman exhibit. Update 2.3 (July 12, 2013): Added Shane Clairborne quote, revised cover to the title page, linked to my Michael Hastings tribute post, links to Gian Gentile & Douglas Porchs new books on COIN, added more COL Macgregor notes on McChrystals sucking up to get ahead. ... Update 2.4 (April 20, 2014): Added notes from my April 2014 post, DEFEND YOUR INTEGRITY, to update the The [Untold] Tillman Story & Something to Die For sections with notes on Sec. of Defense Robert Gates leadership of the bipartisan whitewash of Gen. McChrystal;18


THE DARK SIDE OF GEN. MCCHRYSTAL & HIS MEMOIR MY SHARE OF THE TASK

General McChrystal is a legendary warrior with a fine eye for enduring lessons about leadership, courage, and consequence. He took me inside the command bunker, on nighttime raids, and through the fog of war, political and military. This is a brilliant book about leadership wrapped inside a fascinating personal narrative ... Its a deeply inspiring tale. A remarkable memoir by one of the most exceptional and thoughtful leaders of his generation. -- From Amazon.com book blurbs for My Share of the Task Everyone has a dark side, [COL Micheal] Flynn said, seemingly referring to McChrystal Like Tiger Woods, I said. His whole image was built up and torn down overnight. Exactly, like Tiger Woods. -- Michael Hastings, The Operators (2012) The general [Gen. Stanley McChrystal] was a living legend in the Special Operations community, a giant leap above the office-bound dipshits who usually had four stars on their shoulders. McChrystals career should have been over at least two times by now. He is tainted by one of the most controversial scandals of the previous administration: detainee abuse and torture at prisons in Iraq [e.g. Camp Nama], and the cover-up of Pat Tillmans death. -- Michael Hastings, The Operators (2012) A great many things went unsaid both during McChrystals [April 2012 Pittsburgh] address and the Q&A There was no mention of his role in the cover-up of the friendly-fire slaying of Pat Tillman, including issuing a bogus Silver Star citation for the Ranger. No one asked him about the pattern of detainee abuse in Iraq by [JSOC] units overseen by McChrystals command McChrystal fizzled badly in Afghanistan, and everyone seems to want to dub him a 21st century Sir Gawain -- Carl Prine, McChrystal Clear (Line of Departure blog, June 3, 2012)

19


Gen. Stanley McChrystals Biographical Note(December 8, 2012)[adapted from his biographical note at his speaking bureau Leading Authorities and the Amazon.com book blurb for his memoir My Share of the Task]

Never shall I fail my comrades. . . . I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. from the Ranger Creed General McChrystal is a legendary warrior with a fine eye for enduring lessons about leadership, courage, and consequence. He took me inside the command bunker, on nighttime raids, and through the fog of war, political and military. This is a brilliant book about leadership wrapped inside a fascinating personal narrative ... Its a deeply inspiring tale. A remarkable memoir by one of the most exceptional and thoughtful leaders of his generation. ... A four-star general, Gen. Stan McChrystal is the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and the former leader of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which oversees the militarys most sensitive forces. In this illuminating memoir, McChrystal frankly explores the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career career [without rancor or retribution]. [Instead,] He delves candidly into the intersection of history, leadership, and his own experience to produce a book of enduring value. Called one of Americas greatest warriors by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General Stan McChrystal is a one-of-a-kind commander with a remarkable record of achievement, and is known for his candor, innovative leadership, and going the distance. His entire career has been guided by his sense of duty, from his first day as a West Point plebe in 1972 to his last day as a four-star general. Even as a senior commander, McChrystal stationed himself forward, and frequently went on patrols with his troops to experience their challenges firsthand. The values he has come to be widely admired for were evident: a hunger to know the truth on the ground, the courage to find it, and the humility to listen to those around him. The son and grandson of Army officers, McChrystal graduated from West Point in 1976. He was commissioned as an infantry officer and spent much of his career commanding special operations and airborne infantry units. He served in the 82nd Airborne, the Rangers, the 7th Special Forces Group, the Joint Staff, and JSOC, among other assignments. In 2003, McChrystal was selected to deliver the nationally televised Pentagon briefings about military operations in Iraq.20

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES From 20032008, he commanded Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and was responsible for leading the nations deployed military counter-terrorism efforts around the globe. He writes of a fight waged in the shadows by JSOC, which he led from 2003 to 2008. McChrystal is widely praised for creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations. JSOC became one of our most effective counterterrorism weapons, facing off against Al Qaeda in Iraq. His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein. Over time, JSOC gathered staggering amounts of intelligence in order to find and remove the most influential and dangerous terrorists, including the 2006 killing of the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The hunt for Zarqawi drives some of the most gripping scenes in this book, as McChrystals team grappled with tricky interrogations, advanced but scarce technology, weeks of unbroken surveillance, and agonizing decisions. McChrystal brought the same energy to the war in Afghanistan, where the challenges loomed even larger. McChrystal assumed command of all international forces in Afghanistan in June 2009. President Obamas order for an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan was based on McChrystals assessment of the war. He developed and implemented the counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan. McChrystal retired from the military in 2010. He now serves on the board of directors for JetBlue Airways, Navistar, and the Yellow Ribbon Fund. He is also a senior fellow at Yale Universitys Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches a popular course on leadership. In April 2011, McChrystal returned to public service after the Obama administration invited him to oversee Joining Forces, a high-profile initiative that supports military families. General McChrystal co-founded the McChrystal Group in January 2011. Its mission is to deliver innovative leadership solutions to organizations. A dynamic, powerful speaker, McChrystal impresses audiences with field-tested leadership lessons. When old systems fall short, he believes true leaders must look for ways to innovate and change. Citing stories from his career, McChrystal reveals a four-star management strategy, concentrating on openness, teamwork, and forward-thinking. Ultimately, My Share of the Task is about much more than war and peace, terrorism and counterinsurgency. As McChrystal writes, More by luck than design, Id been a part of some events, organizations, and efforts that will loom large in history, and more that will not. I saw selfless commitment, petty politics, unspeakable cruelty, and quiet courage in places and quantities that Id never have imagined. But what I will remember most are the leaders.21


