McConnell Again Calls for McChrystal Testimony, Tries to Pit Him Against Obama

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) used the Senate debate over the defense appropriations bill to urge President Obama to “soon explain to the American people his reasons either for accepting The McChrystal Plan” — a McConnell release capitalized the term — or for choosing a different course in Afghanistan. It’s hardly an unreasonable suggestion, but it’s worth noting that the evident strategy here is to divide Obama from the general he put in charge of the Afghanistan war. “A failure to act decisively in response to Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s strategy, and his anticipated request for additional forces, could serve to undermine some of the good decisions the President has made on national security,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. Nice national security policies you got here, Mr. President, it’d be a real shame…

Then there’s this:

General McChrystal and General Petraeus should also come to Washington to explain to Congress and to the American people how their strategy will work. A counterinsurgency strategy will require a significant investment in time, troops, and resources. We need an explanation from our generals why that investment is needed.

The Pentagon’s position is the generals are free to testify after Obama makes his strategy decisions, not before.