Pre-Publication Review of My Share of the Task(Amazon.com, January 6, 2013) This past Memorial Day, I spoke with Mary Tillman (Pat Tillman's mother) and she said seeing Gen. McChrystal in the news was "like rubbing salt in a wound." Unfortunately, this old general won't just fade away. Now, he's making the rounds of the morning talk shows and the Amazon book blurb for his memoir, "My Share of the Task," promises it will "frankly explore the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career." However, despite McChrystal's much vaunted "candor," it appears his memoir whitewashes or ignores the controversies of his career. For example, he simply repeats his lecture circuit BS that there was no cover-up of Pat Tillman's 2004 friendly-fire death, merely "well-intentioned mistakes." And, McChrystal "still declines to confirm or deny the accuracy of the quotes" of Michael Hasting's "Rolling Stone" profile which got him fired (he spend only a page and a half on it, doesn't even mention Hastings by name, and he doesn't address the substance of Hasting's 2012 book, "The Operators," which details "Le'Affair Rolling Stan" and his failed Afghan war strategy). In April 2011, just after McChrystal was supposedly cleared by the Pentagon's NYT reporter Thom Shanker of "all wrongdoing" in the "Rolling Stone" case, President Obama appointed him to head up the "Joining Forces" program to support military veterans and their families. In response, Mary Tillman said, "It's a slap in the face to appoint this man" ... "He deliberately helped cover up Pat's death"... someone who has a heartfelt desire to help families would not have been involved in the cover-up of a soldier's death..." McChrystal has said, "The one thing you can never, and should never want to dodge, is responsibility." But, it appears that he has "dodged" taking responsibility for his central role in the Tillman cover-up, the use of torture by JSOC forces under his command, how he helped "box in" President Obama into his strategically flawed Afghan War "surge," and for "Le'Affair Rolling Stan (see details at the post, "Never Shall I Fail My Comrades" -- The Dark Legacy of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, at the Feral Firefighter blog). Finally, I'm curious to see how well his story of the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of Abu Zarqawi matches previous accounts which describe the "back story"(e.g. interogator Matthew Alexander said, "We found Zarqawi in spite of the way the task force (McChrystal's TF 145) did business"). In the past, I used to have a grudging respect for McChrystal when he simply refused to comment about the Pat Tillman story. But, if McChrystal won't confess the truth about "the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career," I feel he ought to take the advice of SecDef Gates, who offered up a barbed assessment of how the White House had "spun" the Bin Laden raid: "I have a new communications approach to recommend ... Shut ... up."22


Post-Publication Review of My Share of the Task(Amazon.com, January 26, 2013; last updated March 22, 2013)There will be few markers from this war and much of the history will be inaccurate or incomplete Leaders make mistakes, and they are often costly. The first reflex is normally to deny the failure to themselves; the second is to hide it from others, because most leaders covet a reputation for infallibility. But its a fools dream and is inherently dishonest. -- Gen. McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013) Of the several occasions when he himself attracted critical attention the Pat Tillman affair, for example, or the leaking of his Afghan strategic assessment McChrystal offers explanations [in his memoir My Share of the Task] that fall somewhere between perfunctory and disingenuous. -- Andrew Bacevich, New York Times book review Avoiding Defeat (February 8, 2013)

... Gen. Stanley McChrystal begins his memoir, My Share of the Task, by writing he intends to weave together the threads of history and leadership around the story of his life. However, I found his thread of leadership to be rather threadbare. McChrystal scatters anecdotal examples of leadership throughout his book, but only in the last pages does he write about what he had learned about leadership. Similarly, the thread of his life is focused on his Army career, and doesnt dwell much on his personal life, feelings or thoughts. By far, the thread of history is the thickest, and his book has more the feel of a history text than a memoir. Unfortunately, McChrystals history deceitfully whitewashes the controversies of his career. Part I is an extended prologue. McChrystal describes the first 30 years of his Army career, beginning in 1972 when he entered West Point, followed by service in mostly special forces units (Airborne, Special Forces, and Ranger RGT), and ending with his 2002 assignment to the Pentagon Joint Staff. During these years he never commanded units in combat. Part II, the centerpiece of the book, portrays his history of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) under his command from 2003 to 2008. JSOC is comprised of elite operators such as Delta, Seals, DevGru, Rangers, etc. and their support staff. McChrystal tells the story of how JSOC radically transformed itself from a group of shooters into a network interlinked with other agencies that gathered information swiftly and acted accordingly and became one of the U.S.s most effective counterterrorism weapons. McChrystal briefly describes the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein. However, he failed to credit the Tikrit Delta team & interrogator Eric Maddox (Mission Black List #1) for their efforts23

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES which directly led to Saddams capture (perhaps because it could raise questions about the role of torture in the death of a high-value detainee who had a heart attack shortly after arriving at Camp Nama resulting in Maddox facing a dead end). In succeeding chapters, McChrystal writes his history of JSOCs battles against al-Qaeda in Iraq: e.g. 2004s First & Second battles of Fallujah, 2005s operation Snake Eyes to cut off the supply of foreign fighters, 2006s battle for Ramadi, and JSOCs support for the 2007 Iraq Surge and the Sunni awakening movement (for more detail, see Michael Gordons The Endgame). Curiously, McChrystal didnt mention the key role of the Taji trove (see Thom Shankers book Counterstrike) in the 2007 Iraq Surge that was so valuable that one military officer compared it to the allies success in breaking the Nazis Enigma codes during WWII It gave us their whole ball game for Baghdad. And, he only mentioned the Sinjar papers in a footnote (p. 415); Shanker wrote that Gen. Petraeus said the overall Sinjar effort did more to halt the terror networks that flowed foreign fighters and suicide bombers into Iraq than any other operation. Similarly, Marc Bowden wrote (The Finish) that the Sinjar papers played a big part in decapitating al Qaeda in Iraq McChrystal has cited the Sinjar raid as one of his units most important breakthroughs. McChrystals memoir is valuable for providing a strategic big-picture history of JSOCs fight in Iraq (I would also suggest Mark Urbans book, Task Force Black that describes JSOCs fight from the viewpoint of the British SAS). However, if youre interested in an operator level portrayal, I would suggest books such as Mark Owens No Easy Day, Marcus Luttrells Service, or Chris Kyles American Sniper. The heart of McChrystals memoir is his 50-page narrative of the manhunt and 2006 killing of Abu al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He uses the Zarqawi manhunt to illustrate how JSOC uses a variety of tools including skillful interrogation, drone surveillance, and signals intelligence to find, fix, and finish insurgents. Here, McChrystal claims that TF 145s three best interrogators developed rapport with a detainee to get the intel that led to Zaraqwi. However, McChrystals inside story of these interrogations totally contradicts the accounts of Marc Bowdens article The Ploy (the real story is more complicated and interesting), Mark Urbans book Task Force Black (multiple sources have confirmed to me the accuracy of Bowdens article), and Matthew Alexanders book How to Break A Terrorist (We found Zarqawi in spite of the way the task force did business). In reality, Alexander used rapport to get key intel in a few hours (just before the detainee was due to be shipped out) that JSOCs best interrogators had failed to get in three weeks using their "old-school" attitude!

24

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES Overshadowed by the McChrystal controversy was the story Hastings really wanted to produce: anindictment of U.S. counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, which Hastings considers a deadly folly [In his book The Operators] he argues that the Afghanistan war is a debacle and that counterinsurgency is a liberal-sounding sham -- Spencer Ackerman, Michael Hastings: McChrystal Was Complex, Obama Was Naive, Afghanistan Is Hopeless January 5, 2012)

In Part III, McChrystal whitewashes his command of the Afghan War from 2009-2010. He refuses to admit that the military boxed in Obama into making the Afghan war surge (e.g. Bob Woodwards Obamas Wars). And he doesnt address the failure of his strategically flawed COIN strategy (e.g. Fred Kaplans The Insurgents). McChrystals surge didnt work, President Obama fired McChrystal, and Gen. David Petreaus couldnt make COIN work either. But, McChrystal should have known it was folly from the beginning. His best military advice wasnt worth squat. A lot of troops have been killed or wounded because of it. McChrystal ends Part III of his memoir with a brief, disingenuous discussion of the controversial Rolling Stone profile by Michael Hastings which led to his June 2010 firing by President Obama. McChrystal claims he resigned instead of being fired (although he only issued an apology & hadnt submitted his resignation before meeting Obama). McChrystal still declines to confirm or deny the accuracy of the quotes and falsely implies they were off-the record. McChrystal claims he consulted no one (although the general's first action was to call his superiors such as Secretary of Defense Gates and Vice President Biden, etc). Finally, McChrystal claims he took full responsibility for the Rolling Stone piece (although before flying to DC his PR advisor Duncan Boothby offers his resignation McChrystal accepts). For a more critical and honest account of LeAffair Rolling Stan, I would suggest Michael Hastings 2012 book The Operators.

at the very same time the Army was cleaning up Abu Ghraib at an elite secret interrogation facility [JSOCs Camp Nama] nudity and hooding and stress positions were still routine Do you know where the colonel was getting his orders from? I believe it was a two-star general. I believe his name was General McChrystal. I saw him there a couple of times. -- John Richardson, Esquire (2006)

McChrystal wrote (p.136): for many [foreign jihadists], burning anger over images of degradation at Abu Gharib had provoked them to come to Iraq and would fuel the fire for years to come. (p.172): In my experience, we found that nearly every first-time jihadist claimed Abu Gharib had first jolted him to action. The 2008 Senate Armed Services Committee report, Inquiry Into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody, described how torture contributed to combat deaths of American soldiers: the first and second identifiable causes of U. S. combat deaths in Iraq - as judged by their effectiveness in recruiting insurgent fighters into combat - are, respectively the symbols of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo."25

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES But, McChrystal claims that Abu Gharib was the work of a few bad apples and that he never condoned mistreatment of detainees But the SASC report said: The abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib in late 2003 was not simply the result of a few bad apples acting on their own. Interrogation policies endorsed by senior military and civilian officials authorizing the use of harsh interrogation techniques were a major cause of the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody. SMU TF [JSOC task force] policies [authorized by McChrystal] were a direct cause of detainee abuse and influenced interrogation policies at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere in Iraq. In addition, as Joint Staff VDJ3 it appears McChrystal was involved in the process of formally importing torture to Iraq in 2003 by sending Gen. Geoffrey Miller to Gitmotize Abu Gharib and by sending SERE instructors to teach torture techniques to TF 121. After McChrystal did his share of the task of lighting the fire of Abu Gharib (contributing to the deaths of US soldiers), he then commanded the JSOC night raids which killed thousands of jihadis who came to Iraq because of Abu Gharib. McChrystals like an arsonist firefighter who sets the fire and then later brags about putting it out! After he took command of JSOC in 2003, instead of reducing torture, McChrystal (along with then TF 121 CO Admiral Bill McRaven) approved more techniques until he was ordered to stop most of them after the Abu Gharib scandal; although it appears JSOC didnt fully clean up its act until the end of 2005. Maj. Douglas Preyer wrote in his book, The Fight for the High Ground: Incredibly, even after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke, the facility run by the elite Special Mission Unit in Iraq [TF121] continued to permit more of these techniques than had been previously allowed at Abu Ghraib Finally, after McChrystals 2009 Senate testimony, Senator Russ Feingold wrote: I am concerned about General McChrystals public testimony, which sought to convey that he was uncomfortable with various interrogation techniques and sought to reduce their use. Given the full history of his approach to interrogations, this testimony appears to be incomplete, at best. Overall, it appears McChrystals memoir attempts to re-write history and whitewash his role in the use of torture as commander of JSOC.

in Afghanistan I watched the Rangers deal with the loss of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a comrade, and I saw nothing but genuine efforts to take care of a fallen Ranger and his family in ways that reflected the deep values of the force. -- Gen. McChrystal, My Share of the Task (2013)

Gen. McChrystal claims its a misperception that there was a cover-up of Pat Tillmans 2004 friendly fire death in Afghanistan. However, his account is disingenuous and simply doesnt withstand informed scrutiny. In reality, General McChrystal played a central role in the Armys cover up. Although McChrystal was told of confirmed fratricide within two days, he26

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES intentionally failed in his duty to pass on notification to the family, he supervised and approved a fraudulent Silver Star recommendation (with two forged witness statements), and he apparently directed others to conceal evidence of friendly fire from the medical examiner. Since then, McChrystals central role has been repeatedly whitewashed by the Democratic Congress and President Obama. In April 2011, just after McChrystal was supposedly cleared (the DoD IGs investigation report is a joke!) of all wrongdoing in the Rolling Stone case, President Obama appointed him to head up the Joining Forces program to support military veterans and their families. In response, Mary Tillman (Pat Tillmans mother) said, Its a slap in the face to appoint this man He deliberately helped cover up Pats death someone who has a heartfelt desire to help families would not have been involved in the cover-up of a soldiers death

A great many things went unsaid both during McChrystals [April 2012 Pittsburgh] address and the Q&A There was no mention of his role in the cover up of the friendly-fire slaying of Pat Tillman, including issuing a bogus Silver Star citation for the Ranger. No one asked him about the pattern of detainee abuse in Iraq by [JSOC] units overseen by McChrystals command McChrystal fizzled badly in Afghanistan, and everyone seems to want to dub him a 21st century Sir Gawain -- Carl Prine, McChrystal Clear (Line of Departure blog, June 3, 2012)

The book jacket for My Share of the Task promises to frankly explore the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career. Before reading the book, I had anticipated McChrystal would ignore or only briefly mention-in-passing his controversies (with a bit of prevarication). Instead, it appears hes adopted Goerings big lie propaganda technique and decided to disingenuously whitewash his controversies with a thick layer of bullshit and confabulation. McChrystal has said, The one thing you can never, and should never want to dodge, is responsibility. However, McChrystal has dodged responsibility for his role in formally importing torture to Abu Gharib, for the use of routine torture by JSOC forces under his command, and for his central role in the cover-up of Pat Tillmans 2004 friendly-fire death in Afghanistan. This past Memorial Day, Mary Tillman called me and we spoke for about an hour. After speaking briefly with McChrystal in April, she said she had considered meeting face-to-face with him in DC, but she figured they would probably walk away more frustrated than when we walked in. After reading McChrystals memoir, I believe she was right. Despite McChrystals platitudes about the Ranger Creed and taking care of a fallen Ranger and his family, it appears this guy is a master of confabulation who just wont genuinely admit a mistake, genuinely take responsibility for his actions, or be genuinely truthful about the controversies of his career. His hypocrisy is pathetic.27


Mary also told me that seeing McChrystal on the news was like rubbing salt in a wound. Unfortunately, this old general just wont fade away; hes been making the rounds of the talk show circuit peddling his book (I guess he figures no one will call him on his bullshit, and so far, hes been right). In the past, I used to have a grudging respect for McChrystal when he remained silent and simply refused comment about Pat Tillman. But, since McChrystal wont come clean about his mistakes, I feel he ought to take the advice of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who (according to David Sanders on p. 107 of Confront & Conceal) offered up a barbed assessment of how the White House had spun the Bin Laden raid: I have a new communications approach to recommend Shut the fuck up.

28


Gen. McChrystals Biographical Note (With Annotations)(December 28, 2012; have since added additional footnotes)[Adapted from his biographical note at his speaking bureau Leading Authorities and the Amazon.com book blurb for his memoir My Share of the Task]

Never shall I fail my comrades. . . . I will shoulder more than my share of the task, whatever it may be, one hundred percent and then some. from the Ranger Creed In this illuminating memoir, Gen. Stan McChrystal frankly explores the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career [without rancor or retribution]2. [Instead,] He delves candidly into the intersection of history, leadership, and his own experience to produce a book of enduring value. Called one of Americas greatest warriors3 by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General Stan McChrystal is a one-of-a-kind commander with a remarkable record of achievement, and is known for his candor4, innovative leadership, and going the distance. His entire career has been

2

Although it appears he has a couple of subtle slams in his book on Michael Hastings (p. 109, McChrystal) and President Obama (p. ***; see quote in The Sons-of-Bitches With all the Fruit Salad).3

Michael Hastings wrote in The Operators: The general [Gen. Stanley McChrystal] was a living legend in the Special Operations community, a giant leap above the office-bound dipshits who usually had four stars on their shoulders [e.g. McChrystals predecessor Air Force MG Dell Dailey whose incompetence (and his deputy BG Greg Trebon) during Operation Anaconda & the invasion of Iraq got several JSOC guys KIA/WIA. He was described as a 6000 mile screwdriver by Delta Squadron CO Pete Blaber (see his book The Men, the Mission, and Me, Sean Naylors book Not a Good Day to Die, and Michael Gordons book Cobra II) determined to shove a marshmallow into a piggy bank.] Though personally a Democrat, McChrystal felt great loyalty to Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush. he was Dick Cheneys and Donald Rumsfelds golden boy. a number of times throughout the Bush administration McChrystal got orders directly from Cheney. Rumsfeld and Cheney embrace McChrystals willingness to get things done, even if it includes bending the rules or skipping the chain of command.4

Candor? Personally, Id substitute the word bullshit instead. Ive argued that his public comments about his role in the cover-up of Pat Tillmans 2004 friendly fire death, his command of routine torture by JSOC forces, and the Rolling Stone profile which helped get him fired have hardly been candid. But, like the other celebrity general David Petreaus, McChrystal has had luck with getting hagiographic treatments from the sycophantic press corps. Im not anticipating much candor about the controversies of his eventful career in his memoir. 29

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES guided by his sense of duty, from his first day as a West Point plebe in 1972 to his last day as a four-star general. Even as a senior commander, McChrystal stationed himself forward, and frequently went on patrols with his troops to experience their challenges firsthand. The values he has come to be widely admired for were evident: a hunger to know the truth on the ground5, the courage to find it, and the humility to listen to those around him. The son and grandson of Army officers, McChrystal graduated from West Point in 1976. He was commissioned as an infantry officer and spent much of his career commanding special operations and airborne infantry units. He served in the 82nd Airborne, the Rangers, the 7th Special Forces Group, the Joint Staff, and JSOC, among other assignments.6 In 2003, McChrystal was selected7 to deliver the nationally televised Pentagon briefings about military operations in Iraq.8 From 20032008, he commanded Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and was responsible for leading the nations deployed military counter-terrorism efforts around the globe. He writes of a fight waged in the shadows9 by JSOC, which he led from 2003 to 2008.5

However, McChrystal didnt display this hunger to know the truth or courage when he supervised the 2004 cover-up of Pat Tillmans friendly-fire death on the ground in Afghanistan.6

Update 5-01-13: p. 103, Scahill Dirty Wars: In 1998 Dick Cheney, who then chaired the Military Fellowship Selection Board at the Council on Foreign Relations, recommended McChrystal for the fellowship.7

He was also selected to briefed the SASC six days each week and found this relationship helpful later (especially when Senator Levin, Webb, and McCain let him slide on torture and the Tillman cover-up). And, if you look at his footnotes (p. 405), he stuck in a bit of subtle humor about his role: Carl Huse & Eric Schmitt, Pentagon Strokes Lawmakers Every Morning and They Seem to Like it, NYT March 29, 20038

(p. 82 McChrystal): As Joint Staff VDJ3 he periodically performed the role of Pentagon military spokesman for briefings to the Pentagon Press corps. there was every opportunity to misspeak or to appear a buffoon on national television. Michael Hastings wrote, The stint [Pentagon spokesman in 2003] is memorable for quotes that would have acted as albatrosses to most others, like backing up Donald Rumsfelds infamous remark about looting in Baghdad Stuff happens. He also, unfortunately, mentions that major combat operations in Iraq are over, a week before Bushs Mission Accomplished speech.9

at the very same time the Army was cleaning up Abu Ghraib at an elite secret interrogation facility [JSOCs Camp Nama] nudity and hooding and stress positions were still routine Do you know where the colonel was getting his orders from? I believe it was a two-star general. I believe his name was General McChrystal. I saw him there a couple of times. -- John Richardson, Esquire (2006) 30

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES McChrystal is widely praised for creating a revolution in warfare that fused intelligence and operations.10 JSOC became one of our most effective counterterrorism weapons, facing off against Al Qaeda in Iraq.11 His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein.12

The abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib in late 2003 was not simply the result of a few bad apples acting on their own. Interrogation policies endorsed by senior military and civilian officials authorizing the use of harsh interrogation techniques were a major cause of the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody. SMU TF [JSOC task force interrogation] policies were a direct cause of detainee abuse and influenced interrogation policies at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere in Iraq. SASC 2008 Report, Inquiry Into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody10

Shanker & Schmitt wrote in Counterstrike: Gen. McChrystal was praised for changing the culture of handling intelligence: Across the military and intelligence community, General McChrystal was credited with commanding missions that captured and killed more of Americas adversaries than any other living officer. But his legacy in shifting the culture of handling intelligence is just as important. They described two of the secret intelligence coups that largely contributed to the success of the Iraq surge: What was pulled out of the Taji trove was so valuable that one military officer compared it to the allies success in breaking the Nazis Enigma codes during WWII and General Petreaus said the overall Sinjar effort did more to halt the terror networks that flowed foreign fighters and suicide bombers into Iraq than any other operation. But, the authors didnt describe the role of torture (harsh interrogation in Washingtonese) in the secret campaign. They only briefly allude to its use at Camp Nama by JSOC forces under Gen. McChrystals command. But, apparently, the authors didnt believe that torture contributed much to success against Al Qaeda: The process of massing intelligence on an individual has proven to be a more valuable tool than harsh interrogation techniques11

The authors of Top Secret America praised Gen. McChrystals leadership of JSOC: In the fall of 2003, JSOC got a new commander [Gen. Stanley McChrystal] who would turn the organization into arguably the most effective weapon in the U.S. counterterrorism arsenal. However, Spencer Ackerman wrote, Theres a debate in military circles about whether McChrystal or his friend and successor, Adm. William McRaven deserve credit for JSOCs resurgence; but [Marc] Ambinders reporting suggests Flynn is the real father of the modern JSOC.12

It doesnt appear McChrystal deserves any credit for the capture of Saddam Hussein. First, he had only been in command of JSOC for a couple of months (and spent much of that time ramping up JSOC operations in Afghanistan; it doesnt appear he established any new policies that contributed to the capture. Second, the intelligence that directly led to Husseins capture was gathered by the Tikrit TF121 team (and its interrogator Eric Maddox) working independently of the TF121 Baghdad HQ. Third, Hussein was captured in spite of the routine use of torture by TF121 (a high-value detainee died shortly after he was taken to Camp Nama; Maddox said, I was facing a dead end). 31

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES Over time, JSOC gathered staggering amounts of intelligence in order to find and remove the most influential and dangerous terrorists, including the 2006 killing of the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The hunt for Zarqawi drives some of the most gripping scenes in this book, as McChrystals team grappled with tricky interrogations,13 advanced but scarce technology, weeks of unbroken surveillance, and agonizing decisions14. McChrystal brought the same energy to the war in Afghanistan, where the challenges loomed even larger. McChrystal assumed command of all international forces in Afghanistan in June 2009.15 President Obamas order for an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan was based on McChrystals assessment of the war.16 He developed and implemented the counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.1713

In 2006 an interrogator named Matthew Alexander found the lingering coercive interrogation mindset hurt the hunt for Zarqawi. Alexander said, I dont know Gen. McChrystals involvement in that [coercive interrogation mindset] But I do know that mentality was extremely counter-productive and almost cost us our chance at finding Zarqawi. We found Zarqawi in spite of the way the task force did business.13

Instead, Matthew Alexander used non-coercive interrogation methods to get the intelligence that directly led to Zarqawi (although McChrystal failed to give Alexander credit, unlike Admiral McRaven who ensured Eric Maddox received official recognition for his role in the capture of Saddam).14

Apparently referring to McChrystals decision to bomb Zarqawi knowing that several women and children were in the house (although McChrystal has expressed no remorse in his book or in interviews. Its also worth noting that Army spokesman denied any children were killed! More candor!15

Michael Hastings wrote, [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates says hell fire him [Gen. McKiernan] if he doesnt resign. He doesnt, and Gate fires him [May 11, 2009]. Privately, McKiernan will tell friends that it was Petraeus who was behind getting rid of him a dirty move to get a public relations bump that comes from the strong move of switching generals to win the war.16

Hastings wrote, "McChrystal tells them [Gates, Mullen, Petreaus] his stark assessment, the serious next step is asking for more troops. The serious next step is what the assessment concludes: Were losing. [On September 21, 2009] Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward publishes McChrystals confidential assessment of the war. [Obama felt boxed in] In the end, Obama attempts to split the difference he gives the military the troops they want, but tells them they need to leave sooner than theyd like. warning him over a VTC: Do not occupy what you cannot transfer.17

A losing COIN strategy. Hastings wrote, Obama chooses West Point to deliver his [Dec. 1, 2009] speech on his new strategy. Or, more accurately, McChrystal and Petraeuss strategy. He tells all the reasons why fighting in Afghanistan is a bad idea. He tells them that were going to do it anyway. The escalation in Afghanistan is on an entirely different scale from the escalation in Iraq, however it creates a new war. The surge in Afghanistan triples the number of forces and more than quadruples the 32

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES McChrystal retired from the military in 2010.18 He now serves on the board of directors for JetBlue Airways, Navistar, and the Yellow Ribbon Fund. He is also a senior fellow at Yale Universitys Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, where he teaches a popular course on leadership.19 General McChrystal co-founded the McChrystal Group in January 2011. Its mission is to deliver innovative leadership solutions to organizations. A dynamic, powerful speaker, McChrystal impresses audiences with field-tested leadership lessons20. Citing stories from his career, McChrystal reveals a four-star management strategy, concentrating on openness, teamwork, and forward-thinking.cost of the conflict. Its chances of success are low, almost nonexistent. No matter how professional or competent or dynamic McChrystal and his team were, the task they had set out for themselves was so obviously doomed. [SAS commander Sir Graeme Lamb] describing the situation [in Afghanistan] as like Apollo 13, heading out to the moon, with a bloody great hole in the side, bleeding oxygen. What was happening in Marjah [April 22, 2009; offensive started on February 12, 2009] didnt bode well for the next major offensive planned for Kandahar. Marja was supposed to be a proof of concept and the concept looked like a failure. McChrystal will describe it [Marja] as a bleeding ulcer. The White House will view it as a failure. What McChrystal is doing in Kandahar doesnt seem to be what hed promised the White House earlier. He doesnt impress them and it will be held against him a few weeks later. They were still pissed about the leak of the strategic assessment and the failure to explain the rationale of the Kanadahar offensive to the president and his staff.18

Retired? He was fired by President Obama after Hastings Rolling Stone controversial profile came out in June 2010! McChrystal claims he resigned instead of being fired (although he had only issued anapology and hadnt submitted his resignation before meeting Obama). McChrystal still declines to confirm or deny the accuracy of the quotes and falsely implies they w ere off-the record. McChrystal claims he consulted no one (although The general's first action was to call his superiors such as Secretary of Defense Gates and Vice President Biden, etc.). Finally, McChrystal claims he took full responsibility for the Rolling Stone piece (although that day PR advisor Duncan Boothby offers his resignation McChrystal accepts). For a more critical and honest account of LeAffair Rolling Stan, I would suggest Michael Hastings 2012 book The Operators.19

Spencer Ackerman in his piece, Professor McChrystals Lectures: Navigating Politics, Media, Irony, wrote: some of his [Yale] classes have the potential to be awkward. Navigating Politics. . Loyalty, Trust and Relationships. Communicating the Story the Media Environment. Um. Then theres the reading list. . While one of McChrystals classes deals with notoriety, Michael Hastings piece somehow goes unassigned. But McChrystal isnt going to overcome his public fallfrom-grace by structuring his seminar as an ode to his awesomeness.20

His TED talk didnt impress me: Never shall I fail my comrades. ..." (N from the Ranger Creed). Really? Coming from the guy who was at the center of the Army's cover-up of Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death? Where's my barf bag? This is rich, "The Pope" talking about the "promise" of the Ranger Creed and taking care of your men. He certainly failed the Tillman family. However, I did like his description of Army parachuting. Took me back 25 years, to when I "waddled" to the door and fell out with a heavyass ruck ("new guy" carrying the AM PRC-70 radio, batteries, DMDG, etc). 33


In April 2011, McChrystal returned to public service after the Obama administration invited him to oversee Joining Forces,21 a high-profile initiative that supports military families. Ultimately, My Share of the Task is about much more than war and peace, terrorism and counterinsurgency. As McChrystal writes, More by luck than design, Id been a part of some events, organizations, and efforts that will loom large in history, and more that will not. I saw selfless commitment, petty politics, unspeakable cruelty, and quiet courage in places and quantities that Id never have imagined. But what I will remember most are the leaders. ... Despite the blandishments of the book blurb for My Share of the Task, it doesnt appear that McChrystals memoir frankly explores the major episodes and controversies of his eventful career. I doubt if McChrystal will candidly discusses his dark legacy of his central role in the 2004 cover-up of Pat Tillmans friendly-fire death, the routine torture by JSOC task forces under his command, how he helped box in President Obama into his failed Afghanistan War surge with its flawed COIN strategy. It will also be interesting to see how his account of LeAffair Rolling Stan compares to Michael Hastings well-documented (did that guy ever turn off his tape recorder?) version in his book The Operators. And, Im curious to see how well his account of the capture of Saddam Hussein and the killing of Abu Zarqawi compares to my own research into those manhunts. But, Im not holding my breath waiting for McChrystals vaunted candor in his memoir. Based on his remarks on the lecture circuit and his Senate testimony, Im expecting more bullshit.

21

Just two days after the DoD IG & the Pentagons NYT reporter Thom Shanker supposedly cleared McChrystal of all wrongdoing in the Rolling Stone case, on April 10th, Gen. McChrystals reputation was further restored by President Obamas appointing him to head up the new Joining Forces program to support military veterans and their families. In response, Mary Tillman said, Its a slap in the face to appoint this man He deliberately helped cover up Pats death someone who has a heartfelt desire to help families would not have been involved in the cover-up of a soldiers death And Narda Zacchino said, It is bewildering and tasteless, after McChrystals callous disregard for the Tillman family throughout this entire episode, that Barack Obama should appoint him to a high-profile position having anything to do with helping military families. When asked about Marys remarks, Michelle Obama said were proud to have him [McChrystal] on board and White House Press Secretary Carney said that [President] Obama is very aware of the generals rsum. Later he added, We have enormous respect for the service and sacrifice of Pat Tillman and his family. The circumstances surrounding Pat Tillman's death have been thoroughly investigated, and General McChrystal was found to have acted honorably despite the fact that this tragedy was mishandled. 34


MISSION BLACK LIST #1The [Untold] Story of the 2003 Capture of Saddam Hussein

From 20032008, he [Gen. McChrystal] commanded Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein. -- Leading Authorities Biographical Note for Gen. Stanley McChrystal ... [Radman was flown to Baghdad instead of driven back to Tikrit. After Maddox was told,] he said, Thats a huge mistakeThey [Baghdad TF 121] dont even know who he is. He can lay out the entire insurgency here in Tikrit. He might even lead us to Saddam. [Even worse, the next day Maddox learned that Radman dropped dead of a coronary shortly after arriving in Baghdad (possibly from the stress of torture at Camp Nama?). Eric Maddox wrote, ] The obstacles I was facinggot a lot higher when news came from BIAP that Radman Ibrahim had died of a massive heart attack while in custody. This was a major setback. I was facing a dead end. -- Eric Maddox, Mission: Black List #1 You were teamed with the best in TikritYou were accepted because you proved your worth from the very beginning. In the big scheme of things, your individual efforts were more valuable than dozens of operators. Great work Eric!

-- Dalton Fury (former Delta CO), Amazon Book Review of Mission: Black List#135


MISSION BLACK LIST #1From 20032008, he commanded Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) His leadership of JSOC is credited with the 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein.

In October 2003 Gen. Stanley McChrystal took command of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). One of the units under his command was Task Force 121 (composed of operators from Delta, SEAL teams, etc.) whose primary task was to kill or capture high-value targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time, the Iraq TF 121 commander was Admiral William McRaven (who later succeeded McChrystal as commander of JSOC in 2008 and who supervised the 2011 raid in Pakistan which killed Osama Bin Ladin). McChrystals leadership of JSOC has often been credited with having supervised some highly successful commando special operations in Iraq including the capture of Saddam Hussein in 200322. However, its not clear how much credit, if any, McChrystal deserves for the capture of Saddam Hussein.*1 First, he had only been in command of JSOC for a couple of months; I dont know if he established any new policies that contributed to the capture.*2 Second, the intelligence that directly led to Husseins capture was gathered by the Tikrit TF121 team (and its interrogator Eric Maddox) working independently23 of the TF121 Baghdad HQ. Third, Hussein was captured in spite of the routine use of torture by TF121 at BIAP (a key detainee died of a heart attack shortly after he was taken to Camp Nama at BIAP; Maddox said, I was facing a dead end). Postscript Note*1: To his credit, in his memoir McChrystal doesnt claim credit for the capture of Saddam. On his first trip out of the States, he only spent a couple of days in Iraq and then left to ramp up Operation Winterstrike in Afghanistan on October 27, 2003, and implemented it there during November. (see pp. 107-108). Postscript Note*2: Obviously, McChrystal didnt change much in a few days in Iraq, although he did sketch out the hourglass diagram before he left (p. 106) ... Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003 on a farm south of Tikrit. The earliest accounts gave the credit to the Fourth Infantry Division (4th ID) whose intelligence officers had created a Link Analysis Diagram the Mongo Link that detailed the relationships between

22

e.g p.434, The Outpost (2012) Jake Tapper p. 200 Maddox

23

36

NEVER SHALL I FAIL MY COMRADES more than 250 Baathists and tribal ties to Hussein in the Tikrit area.24 However, much of the credit belongs to the Tikrit TF121 team (that worked with LTC Steve Russells 4th ID battalion) and to an Army interrogator named Eric Maddox who conducted the key interrogations that directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein25. Maddox arrived in Iraq in at the end of July 2003. Shortly afterwards, he was temporarily attached to the Tikrit TF121 team and conducted their interrogations (without using torture) during the next five months. For the most part, Maddox worked independently*3 of both the 4th ID intelligence officers and the TF121 HQ intelligence officers. Instead of using the 4th IDs Mongo link, Maddox relied on his own diagram and a much smaller list of former Saddam bodyguards to focus his efforts. Postscript Note*3: McChrystal wrote (p. 105) that the Tikrit team largely toiled away on its own without much assistance from TF 121 HQ. In his Amazon book review, The value of intuition and instinct, the former Delta officer Dalton Fury praised Eric Maddoxs efforts: Eric, thanks for taking the time to share the extraordinary behind the scenes efforts of nabbing Saddam. You were teamed with the best in TikritYou were accepted because you proved your worth from the very beginning. In the big scheme of things, your individual efforts were more valuable than dozens of operators. I highly recommend this fascinating book for anyone interested in just how Saddam was finally located in his spider hole. Great work Eric! The Tikrit TF121 team operated largely independently of its HQ in Baghdad. However, the Tikrit team called on another team from Baghdad to help capture Radman Ibrahim on November 8, 2003. Unfortunately, against the Tikrit teams wishes, Radman was flown to Baghd

"never shall i fail my comrades" -- the dark legacy of gen. mcchrystal’s memoir "my share of the...

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